Combat Vests and Survival Vests

Dear Preppers and Survivalists,

Before I begin, I want to review buying in a spiral for all the new folks to this blog.

Buying in a spiral allows you and your family to have well-rounded preps. Instead of unnecessarily concentrating on one prep, like firearms, you and your family buy in a different prep area every week or month. Let me give you an example. The first week, you buy a family-sized tent, shelter. The next week, you purchase and fill a few water containers, water. The third week, you buy an extra weeks worth of canned food, food. Next week, you buy a used .357 revolver, protection. The fifth week, you buy a first-aid kit, medical.

You're probably doing this, but here's where the spiral comes in.

The sixth week, you buy wool blankets, shelter again. The next week, you buy and fill more water containers, water again. The seventh week, you buy another extra week of food, food again. The eighth week, you buy 500 rounds of .38 special +P ammunition, protection again. The next week, you buy some trauma bandages, medical again.

The tenth week, you buy some blue tarps, shelter. Next, you buy a water filter, water. Next, another weeks worth of extra food. Next, another .357 revolver. Next, ...

You get the idea, so, you'll understand my next statement.

For most urban and suburban preppers, combat vests and survival vests will be some of the last things that you purchase. You need to concentrate on shelter, water, food, medical, guns and ammo then tactical gear.

With that said ...


When I was in these United States' Army, I wore TA-50 to carry my canteens, magazines for my rifle, sleeping bag, MREs, extra clothing, land mines, antitank rockets, and all the other stuff; we took to the field. Nowadays, soldiers wear MOLLE gear for tactical operations.

And,

Some preppers, especially recently discharged veterans, may want to use MOLLE gear.

First, The Woodsman's Kit

The Woodsman's Tactical Vest
(Front)

This is the front of the Woodsman's tactical vest. Looking at the vest, starting from the top left, is a 'sticky' shoulder pad for helping hold the butt of his rifle to his shoulder. Below that are three double magazine pouches, and below the magazine pouches is a drop leg holster for his .45.



On the right, starting from the top, are three pistol magazine pouches, and below that is an area of velcro (the soft side) that held a cross draw pistol holster when I first met the Woodsman. Below that is a magazine carrier for pistol magazines.

The Woodsman's Tactical Vest
(Back)

The back of the Woodsman's vest is mainly MOLLE webbing. As you can see he has a sheath knife on the vest's belt.

You can also see the adjustment straps to loosen and tighten the vest and the drop-leg holster and the drop leg magazine pouches.

Before I met the Woodsman, his plan was to carry a 9mm pistol in the drop leg holster, a .45 pistol in the cross draw holster, carry an AR-15 in his hands, a 12 gauge shotgun in a scabbard attached to the back of his vest, and a .270 rifle with a scope slung across his back.

That's a lot of fire power, too much firepower to carry.

First, I advised him to get rid of one of the pistols because a pistol is used for self-protection and to 'fight' your way back to your rifle. He didn't need two pistols, so the 9mm pistol is going to his wife.

The 12 gauge shotgun is going into his front hall closet, so he and his wife have something to answer the door with, if needed.

and

The .270 rifle is going back into his gun safe, so it's protected from villains and ready for next hunting season.

Another problem, he was having was properly carrying his rifle at 'the ready' with the cross draw holster in place, he decided to carry his .45 pistol and its magazines in the drop leg holster and magazine pouch and ditch the cross draw holster.

and,

He was also having another problem with the double rifle magazine pouches digging into his underarm, if he carried two magazines in each pouch.

I suggested he hack his vest (since he's not carrying a cross draw holster, anymore) by adding a set of rifle magazine pouches where the velcro patch is at. This will give some balance to the vest. Plus, the Woodsman will be able to carry six rifle magazine comfortably across his abdomen, and if need be, he can add another six magazines by placing two magazine in each pouch.

Another addition, I suggested, was adding two canteens to the back, attached to the belt. The two canteens would be carried in canteen pouches with one also holding a canteen cup.

The last two hacks I recommended was to replace the pistol magazine pouch on the left shoulder with a pouch big enough to hold a couple of combat dressings, and to add a butt-pack to the back of his vest.

Lastly, you will notice that black sucks as a tactical color. The Woodsman is going to tie-dye the vest to a better colour. Hopefully he'll let me take pictures after his vest hack.

Now, ...

What does the Woodsman carry in his vest?

First, the Woodsman's vest is an almost 'pure' combat vest because he only carries magazines for his pistol and his rifle. He has four magazines for his pistol and six magazines for his rifle. Woodsman also carries a sheath knife on his vest.

Bear Grylls
Survival Series Ultimate Knife

This is where his vest becomes a survival vest. The Woodsman carries a Bear Grylls Survival Series Ultimate Knife. (That's the knife that you see in the rear picture).

