Surviving The World As We Know It
Source: Gunbacker.com
The debate between centerfire pistol calibers for self-defense is an expansive one. Some debates are valuable, and others are primarily fanboys fighting each other.
The best method to see which is better is to look at both round objectively, which is what we are doing in this article as we compare the 9mm vs. the 40 caliber pistol rounds.
We break down these two popular calibers in 7 different categories to find out which is most effective for survival & EDC.
Ammunition prices are an interesting aspect that comes into play when deciding a caliber. Going the cheapest route isn’t always the wisest, however being budget conscious is an admirable goal. This is especially true when it comes to buying in bulk.
Out of the gate, the 9mm is slightly cheaper with the average price being 10 dollars for a box of 50 rounds, compared to 40 S&W 13 dollars per box. These are priced for big box retailers on standard FMJ cartridges.
Source: GUNBACKER
Two of the most popular calibers in the United States are the 9mm Luger and the 22 long rifle. Which is better is not a simple A or B answer.
To really determine which is better we have to break the rounds down to specific tasks, which we do in great detail in the article below. While we understand that everyone has their opinions, we have ours and hopefully it helps you narrow down your next firearms purchase.
As a reminder, we encourage every shooter to test any firearm they are considering buying first – before they go out and spend hard earned money on a purchase. Let’s look at each of these popular calibers in 6 different categories.
1. SELF-DEFENSE
Stopping an attacker is typically going to require you striking something vital, creating enough damage to cause significant blood loss, and causing enough pain to make them change their mind. When evaluating a self-defense round you really need to decide if that round can do any of the above.
When it comes to self-defense there are a few things your bullet needs to be able to do and a few things you need to be able to do. First you need to be able to actually accurately shoot the round. Second the round needs to be capable of penetrating at least 12 inches of ballistic gel.
A survival knife is an essential bit of kit for outdoorsy types who might find themselves in an emergency situation – and even those who aren’t. You’d be surprised at how often you can use your survival knife, which is why it should always be kept accessible. Below is just a brief idea of what your survival knife can be used for:
Many people remember exactly where they were and how they felt when they got their first survival knife. If you’re in the market for a survival knife of your own and you want to make sure you choose the right one, then read on. Here, we have a few super helpful tips so that you can find your very own survival knife to get attached to.
Tip 1: Size Matters
Size matters when it comes to selecting the right survival knife. Bigger isn’t always the best option to go for. With a smaller blade, you’ll do better at tasks like precision carving, and this is something you’ll end up having to sacrifice when you go for a larger knife. However, a small blade may not perform well with tasks such as chopping. You’re going to need to think of the tasks you’re most likely to perform and the knife size that will suit them best. In general, around 9-11 inches in length is usually the best to go for when you’re a beginner or looking for a great all rounder. Keep this in mind as you look.
Tip 2: Fixed Blade Or Foldable Knife?
In general, a fixed blade is more durable than a foldable knife. That being said, for every day carry, a foldable knife is a good option. In a survival situation, it’s usually best to have a fixed blade to hand, a joint in the knife is weakness and you won’t be able to utilize it as well as you could have a fixed blade. There are plenty of different types of Bark River knives for sale so you can compare fixed blades and EDC knives depending on your preferences.
Tip 3: Go Full Tang
Full tang refers to a knife that is one continuous piece of metal, rather than a piece of metal stuck into a separate handle. These knives are far more robust and substantial. Over time, other types of survival knives can weaken with use, so you’ll end up compromising on your experience or experiencing issues if you don’t replace your survival knife regularly. You’ll spend less when you go full tang, as these knives are durable and built to last.
Tip 4: Go For A Sharp, Pointed Tip
When it comes to the tips of survival knives, you’ll find angled, rounded, hooked, or straight cut flat tips. What you really want is a sharp, pointed tip. These tips are by far the best out there for taking on a number of tasks, including:
Tip 5: Ask Yourself The Right Questions
There’s a ton of information out there, and some of it will be contradictory to this information here. Reason being is simple; people like different things and want to do different things with their knives. With this in mind, you should make sure you ask yourself the right questions when shopping for your survival knife. For example:
Tip 6: Check The Spine
Don’t buy a knife with a saw on the spine. If you need a saw, then buy one separately. Both your knife and your saw will do a better job when they are used apart. Ideally, the spine of your survival knife should be thick and square.
