Friday's Thoughts and Other Stuff (SKS vs. AR-15)

Dear Preppers and Survivalists,

Changing of the Guard
Tomb of the Unknown Soldier,
Moscow, Russia (2006)

photograph by

Kok Leng and Maurice Yeo

SKS Rifle
The SKS rifle is a fixed magazine-fed semiautomatic rifle. It fires a 7.62 X 39 cartridge. The SKS rifle weighs 8.5 pounds (3.85 kg), and it is 40 inches (1.02 meters) long.

SKS Rifle

photograph by

Jmajonis

The SKS rifle is no longer used, in front line service, by any country. It can be found in the hands of second line troops (National Guard and Reservists), cadets, ceremonial guards, security forces, and ... freedom fighters or terrorists.

Oooh, ... and citizens, too, for self defense and sporting purposes.


AR-15
The AR-15 series rifle was never used, in front line service, by any country. (O.K. It was used by the U.S. Air Force ) The ones you will see in firearms' stores are an adaptation of the M-16 series rifle for the general public. It is used by citizens for self defense and sporting purposes.

AR-15 Rifle (ca 1973)

photograph by

Steelerdon at Wikipedia

The AR-15 series rifle is a detachable magazine-fed semiautomatic rifle. It commonly fires the 5.56 X 45 (5.56 NATO) or .223 Remington cartridge. The rifle, when properly designed, will also fire the 7.62 X 39 mm, .300 Blackout, and the 5.56 X 39 mm cartridges. The AR-15 rifle comes in a variety of lengths and weights, depending on its configuration.

For this blurb, I'm going to use the M-16A2 lengths and weight. They are 39.62 inches (1 meter, just about) and 8.8 pounds (4 kg). Needless to say, a 16 inch barreled AR-15 (M-4ish) rifle with a collapsible stock will weigh 7.3 pounds (3.33 kg) and be 30 to 33 inches (.76 to .84 meters) long, depending on "If" the stock is extended or collapsed.


Cartridges
Both rifles fire a commonly available cartridge. The SKS rifle fires the 7.62 X 39mm while the AR-15 fires the 5.56 X 45mm cartridge.

.50 BMG, 300 Win Mag, .308 Winchester, 7.62x39mm,5.56 NATO, .22 LR

photograph by

Richard C. Wysong II

Both cartridges will kill or wound a person out to 437 yards (400 meters) for the SKS rifle and 600 yards (550 meters) for the AR-15 rifle, if the shooter is doing their part.

Of course, some folks are going to ask about the other cartridges that a properly configured AR-15 can fire. I consider these rounds to be 'exotic' for the prepper or survivalist, so I will not discuss them. You will need to do your own research if you're interested in the .300 Blackout and 5.56 X 39 mm cartridges.


Price
The SKS rifle is no longer manufactured, so you and your family can only purchase 'used' rifles. These rifles will range in price from about $300 for a basic well-used rifle to $650 for a newish rifle with accessories such as a rifle case, stripper clips, magazine pouches, and manuals.

Needless to say, a family member or friend may have an SKS rifle that they will give you for free or the price of a favor ; - )

AR-15 rifles can be purchased new or used. A new basic rifle can be had for about $700 with the sky's the limit for a custom manufacturer's rifle. Yes, there are some people selling AR-15s for $2,000.

Like any other firearm, used AR-15 rifles will come in a variety of prices depending on the rifle's configuration and manufacturer.


Configuration
Before I continue, the AR-15 series rifle comes in a variety of barrel lengths, 10, 12, 14.5, 16, 20, 22, 24, and probably others. The shorter barreled rifles (10, 12, and 14.5 inches) are considered SBRs or short barreled rifles. They are more regulated then the longer barreled rifles (16, 20, 22, an 24 inches). These SBR AR-15s require additional paperwork and fees. Plus, there is the hassle factor because of the additional paperwork.