The knife has a fire steel, located on the front of the sheath, and a whistle. On the back, the sheath has a knife sharpening stone and brief instructions for signaling and communicating with rescuers.

Lastly, for the Woodsman, he carries a backpack, but you will have to wait for another article

Second, Jungle G's Vest

Jungle G's Vest
(Front)

Jungle G's vest is a standard U.S. Army MOLLE rig. It's official name is something like MOLLE Fighting Load Tactical Vest or some such military-speak.

As you can see the vest is in the desert camoflauge patteren. It has six magazine pouches, three on each side, Each magazine pouch can hold two rifle magazines. A small pouch, just underneath the "US" on the vest, holds a military compass.

Jungle G's Vest
(Rear)

The rear of the vest has two canteen covers (Jungle G didn't bring his canteens to the photo shoot) and a medium "butt" pack.

All of the gear attached to the MOLLE vest uses plastic malice clips or the MOLLE attachment webbing.

In this picture, you will also notice a drag handle at the very top of the MOLLE. A drag handle allows someone to easily drag a wounded comrade, out of immediate danger, if needed.

Jungle G's vest is also a combat vest, but it has more survival gear then the Woodsman's vest.

Let's take a look.

First, just like the Woodsman, Jungle G carries his knife on the vest's belt. Jungle G's knife is a Mora knife. The knife is about seven inches long with a three inch stainless steel blade. Jungle G suggests stainless steel blades because they don't rust.

The butt pack is what seems to turn this combat vest into a survival vest. The main compartment holds a rolled up poncho liner and poncho. The outer pockets hold an emergency space blanket, to be used as shelter; a small pack of stick matches, wrapped in plastic wrap; some Ramen noodles, hot cocco, and trail mix bars, for food; and what looks like mechanic hand cleaner.

Yep, you guessed it. It's not hand cleaner. It's a bottle of hand sanitizer.

Jungle G took an old bottle, of proper size and shape, and filled it with very flammable hand sanitizer. If he needs a fire, he squirts a little one something flammable and lights with a match.

Yeah, that sounds weird, but it guarantees the fire will light, a big deal in a survival situation.

Needless to say...

That's it for now. I'm headed to bed.

Link:
Wikipedia - All-purpose Lightweight Individual Carrying Equipme
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/All-purpose_Lightweight_Individual_Carrying_Equipment

Wikipedia - MOLLE
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MOLLE_(military)

NCO Support - U.S. Army TA-50 Pictures for CIF Turn-in
http://www.ncosupport.com/files/ta50-pictures1.pdf

Emdom USA - MALICE Clip: Installation Instructions
http://www.emdomusa.com/MALICE-Instruction.html

Wikipedia - More Knife
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mora_knife

Federal Aviation Administration: Fire Safety Branch - Flammability Test of Alcohol-Based Hand Sanitizer
http://www.fire.tc.faa.gov/pdf/TN10-19.pdf

Department of Shameless Commerce - Cordage

Welcome Preppers and Survivalists,

I listen to National Public Radio. It is awesome; they have many shows; one of the shows I listen to is Car Talk. Those guys are hilarious.

Well, one of the things they do, at the end of the show, is promote their 'stuff,' and that gave me an idea.

I'll promote useful (to me) products for my Amazon.com store, every once in a while.

So, let's begin.


Rope, twain, string, it can go by one name, cordage. It has many uses, but the number one use of cordage is joining two or more things together.

In Robert Graves' seminal work Ropes and Cords, he illustrates how to make cordage from natural material like grass, water rushes, or bark fiber, a useful bushcraft skill.

Note:
Cr*p, $40 for a used copy, It's a great book (I have a copy) but not for $40.

We're in luck there is an electronic version to a .pdf for Robert Graves' The Ten Bushcraft Books in the links. Needless to say, you will want to download it, study the techniques, and practice those skills, or print the .pdf for your survival bible.


Making ropes and cords, for most folks will be little extreme, so instead a prepper may want to purchase cordage. One of the most versatile cordage is 550 cord. There are two or three types. One is actual military 550 cord. It will be rated to hold 550 pounds and have 7 internal strings inside an outer braided sheath. Another type is the military style that will be the same as military 550 cord. The last one that I know about is 300 cord. It had only 5 inter-strings and an outer braided sheath, and it will only hold 300 pounds.

Another type of cordage is the braided nylon rope. Just like 550 cord, it comes in different colors and different test strengths.

Now, the general nylon, polypropylene, polyester rope that you'll find in your local farm and home are rated for uses like tying down traps, tying stuff together, using a tie downs, and other general uses. Ropes for climbing are different; they are designed to save your life, if you fall.