Tip 7: Don’t Copy Your Favorite Movie/TV Character
Please, don’t be tempted to buy a similar knife to Rambo or any other movie/TV character. Just because this knife looks cool on screen, does not mean that it’s the right knife for you. In fact, you’ll probably struggle to use it and it will likely end up being your least practical knife ever! Be smart and choose the right one for you, not the right one for your favorite character.
Tip 8: Go To The Store And Talk To The Retailer
Before you buy your knife online, see if you can look at some in store first. This will give you a much better idea of size, feel, and grip, as well as other aspects of the knife that will be important to keep in mind before you buy. Ask a salesperson any questions you have while you are there and pick their brain; they should be able to give you more information. Make sure you really practice using the knife properly, holding it in your non-dominant hand and ensure you test it out in more than one direction.
Remember; a dull knife is more dangerous than a sharp knife, so make sure you enquire about how to sharpen your knife too if you’re unsure. You want to do this well so that you don’t compromise the effectiveness of your new survival knife!
Conclusion: Choosing The Right Survival Knife For You
Only you know what you really want from a survival knife and which will best suit your lifestyle. Many of the aspects of your survival knife will come down to personal taste. You’ll need to consider other aspects of your knife, such as:
And more!
Remember, your knife isn’t magic; it’s how you choose to use it that counts. Choose yours wisely and make sure it suits your needs!
I want to focus on fun and unique hobbies that most kids would never have considered trying before. Things that not only will your children love to do, but things that the whole family can do together.
Ideas for kids who love nature
Are you a nature loving family? If so, perhaps one of these hobby ideas could be perfect for you and your kids. How about photography? Believe it or not, kids of all ages can enjoy photography – even toddlers, it’s just a case of getting them the right camera. For instance, the VTech KidiZoom Action Cam is ideal for little ones. Or, if photography isn’t your thing, how about horse-riding? For kids who love being outside, horse-riding can be a fantastic hobby. It’s not just a case of booking them in for lessons, you and your family can go on horse riding trails as well as horse-riding vacations. Think of the fun you’ll have.
Hobbies for collectors
If your kids are always collecting random objects, from stones to leaves, perhaps a perfect hobby could be collecting. This is a great option as it’s something the whole family can do and enjoy. It’s just a case of deciding on what it is that your family should start collecting. For kids who love vehicles and aircraft, collecting vintage cars and planes, like this diecast aircraft, could be ideal. Or, for kids with an aptitude for history, how about starting a coin collection? There’s no better way to explore the past than with the coins from it. The great thing about collecting is that you can collect anything and everything. Depending, of course, on your children’s interests.
Activities for thinkers
Is your child a thinker? If your little ones love using their minds, then how about becoming a family that plays chess, does Sudoku, or takes part in language classes? For kids who love to immerse themselves in learning, a hobby that links to that interest in some way is ideal. Things like story-writing and crosswords, for instance, are ideal activities that you and your child can do together. Languages really are a great option, especially if your children are young. The younger a language is learned, the more successful they’ll be at speaking it.
Activities for activity lovers
For anyone who loves being active, taking on a hobby that encourages you to be active can be a great option. A martial art can be a fantastic option to consider, such as Jiu Jitsu knife defense, for instance.
There are lots of hobbies that you and your children can do and enjoy together; it’s just a case of finding the one that works for your family. Take your time, try out different things, and wait to see which is the hobby that sticks.
By Daisy Luther – The Organic Prepper
Is your house like an unfortunate cross between Doomsday Preppers and Hoarders?
How do you store your preps? Are they neatly organized, where you can grab what you need at a moment’s notice? Are they a jumbled mess that makes your house look like an abandoned storage facility? Perhaps they are hidden chaos, tucked away neatly in drawers and closets, but with no rhyme or reason.
I like to consider myself pretty organized. After all, my house is tidy (at least when people come over). I keep my food preps in one area, my medical preps in another area, and home supply preps in yet another area.
A turning point for me was when my daughter burned her hand making cookies one time, it took me more than half an hour to find the specific ointment I wanted to use to treat it. I used raw honey from the kitchen for immediate relief while I turned my medical supply closet upside down looking for it.