The AR-15 rifle also have a variety of buttstocks and handguards. Some buttstocks (the part that goes against your shoulder) are fixed; they stay the same length; while others are collapsible; they can change lengths to better fit a person.

AR-15 Rilfle with Collapsible Stock

derived work by

Lightbreather

Some handguards allow attachment of various devices to the handguard such as flashlights, grips, and lasers.


Sights
The SKS and AR-15 rifles have different sights. The SKS rifle uses open sights while the AR-15 uses peep sights. Between the two, peep sights are the easiest to use.

However, ... The easiest sights to use will require you to spend more money. These sights are the telescopic sight and the reflector sight.

Telescopic sights are the ones that you have seen for many decades. They are usually found on hunting rifles, generally. These telescopic sights (rifle scopes) increase the target's image size when viewed through the rifle scope.

Sergeant John Takai looks through

a telescopic sight mounted to a SKS Rifle (ca 2007)

photograph by

Staff Sergeant Bronco Suzuki

Reflector sights are the ones that you have seen used by our country's Soldiers, Airman, Sailors, Marines, and Coast Guardsman. They are usually found on combat type weapons. The reflector sights (red dots) are usually unmagnified; however, there are magnified versions.

LCpl Jeromy S. Pilon

looks through a reflector sight mounted to a M-16A4

for insurgents (ca 2004)

photograph by

LCpl Miguel A. Carrasco Jr.

Now, these sights can be mounted on either rifle with specialized mounts. Depending on the mount, the SKS can accept a sight on the cover or over the rear sight. The AR-15A3 (M-16A3/M-16A4) has picatinny rails machined in the upper receiver. Picatinny rails can also be found on handguards.

Needless to say, the state of art in weapons is always changing, so you may find more options for your rifle during your research. Plus, you're going to spend about, say ... $200 to $400 dollars or more for a quality reflector sight for the AR-15 rifle. While a good telescopic sight for the SKS rifle will set you back about $150.


Barrels
I mentioned earlier that the AR-15 series rifle will have a variety of barrel lengths. That's not what I want to talk about in this section. I want to talk about whether the barrel is chrome-lined or not.

It seems these United States military and a lot of others countries have chrome lining in their military's barrels. This chrome lining protects the rifle barrel from rusting, harsh environments, cleaning chemicals, and other reasons.

Some AR-15s don't have a chrome-lined barrel while some barrels have one. Now, some folks think an unlined barrel is o.k. because you and your family won't be doing things (patrols, cordon and search, repealing attacks, and ...) like the military. Plus, the unlined barrel are, supposedly, more accurate.

SKS rifles, on the other hand, are all almost chrome-lined because they originally started out as military rifles.

Did you notice the 'almost?'

Yeah, the SKS rifles manufactured by the Yugoslavians have unlined barrels. (You can tell them buy the grenade launcher attached to the end og the barrel) It seems the Yugoslavians didn't have the money to chrome line their barrels : - (
 

Yugoslavian SKS Rifle
with grenade launcher attached (ca 2004)

photograph by

Shacholica

Another thing that I would like to mention about rifle barrels is their thickness. In the SKS, you don't get a choice. There is one barrel, and one barrel only. (O.K. There are two. One is 20 inches long, and the other is 16 inches long)

With the AR-15 rifles, it's a different story.

There are 'pencil' barrels (very thin), a medium profile (a thicker barrel), M-4 profile (a medium barrel with a notch cut in the barrel to mount a grenade launcher), a heavy barrel (a thicker and heavier barrel), and some I probably don't know about or forgot.

Like the M-16A2 barrel. It's thinner underneath the handguard and thicker just before the front sight.

So, what's the big deal about barrel thickness. First, these United States started noticing that soldiers were bending their rifle's barrels. Not a good thing 'If" they were trying to kill someone.

So, ... They went with a thicker barrel. Of course, there's more to the story.

It seems, a thicker barrel will take longer to heat up (and cool off), staying accurate longer. In other words, the barrel get so hot it starts to droop.