Needless to say, buying and using climbing ropes will require additional equipment and training.

OK. That's it.


Remember, Don't buy it from Amazon.com, if you can buy it cheaper, locally.

And,

Don't forget, buying local allows you to conceal your purchases from the federales when you pay cash.

Link:
Car Talk - Home
http://www.cartalk.com/

Survival Station - The Ten Bushcraft Books
http://survivalstation.org/dl/Survival/10_Bushcraft_Books.pdf

Stealth Survival - Free Online Bushcraft Books
http://stealthsurvival.blogspot.com/2009/03/free-online-bushcraft-books.html

Wikipedia - Parachute Cord
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parachute_cord

Backcountry Beacon - Learning the Ropes: Rope Ratings, Length, Rope Care
http://backcountrybeacon.com/2010/05/learning-the-ropes-rope-ratings-length-rope-care/

REI - How to Choose a Climbing Rope
http://www.rei.com/expertadvice/articles/ropes.html

Get Home Gear

Dear Preppers and Survivalists,

Wrote the wrong post date, and I'm changing the subject.

A couple of months ago, I wrote that every prepper should have a BOB, GOOD bag, or 72-hour kit for our vehicles.

Here's mine.

All My Gear

In this picture is the contents of my trunk box. The contents are mainly grouped into three areas, keep warm, fire, and first-aid/safety.

The Box, Blanket, and Toilet Paper

The blue plastic box is about 32 inches long, 16 inches deep, and 12 inches wide. I have two rolls of toilet paper in a zip-lock baggie, a small orange backpack, and a polyester throw.

The toilet paper can be used to wipe my butt, as fire starter, or first-aid dressings. The rudimentary orange backpack can be used to carry stuff, signal device, or ... The polyester throw is for my wife; she uses it to keep warm when I'm driving in the winter. (I like it cool in the car, during the winter)

Staying Warm Without Fire

This next picture shows two inexpensive polyester blankets, a German snorkel parka, and a U.S. Army wet weather jacket.

I like the German parka because it's warm, has a hood, and was inexpensive (under $20) The wet weather jacket, I had left over from my military service.


The two blankets, I found at a couple of garage sales for a few dollars.

Fire Kit

This picture is the fire group of my trunk kit. I have a small 13 oz. former coffee can that holds two 4-candle boxes and a book of matches. A sandwich-size plastic box that holds a plastic baggie with ten books of matches, a hank of 550-cord, a metal signal mirror with a whistle, and a small plastic soap dish with a magnesium fire starter, a butane lighter, and a package of lifeboat matches. Oh yeah, I almost forgot my tube of fire starter.

First-Aid and Safety Gear

The picture, to the left, is the safety gear. I have three warning triangles, a pair of decent jumper cables, two ice scraper, and an umbrella, an empty (never used) fuel can, and a very basic first-aid kit in the red pouch.

I apologize, I failed to mention the safety vest, in the third picture (it's laying on the blanket). I wear the safety vest to make sure folks see me if I have to pull over in the middle of the night.

The black bag in the picture usually holds the warning triangles, the jumper cables, and one of the ice scrapers. The reason I keep that stuff in a separate black bag; I usually only use that stuff.

Needless to say, some folks will tell you that I'm lacking in some way or another, and I am.

There's no water (#1 after shelter) and no food. Plus, I don't have a rain coat or warm coats for my wife and children, no gloves, and no hats, too.

Guess what?

That's one of the great things about telling folks about prepping. I have a chance to check my preps, so I can make modifications to my stuff.


PS.
That green pencil box in the first picture. It held a bunch of change, for pay phones ; - )

Pencil Box used to Hold Change for Pay Phones

Not really. I didn't have any paper money when I was making up the kit, so I throw a bunch of change into the former pencil box.

Link Dump, 5

Welcome Preppers and Survivalists,

I have some time this morning, so the first set of links is to three places (and one for recipes) where you can search for all kinds of information on how to do all kinds of stuff. Want to learn how to cook your wheat, search "cooking wheat" on YouTube. Want to learn some recipes for your dried beans, search "cooking dried beans" at Instructables. Want to learn about producing some of your own food, search "gardening," "raising chickens for food," or "making mead" at WikiHow.

Needless to say, want a recipe for ..., search All Recipe.com

Instructables - Home
http://www.instructables.com/

WikiHow - Home
http://www.wikihow.com/Main-Page

YouTube - Home
http://www.youtube.com/

All Recipes.com - Home
http://allrecipes.com/


The next link is for John Robb's effort to get folks developing and building communities that will work, during uncertain times.

Resilient Communities - Home
http://www.resilientcommunities.com/


This last link, for today, is for a 'free' e-book? on baking bread without an oven.