Fortunately, it wasn’t a bad burn, but what if it had been? What if it had been some kind of crisis that required immediate and swift intervention and the First Aid items needed had been mixed in with the bathroom supplies?
Here’s something else. How many of you have sought in vain for an ingredient that you know you have 77 and 1/3 boxes of, only to have to go to the store to purchase it because you can’t find any of those elusive boxes?
When you stock up the way a lot of us do, organization is vital. Otherwise, important supplies go missing. You spend valuable time searching for them and money replacing them, even though they’re lurking under your bed, taunting you from the shadows under there. Even worse, sometimes food expires while it’s tucked away, forgotten and unrotated into your kitchen, leaving you with pounds of edibles so stale that they can’t be consumed.
The biggest stockpile of supplies in the world won’t do you any good if you can’t find what you need when you need it.
Why wait? The longer you put it off, the worse the chaos will get.
I live in an older house without a lot of closets or pantries, so I have to be creative to stash all my stuff. This hodge-podge of storage spaces can lead to the disappearance of supplies or “Where-did-I-put-that?” Syndrome.
Resolve to no longer be a “Doomsday Hoarder”. Check out these 6 OCD hacks to help organize your supplies and bring order to the chaos.
To reach a point of order, you have to, painfully, start with a huge mess. Expect this process to take 2-3 days, so don’t start at a time when you have lots of other stuff to do.
Your first step is to take everything out of every little hidey-hole around your house. All of it. Every single bit. Only then can you see what you have.
There are a lot of benefits to this. At the same time that you are organizing, you can also:
Once you have everything you own, grouped by category and covering every available surface in your kitchen, you’ll have a better idea of the types of containers that you need to keep things organized.
I like to use large containers filled with small containers. (Sort of like I did here in my vehicle kit.)
I also really like for my containers to match, but maybe that’s just me. I feel like it looks more organized that way. Certainly, don’t go spend a lot of money on matching containers if you already have containers.
Everything needs a home. If you organize this way, even if you can’t immediately lay hands on the item you’re looking for, you can at least have a place to start digging. Here are some ideas from my upcoming book, Prepper’s Pantry:
Every room in the house is fair game. There’s no reason that food must only be stored in the kitchen. Keep similar items together, for the sake of organization. Think about the grocery store – it’s generally easy to find items because similar things are organized together. There is a condiment aisle, as cereal aisle, etc. You can apply this principle to your home storage also.
Beware of extremes in temperature, moisture, and rodents and other pests and store items in the past possible environment for their shelf longevity.
Here are some places you can store preps:
It is important to maintain your OPSEC when stashing away your food. OPSEC is a term swiped from the military that means OPerational SECurity. It means that your operations, in this case, your one-year supply of food, should not be public knowledge. OPSEC is the process of protecting little pieces of data that could be grouped together to give the bigger picture. “OPSEC is the process of protecting little pieces of data that could be grouped together to give the bigger picture.”
In the event of a long term disaster, your neighborhood will be filled with hungry people. Even in a short term disaster, as we saw in the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy, some people are without food after only 2-3 days. You don’t want your home to be known as the one with all the food. During an event of civil unrest, you could become a target. Store your food and supplies in a way that they are not noticeable at a casual glance.
The most important step comes before you actually put your supplies away. You have to create a master list to serve as a “treasure map” to your supplies. Three paces towards the setting sun, one baby step left, look up. That kind of thing. I can’t even tell you how much I love creating master lists like this.
Depending on how detailed you want to be, your “map” can be constantly updated with the amounts of items you are putting away and taking for use in the kitchen. If you plan to update like that, consider a dry-erase board hung on the inside of the pantry door.
Lots of people love spreadsheets, and keeping your map on the computer is a great idea….unless the grid goes down. It’s important to have a hard copy for that reason. If you make a spreadsheet, be sure to print it out.
I’m more of a notebook person myself. I keep a spiral notebook like this one, divided into sections, with my map.
One of the smallest places I lived was in our little cabin in the woods. Here is how I mapped out my supplies there:
I like to have kits that are ready for specific emergencies. I have these kits packed in large tubs, labeled, and stacked in my mudroom. Some kits you might want to create:
Ahhhh….finally. You’ve gotten through all of the other steps and you get to put all those things away. (And maybe even be able to cook a meal since your kitchen will be clear again!