Magazines
The SKS rifle has a fixed magazine that holds 10 rounds. The magazine can't be taken out of the SKS rifle. (O.K. The magazine can pivot. That's kind'a 'out').

So, ... The rifle is reloaded with cartridges on stripper clips or individual cartridges.

SKS Rifle

with magazine opened

photograph by

U.S. Military

The AR-15, usually, has a 10, 20, or 30 round detachable magazine. The magazine can be removed from the rifle and reloaded with stripper clips and individual cartridges. The added benefit of a detachable magazine allows the AR-15 to have several pre-loaded magazines allowing a 'faster' reload.

Note:
Preppers that practice will be able to reload a SKS rifle as fast as a trained person reloading an AR-15, kind'a.


Stopping
So far, I have written over 1200 words on the SKS rifle and the AR-15.

And, ... You probably realize the SKS Rifle and the AR-15 are two different rifles, by now.


Preppers
Before I begin; I have to tell you something.

Both rifles will kill. A newish SKS rifle for $400 will kill just as well as a $2,200 La Rue Tactical AR-15 series rifle.

So, ...Which one to get?


First, let us think about some considerations.

- If you're former or current military, I would immediately suggest an AR-15. You have a lot of high priced training and lots of muscle memory, even if you were a clerk or cook. Plus, you might have some 'extra' gear and magazines laying around from your military service ; - )

I would also suggest a "Ford or Chevy" version of the rifle from Bushmaster, Olympic Arms, Ruger, or ... You know; the ones that are selling for around $700, new.

- If you're married with children, I would suggest a SKS rifle because you're going to be buying a lot of these rifles. Your children will need to be armed for tough times, so you will need a rifle for each family member. At around $400 per rifle, your family could purchase four SKS rifles for the price of two AR-15s with required accessories.

Remember, the SKS rifle is ready to shoot the way it is while the AR-15 rifle needs magazines, sights (depending on the rifle), and other things to function properly.

- If you're going to 'share' a rifle, I would suggest an AR-15 with a collapsible stock. The collapsible stock will allow the rifle to 'shorten' or 'lengthen' as needed by each person. Plus, a collapsible stock will allow the rifle to be more easily hidden.

Just to contradict myself. Most people can effectively shoot the SKS rifle even "If" the rifle is too short for them. Plus, there are folks that manufacture a collapsible stock for the SKS rifle. It just adds to the total cost of the rifle.

And, ... I think, they're not worth the price, at over $100

Two Collapsible Stock Designs

for the SKS Rifle (ca 2012)

photograph by

Mitch Barrie

- If you live in a state or country that prohibits so called 'assualt rifles,' a SKS rifle may be your only choice to arm your family.

But, ... You're going to have to be politically active because states that prohibit so called 'assault rifles' will be coming to confiscate your SKS rifle, next.


Second, let us be practical.

Most preppers are going to need a good quality handgun because a rifle is a weapon that defends a country while a handgun is a weapon that defends you and your family.

So, ... I suggest you skip getting a rifle unless you live in the country, don't plan on manning road blocks, and ... other 'combat' related tasks. Plus, most 'likely' events (hurricanes, winter storms, under employment, and ...) won't require a rifle.

Yep, I said it. You just might be wasting your money buying a rifle for your family's preps, so you have to seriously think about this!

Plus, ... Have you ever seen a refugee with a rifle? Of course you haven't because the security forces would be calling them Terrorists ; - )


Third, to reinforce my preference for the SKS rifle for most preppers and their families, Katniss and I were talking about this blurb and she said something like 'So you're saying, for about $2,800 dollars, (the price of four AR-15s and nothing else) a family could purchase four SKS rifles, ammo, and some other stuff to help them be better prepared.'

Yeah, I love Katniss!!!


Equipment, Spare Parts, and ...
I talked about this several years ago.