The Prepared Pantry - Baking Bread without an Oven
http://www.preparedpantry.com/emergency-food.htm
Note: They will ask for an email address, and yes, I know this is a repeat link from many months (years?) ago.

Firearms for Preppers, ... Handguns

Dear Preppers and Survivalists,

Before I begin, I have to mention my biases.

First, I believe that everyone has the right to self-protection (even convicted felons)

Second, the most effective weapon for self-protection is a firearm.

Third, a handgun (revolver or pistol) is the easiest type of firearm to carry for self-protection

Lastly, a M1911A1-style handgun in .45 ACP is the BEST handgun for self-protection ; - )

Now that I have stirred some sh*t, let's begin.


Pistols and revolvers are collectively known as handguns, and handguns come in three different actions. They are single-action (SA), double-action (DA), and double-action only (DAO)

A single-action handgun's hammer must be pulled back, cocking the weapon, before the handgun is able to shoot. On a double-action handgun the trigger needs to be squeezed, to cock the weapon, for it to shoot, additionally; a double-action can also be cocked by pulling back the hammer, just like a SA handgun. A double-action only handgun can only fire by pulling the trigger thus cocking the hammer.

Revolvers

Taurus 669
by
Philippe Kurlapski

Revolvers are a good choice for the prepper because they require little equipment and minimal training to be effective, especially the double-action or the double-action only revolver.

The only equipment, a revolver will need, is a holster and a cleaning kit. The holster can be made from nylon, leather, or another material like Kydex; it just needs to fit the revolver.

Some nice to have equipment, for a revolver, are speed loaders, speed strips, or 1/2 moon/moon clips; these allow the revolver to be loaded faster. Speed strips hold 6 rounds, but a speed strip only allows inserting two round at a time, into the cylinder. Moon clips are circular; they hold 6 rounds (3 rounds for a 1/2 moon clip), by clipping the round to the moon clip. Needless to say, a prepper, once the spent cartridges are ejected, can insert six rounds into the revolver's cylinder with a moon clip. Speed loaders also hold six rounds, but the rounds are held by a mechanism. This mechanism is similar to a moon clip, but the cartridges are released, by the speed loader, by turning a knob after inserting the cartridges.

Two Speedstrips
by
Chrisf8657

Ma917 Revolver with Two Moon Clips
by
Mcumpston

HKS model 29 speedloader,
for 6 shot .44 Magnum revolver
by
unknown

Oh, I almost forgot about the ammo.

You will need ammunition for your revolver. Ammunition comes in many configurations for handguns. One of the pluses for revolvers is their ability to shoot a variety of ammunition.

Basically, if the ammunition goes bang and leaves the barrel, it will shoot in a revolver designed for that ammunition.


Pistols

U.S. Army M-1911 (ca. 1912)
by
Sam Lisker

Pistols are a good choice for the prepper, but they require a little more equipment and training to be effective for the prepper.

Just like the revolver, a pistol will need a holster and a cleaning kit. Plus, a pistol requires magazines. Magazines come in a variety of capacities, normal capacity and reduced capacity. Of course, you will want to stock up on magazines from a quality manufacturer. (Here's one you might want to avoid)

Note:
For most preppers, magazines allow a quicker handgun reload, but it takes training.


Training
Needless to say, like any other tool, you and your family will need training. I believe, basic safety training is mandatory for everyone in the family, including the children. There are many fine organizations (NRA and your states conservation department) and private instructors to teach you and your family, locally.

After, basic safety training, you and your partner will need to decide how much further y'all will go with your firearms education. It's fun and can be addictive.


Ammunition for Pistols
I apologize. I almost forgot to mention about ammo for a pistol.

A pistol is more finicky about ammo then a revolver. You will need to make sure the ammunition that you buy for your family's pistols will function in the pistol because the ammo 'makes' the pistol work.

Yeah, I know that explanation's vague, but that's why you and your family get training.

Link:
Say Uncle - Bashing v. Reasoning
http://www.saysuncle.com/2012/02/24/bashing-v-reasoning/

Snubnose.com - Double Action Only versus Double Action/Single Action
http://www.snubnose.info/docs/daovdasa.htm

From The Heartland - They are "Normal Capacity" Magazines
http://nebraskanews.blogspot.com/2004/08/they-are-normal-capcity-magazines.html

Zombie Squad - ProMag Pistol Magazines
http://zombiehunters.org/forum/viewtopic.php?f=110&t=84417


National Rifle Association - NRA Eduction and Training
http://www.nrainstructors.org/searchcourse.aspx


Video Link:
YouTube: Gun Websites - What Pistol to Buy? Single Action, Double Action or DAO
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0tlAYktInAk