Some things to remember when putting away your supplies:
There….isn’t that better? I know I always feel good when I can lay hands on my supplies immediately.
Do you have any tips that help you keep your supplies organized? How often do you go through your stash and inventory it? Please share your advice in the comments below.
This article first appeared at The Organic Prepper: Doomsday Hoarders: 6 Hacks to Organize Your Stockpile Chaos
Daisy Luther is a coffee-swigging, gun-toting blogger who writes about current events, preparedness, frugality, voluntaryism, and the pursuit of liberty on her website, The Organic Prepper. She is widely republished across alternative media and she curates all the most important news links on her aggregate site, PreppersDailyNews.com.Daisy is the best-selling author of 4 books and lives in the mountains of Virginia with her two daughters and an ever-growing menagerie. You can find her on Facebook, Pinterest, and Twitter.
By Tess Pennington – Ready Nutrition
As our economy plunges even further into a Depression-like era, we will need to become more creative in our meal preparations. Making due with less ingredients, all while wanting our meals to be just as filling is quite a conundrum. Likewise with our preparedness endeavors, we must get smart in the way we prepare our meals. Learning ways to stretch our food supplies and fill up our stomachs will not only create a more frugal lifestyle, but will also allow us to make the most of our food investments.
Here are five easy ways to make your meals more filling:
Fiber rich food sources such as beans and lentils are ideal to have in your food supply. Beans are the quintessential prepper food because they are cheap, nutritious, can store well and will fill you up like no man’s business. Throwing in a 1/2 cup of beans to a soup, casserole or cooked as a side dish will fill up those hungry bellies. Some other fiber-rich foods you can find in your backyard garden are:
Some other high fiber food sources are whole grains. Although, the category of whole grains is quite broad, this group has countless more nutrients and more soluble fiber and protein compared to refined grains such as white bread.
Continue reading at Ready Nutrition: 5 Ways to Stretch Your Meals SHTF Style
By Megan – Modern Survival Online
There’s nothing worse than coming down sick from drinking unfiltered or poorly filtered water. The average water filter, depending on the water filtration method, lasts anywhere from 3 to 6 months or as much as 3 years.
The reason water filters wear out and need cleaned or replaced is because over time the debris and contaminants from your water build up and they are no longer able to filter effectively without being cleaned or replaced.
Although there are some really good water filters and water purifiers on the market today, prefiltering drinking water can not only improve your water quality but can prolong the life of your water filters. Prefiltering your water is especially important if you are trapped in a survival situation where your water source is really dirty and filled with debris.
Water filters can be portable, like a LifeStraw or Sawyer Handheld, or in your home they can be a water pitcher, installed under your sink directly connected to a water line, faucet-mounted, or countertop coolers connected to your faucet. There are many different methods of water filtration. Some water filters use a single method of filtration, whereas other water filters use multiple methods to filter water.
Continue reading at Modern Survival Online: How to Pre-filter Water (and Prolong the Life of Your Water Filters)
By Travis P – Off The Grid News
When someone buys a gun for home defense, they tend to fall into one of three categories. These categories are based on the amount of thought an individual puts into their planning. Although you may find yourself falling in between two categories, these distinctions should help you see any improvements you can make in your home defense plan.
The first category—we’ll call it Category A—is an individual who buys his or her first home defense firearm. They buy a box of ammo and load the weapon; they then put it under the bed, in the nightstand, or in the gun safe. There really isn’t any more to their preparation. Yes, having a gun is better than throwing a rock, but honestly, at this level of planning, that’s about all you can say about it.
The next category, B, is the person buys their weapon, buys quite a few boxes of ammo, and becomes proficient with their weapon. They keep it loaded and in a safe, easy-to-access area. They maintain proficiency and are most likely considered to be a gun guy or gal. And while the level of defense is on a whole different plane than Category A, it can still be better.
Continue reading at Off The Grid News: 1 Thing Everyone Is Missing In Home Defense
By Daisy Luther – The Organic Prepper
Sometimes I really enjoy cleaning. I like to remove all the clutter, scrub all the surfaces, and open the windows for a fresh breeze.
However, what I don’t love is the expensive, chemical-laden cleaning products from the store.
Many of the chemicals that we are exposed to on a daily basis never leave our bodies, but accumulate in fat and bone marrow. There’s little oversight and testing on those chemicals. We’re living in a toxic civilization that seems sparkling clean and sanitary, but is actually poisoning us.