GSIEP - Firearms for Preppers: SKS Rifle
http://gsiep.blogspot.com/2012/04/firearms-for-preppers-sks-rifle.html

And,

GSIEP - Firearms for Preppers: M-16?AR-15 Rifle, Part Two
http://gsiep.blogspot.com/2012/05/firearms-for-preppers-m16ar15-series_12.html


Avoid the DERP
I do not know who came up with term, but it's bad, just plan bad. (probably Say Uncle or someone he linked to ; - ) This is the useless stuff that folks are trying to get you to buy.

Like Fireclean, over-sized magazine release, or putting a bullpup stock on the SKS rifle.

AK-47 series Rifle

with bullpup stock reflector sight (ca 2006)

photograph by

DiSPUtEd OnE

Note:
I apologize. I couldn't find a SKS rifle with a 30 round magazine, reflector sight, and bullpup stock.


Ammunition
Full Metal Jacket (FMJ) is the standard for military rifles. Someone that is or was in the military will probably be able to tell you why they use it. I just know that it works.

So, ... How much do you need?

I would suggest about 500 rounds for each rifle. This is a good beginning, but you're going to need more. Our elected representatives and unelected officials have a tendency to cause trouble every once in a while. This trouble usually causes shortages for a couple of years. Plus, it's never a bad idea to have more than you need. It's just like food for you and your family. Except you're feeding a firearm ; - )


Almost Lastly, ...
I was going to compare the AK-47 series rifle with the AR-15. Until, I found a really good Wikipedia page that does a ... Comparison of the AK-47 and M-16


Lastly, ...
If you liked this blurb, I ask that you mention it in a the facebook post, tweet it, e-mail, or other method of communications to your friends and family.

Next, ... I would like for you to join the National Rifle Association and donate to the NRA's Institute of Legislative Action, the Second Amendment Foundation, Jews for the Preservation of Firearms Ownership, or the American Civil Liberties Union.

Note:
When you donate to the ACLU, make sure you include a note about your support for the Second Amendment to the Constitution of these United States and how you think they should support it, too ; - )

A well regulated militia being necessary to the security of a free state,

the right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed.

P.S.
Like any other subject, there is more, but I'm hungry ; - )

Link:

SKS Rifle
Gunpic.net - Simonov SKS Carbine
http://gunpics.net/russian/sks/sks.html

J&G Sales - TC 9-56: SKS Rifle
http://www.jgsales.com/manuals/SKS.pdf

Gunpics.net - Simonov SKS Disassembly
http://gunpics.net/russian/sks/sksdis.html


AR-15 Rifle

Archives.org - TM 9-1005-249-10
https://ia700404.us.archive.org/0/items/OperatorsManualForM16M16a1/OperatorsManualForM16M16a1.pdf

Commonwealth Protection Institute - TM 9-1005-249-23&P
http://www.cpi-va.us/docs/M16Manual.pdf

South Texas Marksmanship Training Center - TM 9-1005-319-10
http://southtexasshooting.org/m16a2_army_tm_9_1005_319_10.pdf

KDE Guns - TM 9-1005-319-23&P
http://kdeguns.com/ar-manual/M4%2016%2023Pchange8.pdf

Global Security - MCRP 3-01A: Rifle Marksmanship
http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/library/policy/usmc/mcrp/3-01a/mcrp3-01a.pdf

Archives.org - FM 3-22.9
https://ia800301.us.archive.org/9/items/milmanual-fm-3-22.9-rifle-marksmanship-m16a1-m16a2-3-m16a4-and-m4-carb/fm_3-22.9_rifle_marksmanship_m16a1_m16a2-3_m16a4_and_m4_carbine.pdf

U.S. Army - FM 3-22.9: Rifle Marksmanship with Change 1
http://armypubs.army.mil/doctrine/DR_pubs/dr_a/pdf/fm3_22x9.pdf

Utah National Guard - FM 3-22.9 Change 4
http://www.ut.ngb.army.mil/campwilliams/Downloads/operations/Current_Downloads/Weapons/fm3_22x9c4%20%28M16%20qual%20w%20change%204%29.pdf

