arsenal

ARSENAL


Well, Brother Creekmore is back (http://www.thesurvivalistblog.net/ ). He is a good egg and it is nice his site issues were resolved. Now, his readers, that is another matter entirely. What would you call wanna-be survivalists that just want to read up on the hobby, buy one case of MRE’s and spend more on their Fed Ninja Jack Booted Thug Mighty Assault Weapon Of Doom Mattel Toy than I did on wheat, Enfields and precious metals combined? A Poser? Well, let’s just be kind and call them misinformed. Peak Oil? I don’t need no stinking Peak Oil. Newsflash. It’s already here. We can debate about the start date, the longevity of the plateau, and the economic impact of import declines all we want. But who can proclaim with a straight face that the end of cheap and abundant oil hasn’t already started? We use 42% of our corn crop for ethanol and there is no problem with our oil supply? Really? I’m reminded of the debate between natural and man made warming. If the planet is warming up, what does it matter? We can argue over the definition of Peak Oil without ignoring that our country has a lot less of it and it is being felt economically. But to claim there is absolutely no problem is just silly. And, not unexpectedly I got no increased traffic from my guest article. I guess I scared away his survivalist-lights ( The Urban Survivalist Handbook ) years ago.

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Yesterday I accidentally tripped over a new-to-me feature in Google Blogs with the statistics for your blog site. I have readers in Italy? My number one referral site is Brother Mayberry
(http://mayberry-keepitsimplestupid.blogspot.com/ ). Let’s give up a round of applause. Thanks, Bro. I had kind of forgot about Mayberry so it was nice to get back in touch with his site, even if he does take the politics a bit too seriously. Obammy or Bush, either one. Republican, Democrat, Tea Party Dude, all will screw you over in a heart beat on orders from the bankers. Which brings me to Glen Beck ( Arguing with Idiots: How to Stop Small Minds and Big Government ). He seems a nice enough fellow, being a Libertarian, but good golly gosh, give it a rest with the bible thumping. Baby Jesus doesn’t give a crap about the American people ( we already had our chance and blew it ) and praying to him will solve ZERO problems. I can forgive that the man is just a tool for the establishment ( you can pick to elect someone else, but it won’t change anything because a vote for anyone is a vote for the established powers ). We all need to make a living and he is just filling in for Rush trying to keep the sheep from rioting. But stop with the “prayer as solution”. You are embarrassing me ( and I hope yourself ).

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Were was I? Mayberry. I happened to read a bit on his fiction entries ( I believe it was “One” ) and ran across a tidbit that was a direct poke in my eye. I don’t know if he was trying to agitate me personally. I think it should all be about me and nobody else, but I realize others disagree. Our character is out wandering around after the Apocalypse ( Wastelands: Stories of the Apocalypse ) and is attacked by dogs. He gallantly fought them off with his SKS. And made the comment that he would have been dead if he had only carried a bolt ction. Can you believe that? A red cape was waved in front of the Bison! Dissing on bolt actions- oh, Lord, the horror! The Horror! Mayberry, my Blog Brother, worshiping at the alter of Yuppieness. Where did I go wrong?

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So, blame it on Mayberry if you didn’t want to read once again on survival arsenals. I couldn’t think of anything else after reading this. It was like a cancer eating at my brain. Assume you are wandering around after the collapse. For whatever reason. Lack of food. You already ate the wife and need a new post-apocalypse bride with bigger knockers ( Bigger Knocker Beer ). Whatever. You are diligently watching out for attacking zombies ( although not very well as you are distracted by visions of a nicer rack- and don’t act all offended ladies, you know you like those money makers just as much as we do even if for other reasons ) and a rabid dog pack attacks. Knowing that your long range rifle is too slow to reload, you pull out your revolver and shoot six of the dogs. If there are anymore that still want to eat you, you shoot one with your Enfield/Mauser/Commie bolt gun and butt stroke the others. Your pistol ( Never Mind the Bollocks ) is for close in work. If you rely on a carbine you limit your range and penetration. A quick break down on survival arsenals ( as apposed to a militia arsenal or a military arsenal- all different things ).

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A rimfire is for a long approach at arming yourself. Long into the future when all ammunition has been used and all reloading supplies are used up, a rimfire is far better than a black powder gun or a crossbow/bow. Far better to lack knock-down power than to take a minute to reload or give away your position firing. Or have no firearm at all. A pistol is for being armed at all times, hands free. It is also nice to have in close quarters combat, when a foe can be closer than the length of a rifle. A revolver is better than a semi if you are on a frugal budget. And there is little need to reload quickly. At that close of combat, you are dead if you don’t dispatch the problem on the first load. Even changing a magazine takes too long at a distance of ten yards. With a revolver you have six quick shots. It’s enough. Semi pistols envision two opponents firing away at each other without moving.

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A shotgun ( Allen Company Shotgun Shell Belt ) is nice to have. It intimidates, is very cheap and is easier than anything else to improvise its ammunition. It isn’t as necessary as you think however. If you have a rifle and a pistol already the shotgun isn’t required. In that case it becomes a liability by adding more ammunition you must buy and another purchase. I’m not saying it doesn’t have great uses, just that it isn’t mandatory. A carbine is a compromise the military made. Since combat ranges ( Down Range: To Iraq and Back) were far below what was previously thought, and since most ill trained troops sprayed and prayed rather than aimed, a medium powered short rifle did what the military needed. But survivalists don’t need to be twice as close to their enemies, which is what a carbine requires. You may not be able to use the effective range of a battle rifle, but even half that range is twice what a carbine can do. And the penetration and wounding capacity is far higher on a battle rifle. You need a battle rifle, not a carbine. If that is all you have or can afford, at least make it a bolt by disabling the auto rechambering ( thanks Vlad, once again, for the heads up on turning an SKS into a bolt ).

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The friggin Collapse just happened. There are no resupplies. Your ammo supply must last you forever. Semi-auto firing burns through your limited supply too quick. And, since you are NOT trained how to control your rate of fire in the stress of combat, bolt actions force you to make every shot count, even without training ( which is the status most of us “enjoy” ). The revolver is your bolt back-up, and its six shots are not too much worse than the ten of a SKS. And can be used at shorter ranges. Semi rifles or carbines are cool and fun, but absolutely the wrong choice for a de-industrialized post oil world.

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My e-mail is jimd303@netzero.com
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