Cleaning products are rife with corrosive substances, irritating artificial fragrances, and petrochemicals. They can cause immediate symptoms like skin irritation, respiratory issues, allergic reactions, and eye irritation. Even worse, they can cause long-term issues like hormone disruption, brain cell death, permanent lung damage, and cancer. (You can learn more about the potential dangers of cleaning products in this article.)
That’s why I spend just a few moments of extra time making my own cleaning products, from simple, non-toxic ingredients. I order most of my basic supplies online in bulk and keep them on hand so I can always whip them up as needed. Not only are you sparing your health, but you’ll save a lot of money with DIY products!
Here’s what you need for a clean home:
You can make everything you need from those items.
Now, with your bulk products and a few Mason jars for storing your concoctions, here are the recipes for making five commonly-used cleaning products.
In a Mason jar, mix the baking soda with the borax. Sprinkle in some essential oil. (I like citrus or mint smells for the fresh clean fragrance.) Combine the mixture well, and put it in a sunny windowsill for a week to let the powders absorb the scent of the oils. If you aren’t concerned about the fragrance you can use this right away.
Fill a spray bottle with white vinegar and water. Add your favorite essential oils to cover the vinegar smell. This works on non-wood surfaces and glass.
This one is good for wood surfaces. Mix this up as you go along because the oil can go rancid.
Yes, basically, it’s salad dressing. I like to add sandalwood essential oil to this because it’s…well, woody. Lots of folks use citrus oil to get that lemon fresh fragrance. Spray this on wooden furniture and work with the grain.
Your hardwoods will gleam with this cleaner. If you use it on laminate it will be slippery. This is only for real wood floors.
If your floor is particularly greasy you can replace half of the water with white vinegar.
Dr. Bronner’s liquid Castille soap (We use this for personal care products as well)
This article first appeared at The Organic Prepper: The DIY Guide to Making Cleaning Products That Won’t Kill You
Daisy Luther is a coffee-swigging, gun-toting blogger who writes about current events, preparedness, frugality, voluntaryism, and the pursuit of liberty on her website, The Organic Prepper. She is widely republished across alternative media and she curates all the most important news links on her aggregate site, PreppersDailyNews.com.Daisy is the best-selling author of 4 books and lives in the mountains of Virginia with her two daughters and an ever-growing menagerie. You can find her on Facebook, Pinterest, and Twitter.
By Charles – Modern Survival Online
EDC is more than just an acronym for a collection of stuff you choose to carry around; EDC is now shorthand for a lifestyle choice, one in which a selection of carefully chosen equipment is called on to solve anticipated problems in your day-to-day reality.
EDC loadouts can range from bare-bones minimalist tools, to a full complement of equipment carried covertly, like a pistol, extra ammo, medical supplies, escape tools and more. There is no hard and fast “correct” or “true” EDC solution for all people, in all places, and all times. This uniqueness is likely what plays a part in the enjoyment of sharing and reviewing “pocket dumps.” Viewing someone’s chosen EDC loadout gives you a glimpse into their personality, problems and rationale for solving those problems.
But conversely to the “no one true way” caveat above there are definitely things you should not do or make a part of your EDC. These pitfalls are not always obvious to the uninitiated, and furthermore sometimes even a seasoned practitioner may overlook it or just plain be ignorant of its importance. After all, we are all victims of our own biases.
Below you will find a list of EDC mistakes that you should be on guard against. If you are making one of these mistakes, fix it. If you aren’t, take care that you do not make them in the future. Complacency is overwhelmingly responsible for lulling people into a completely false sense of security. Don’t let it creep up on you.
Of course, some of you readers might find yourselves in a position where one of these “mistakes” may actually be detrimental or even harmful in your locale or according to your specific situation. I have written these guidelines with your average Joe Public civilian suburbia-dweller in mind who carries and lives in a more or less permissive environment. Your environment may be different, or your daily job and tasking may see you need to fly in the face of some of these recommendations.
If that describes you, don’t get wrapped around the axle; I’m not calling you out personally. Use your head, as always, and review this list with a grain of salt. That’s enough chattering, let’s get to the good part.
Continue reading at Modern Survival Online: Top 7 EDC Mistakes to Avoid
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