WeaponsMan - If You Had Only One 5.56mm Carbine?
http://weaponsman.com/?p=24339


Others
ASOS1.com - Introduction to Gun Sights
http://www.asos1.com/gunsights/gunsights01.htm

Wikipedia - Telescopic Sight
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Telescopic_sight

Wikipedia - Reflector Sights
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reflector_sight

WeaponsMan - A Short History of Chrome Bores
http://weaponsman.com/?p=12779

U.S. Marine Corps - MCRP 3-01B: Pistol Marksmanship
http://www.marines.mil/Portals/59/Publications/MCRP%203-01B%20Pistol%20Marksmanship.pdf

U.S. Army - Crew Served Machineguns
http://armypubs.army.mil/doctrine/DR_pubs/dr_a/pdf/fm3_22x68.pdf

Wikipedia - Comparison of the AK-47 and M16
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comparison_of_the_AK-47_and_M16

Friday's Thoughts and Other Stuff (Food Storage)

Dear Preppers and Survivalists,

Surplus Commodities Food Program (1936)

source

Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum

The Last, ... For Now
This is the last blurb about food storage for a little while.

So, ... Here are some 'wrapping up' thoughts.


Home Canning
A great way (O.K. a heck of a lot of work, some upfront costs, and ... satisfaction seeing the finished jars) is home canning your family's food. There are many good manuals for your family to use.

Needless to say, don't use older canning manuals because their information may be outdated, poisoning your family.

Link:
USDA: National Center for Home food Preservation - USDA Complete Guide to Home Canning, 2009 revision
http://nchfp.uga.edu/publications/publications_usda.html


Purdue University: Extension Service - Complete Home Guide to Canning
https://www.extension.purdue.edu/USDAcanning/

Note:
Of course, some family's are going to want a 'hard' copy of the canning manual for use and to store for future use. Plus, this link has links to some free publications.


Shelf-Life
Last week, I received a comment: 

Anonymous said...

"A great article! Thanks for sharing. I started Prepping prior to Y2K (1999) and agree with everything that you say, except for length of storage time. In my experience, you can keep ordinary grocery store canned food and dried beans, rice, etc. much longer than "one year". For instance, this year (2015) we regularly eat canned baked beans, brown rice stored in sealed glass jars, canned green vegetables and canned meat (spam, corned beef, roast beef w/gravy, fish, turkey,chicken) dated "2007" and later, with never any stomach upset. It is all just as tasty as fresh canned food. I store this in a below-ground basement, on shelves behind heavy curtains."

As you can read, this family is eating eight year old commercially canned food and home canned food, with no ill affects. Needless to say, your mileage will vary.

But, ... Anonymous makes a point.

Canned food from the grocery store will last a lot longer than the expiration date printed on the can, box, bag, or bottle.


Dual Usage
Usually empty glass canning jars take up precious storage space.

So, ... One of my brothers, Spartan, came up with the idea of storing dried beans and long grain white rice in clean canning jars. The jars are sealed using a vacuum sealer with the canning jar attachment.

His thinking, ... As you and your family eat the beans and rice, you end up with empty canning jars that can be filled with produce from your garden, farmer's market, or local grocery store. Plus, the jars are full, so the space they do take up is put to good use.


Rotation
I know I mentioned this, but it's important.

Make sure your family is rotating your food.


Never and ...
So, ... When do you eat your food storage during an event?

Never because your family always makes sure to deplete any local supplies of food before eating your food storage.

Let me explain.

During an economic crisis, folks are losing their jobs, including you. Local charities or the government starts handing out food, soup lines form, or food stamps are issued. You and your family get in line.

First, ... Because this extends your family's food supply.

Second, ... OPSEC because no one is going to ask 'Why isn't your family in line?'


Of course, some folks are going to comment how callous that is to take food from other peoples' mouths.

I don't care! This is about your family surviving one more day.


... And Always

You and your family need to always eat your food storage.

Yes, I know; I just told you to never eat your food storage, but ...

You and your family need to practice using your food storage because most families don't cook with whole foods. Plus, your family has to get use to the tastes of these foods.

You can do this by making, at first, one meal a month out of long-term food storage. A few months later, you make two meals a month out of food storage. PA few months later, three meal a month and so on. Plus, this help your family to rotate the stored food.

And, ...

You and your partner get to discover all the things that you have forgotten to store for your family's eating needs ; - )


Where to Start
People ask my brothers all the time where to start on their food storage because my brothers' OPSEC sucks.

So, ... My brothers tell folks the short answer

If you're worried about ordinary events such as hurricanes, winter storms, and earthquakes, your family can start by storing ordinary grocery store food. You know, the stuff your family normally eats.

You just go out to the store and buy a bunch of food.

If you're worried about bigger events like super volcanoes, economic collapses, and nuclear war, your family starts by storing wheat, at least 365 pounds per family member. Next, your family purchases 190 pounds of dried beans per person. Next, you add 365 multivitamins per person. Next you family adds 365 pounds of long grain white rice. Next, you add another 190 pounds of dried beans. Next, you take a breath and purchase 365 multi-vitamins per person.


When to Stop
Being a prepper, really a survivalist, you never stop with your family's food storage because your family's tastes are going to change. Your children are going to stop liking Mac and Cheese all the time, so you will need to use it up and start stocking what they currently enjoy eating.

Next, your children will leave home; maybe going to college, joining the military, or starting a career; they will still need a place to emergency evacuate.

So, ... You will still need to store food for them.

Next, they will meet a partner, get married, and have children. They will need help starting their family's food storage program, short, medium, or long-term. Hopefully, they will seek your advice.

Of course, the extended family will probably designate you and your partner's home as the rally point for any larger and longer event. (You did take my advice to build a family 'retreat,' didn't you?). So, ... You will need to store even more food for the many mouths that will descend on your home.

Don't let the your children mooch off you. Make sure they send you one or two cases of long-term food storage, each month, until they have the basics such as 365 pounds of white rice, 190 pounds of dried beans, and 365 multivitamins for their cache.

Lastly, you and your partner are going to die, so your long-term food storage should be considered part of the childrens' inheritance.

So, ... Make sure you're rotating your food by using it, as food ; - )

Friday's Thoughts and Other Stuff (Food Storage)

Dear Preppers and Survivalists,

Mother and Child

at a cooking class (ca 2015)

photograph by

Sgt. Sinthia Rosario

Last week, I wrote about starting a Medium-Term food storage plan for your family. Today, I'm talking long-term.


Different Meanings
A long-term food storage plan has a different meaning to different people. Some folks think long-term is having one year of food storage, in your home. While other people might think a long-term food storage plan is having food that will last longer than one year. Lastly, there are some folks that think a long-term food storage plan is about a three to five year supply of food for their family and a few friends.


One Year
Currently, one year's worth of food is considered long-term food storage. As we have seen during other events, one year may not be enough, so your family may need to store two, three, or even five years worth of food.

If you're careful, a one year supply of food can be easily stored using 'normal' grocery store bottled, boxed, bagged, canned, and frozen food. You might even be able to store two years of this type of food. You just need storage space, a lot of storage space.

Once you get past the two year mark, your family is going to have to store bulk whole foods, such as whole wheat, dried beans, oats, pasta, white sugar, and salt. (Dang, I forgot white rice, too)

Luckily, these whole foods also cover some folks concept of long-term food storage because they last eight to thirty years. That's right, dried beans will last at least eight years while white sugar, white rice, whole wheat, oats, some pastas, and salt will last up to thirty years!

To be in fact, 3.000 year old wheat was recently sprouted. (Ooops, that's false!)

Needless to say, you and your partner are going to have to change your family's food preferences from McDonald's to whole foods "If" you're planning to use whole foods in your food storage ; - )


Where to Purchase
There are various places to purchase your family's long-term food storage. You can buy it at the local grocery store, speciality stores, or on the internet. The most inexpensive place that I have found is from the Later-day Saints. They have whole wheat (two kinds), dried beans (only one), oats, pasta, and other food storage items.


How Much
There are one or two food storage calculators from folks like Julie and Jodi at Food Storage Made Easy and Provident Living or The Food Guys. These food storage calculators will give you a general idea of your family's needs for long-term food.

Needless to say, they are based on the Latter-day Saints recommendations, except for the Provident Living calculator. It is a simpler model, just seven items.


What to Purchase
Before I begin, you have to answer this question, 'How bad is it?'

Let me explain.

Is the collapse happening or are you able to slowly and rationally gather your family's long-term food storage. If it's happening, right now, I suggest, per person:

* 400 pounds of White Rice
* 200 pounds of Dried Beans
* 365 multi-vitamins

Because these three items will keep one person alive for one very boring year, food wise.

So, ... A family of four would immediately require 1600 pounds of white rice, 800 pounds of dried beans, and 1460 multi-vitamins. (I suggest purchasing adult vitamins for the adults and children's vitamins for the children. But, ... You can improvise a kid vitamin by cutting an adult's vitamin in half)

Note:
I read that one pound of rice and a half a pound of dried beans will supply enough protein (plant, not animal) and enough calories to keep a person alive.

But, ...

I have not done the math or the experimentation to prove this statement. You have been warned.


A Little More Time
If you have a little more time, your family can purchase, what is called, The Mormon Basic Four. Needless to say, this long-term food storage plan is based on wheat. It is, per person:

* 365 pounds of wheat
* 100 powdered milk
* 100 pounds sugar or honey
*   12 pound salt, iodized preferred

As you see, it has its problems. It's all wheat, so you have to know how to cook wheat, a whole lot of different ways. There is a whole lot of sugar, and ... It's all wheat ; - )


12 Months or 52 Weeks
Now, the Latter-day Saints have been doing this a long time, so they have other recommendations that build on the 'Basic Four.' It is a 52 week or 12 month buying plan.

In this 52 week or 12 month purchase plan, a family buys certain supplies to help them acquire enough food to last one year. Of course, "If" you use this plan, you need 52 weeks to get everything purchased.

Of course, it's going to get complicated because the Latter-day Saints (Mormons) recommend different amounts for each family member.


Don't Have That Much Time
Now, if you have time, but not 52 weeks, your family can use a basic plan that Cresson Kearny (Nuclear War Survival Skills) developed many decades ago called The Kearny Basic Survival Foods plan. This plan uses seven items, per person:

* 360 lbs of whole wheat
* 120 lbs of dried beans
*   48 lbs of dried milk
*   24 lbs vegetable oil (I think that is 3 gallons, but I'm not sure)
*   48 lbs of white sugar
*     8 lbs of salt, iodized preferred
* 365 multi-vitamins


The Basics
Now, all of these plans, I have covered, are basics, except of course the 52 week or 12 month plan. They are meant to be supplemented by other food that your family may store, barter for, grow or harvest (hunt/trap) during the event. Plus, other options have become available in the last thirty years.


Freeze-Dried and Dehydrated Food
Like Xerox for copiers, Mountain House has become the common name for freeze-dried food, even though, there are currently many, many manufactures of freeze-dried food. Some of these other manufactures, I believe, are contracting with Oregon Freeze Dried (Mountain House) to prepare their products ; - ) (Don't ask me which ones because I don't know)

Now, Mountain House products come in two different containers, a plastic foil package and #10 cans. The plastic packages have a shelf life of about seven years (cool, dry place) while the #10 cans have a shelf life of about twenty-five years. Yes, twenty-five years! Of course, the plastic foil packages only have two servings while the #10 cans have from about ten to twenty servings, depending on the product.

Next, these products come two ways, already combined and as ingredients.

My brothers and I have bought freeze-dried foods from Mountain house for our families. Scout, my brother, buys his food in the plastic foil packages because his family is bugging out. They are coming to my house "If" it's bad enough. Plus, they use them for camping.

The plastic foil packages are opened, hot water is poured in the bag, allowed to sit for about 10 minutes, and eaten. The food can also be placed in a pan, water added, then heated. The food is divided up when finished cooking.

Spartan, another brother, buys all his Mountain House as prepared food in #10 cans. He doesn't want the hassle of having to cook, real cooking that is.

My family has bought our freeze-dried food as ingredients, corn, peas, green beans, and carrots. These ingredients will be used to make food like dirty rice, stews/soups, and casseroles. We will also eat it as regular veggies with our meals. (more about that latter)


Now there are some companies that aren't selling freeze-dried food. They are selling dehydrated food. These dehydrated foods are less expensive then freeze-dried because it is a different process. You can look it up on the internet or just go to the links.



Draw Backs
There are draw backs to both of them. Dehydrated food has a shelf life of about eight years, even in #10 cans. Freeze-dried foods are expensive. Plus, they both take precious water to rehydrate before you can use them.


It's Latter
You will notice when I was talking about freeze-dried food, I said 'We will ...' Because freeze-dried is soooo expensive, we 'normally' don't use it. We use dehydrated food for our practice meals and as a less expensive alternative in our food storage.


Practice, Practice, and More Practice
Needless to say, at least, you and your partner need to practice cooking with all these different foods, whole food, freeze-dried, and dehydrated that you and your family store for an event. These food also need to be eaten as part of your family's normal food, so during an event, you don't go hungry.

We do this a couple of ways. First, is the 'camping.'

We go camping about twice a year. During our camping trips, we practice our skills putting up the tent, building a fire, cooking with cast iron, pooping in the woods, and many others. Kind'a like the scouts ; - )

Second, ... We have 'practice' sessions. Yes, we pretend the heat has gone out, so the family can practice closing off the house and using the wood stove, making a meal using the wood stove, and other skills.

Third, we have made changes in our diet to include foods like beans and rice, eating meatless stews (made with dehydrated veggies), and planting a garden.

Lastly, ... 


Specialty Equipment
Of course, you're going to need some specialty equipment such as ...

* Grain Grinder, a quality model

* Pressure Cooker with spare seals

And, ...

* Several Cookbooks


Link:
The Latter-day Saints: Self Reliance - Home Storage
http://store.lds.org/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/Category3_715839595_10557_3074457345616706237_-1_N_image_0?countryName=US&warehouse=01&showCountryChangePopUp=false&langId=-1&currency=USD&catalogId=10557&DM_PersistentCookieCreated=true&storeId=715839595&ddkey=http:SetCurrencyPreference

Food Storage Made Easy - Food Storage Calculator
http://foodstoragemadeeasy.net/2009/03/09/long-term-food-storage-calculator/

Provident Living - Food Storage Calculator
http://providentliving.com/preparedness/food-storage/foodcalc/

The Food Guys - Food Storage Claculator
http://thefoodguys.com/foodcalc.html

Millennium Ark - The Mormon Basic Four
http://standeyo.com/News_Files/LTAH_Food_Store6.html

Millennium Ark - 52 week or 12 month Purchase Plan
http://standeyo.com/News_Files/LTAH_Food_Store6b.html

Millennium Ark -Mormon's Food Guides
http://standeyo.com/News_Files/LTAH_Food_Store6c.html

Millennium Ark -The Kearny Basic Survival Foods
http://standeyo.com/News_Files/LTAH_Food_Store7.html

Food Storage Made Easy - Freeze-Dried Foods versus Dehydrated Foods
http://foodstoragemadeeasy.net/2013/09/10/freeze-dried-foods-versus-dehydrated-foods/

LDS.org - Food Storage
https://www.lds.org/topics/food-storage?lang=eng