Some Phone Apps To Consider

There are several apps available for your phone or pad that have great preparedness applications. I’d like to review three.
The first is an app called “First Aid” and it is produced by the American Red Cross. This is a great source for first aid information. I like the idea of having this information with me as long as I have a phone and battery power.
Accidents happen, and honestly no matter what your training may be, we don’t always know what to do with everything. That said, the Red Cross’ official First Aid app provides simple step-by-step instructions to guide you through everyday first aid scenarios. It covers asthma attacks to broken bones. It also supplies you with a host of informative quizzes and safety tips regarding natural disasters such as hurricanes, and given that it preloads all content in advance, you never have to worry about whether you have a tower signal. The app puts expert advice for everyday emergencies in your hands. It has videos, and simple step-by-step advice.

Features
• Easy to use Spanish language toggle to switch translation directly inside the app.
• Simple step-by-step instructions guide you through everyday first aid scenarios.
• Fully integrated with 9-1-1 so you can call EMS from the app at any time.
• Videos and animations make learning first aid fun and easy.
• Safety tips for everything, from severe winter weather to hurricanes, earthquakes and tornadoes help you prepare for emergencies.
• Preloaded content means you have instant access to all safety information any time, even without reception or an Internet connection.
• Interactive quizzes allow you to earn badges that you can share with your friends and show off your lifesaving knowledge.
I like this app. It is done well and has a lot of information at your fingertips. I would recommend it.
The app is called First Aid by American Red Cross and is available in iOS (iPhone) or Android operating systems.
The second app is called Disaster Alert (PDC).
Disaster Alert is an app from the Pacific Disaster Center (PDC). It displays information on current global disasters, including droughts, floods, wildfires, earthquakes, and heavy storms.
An overview of natural disasters is shown on an interactive world map. You can click on the disaster alert symbol to receive a summary of the current event status, when it was first reported, and when it was last updated. By Active Hazards the developers mean current and real-time incidents that could be “potentially hazardous to people, property or assets.” This includes everything from hurricanes, earthquakes, and tsunamis to areas of drought or serious health risk.
For more information, you can visit a page dedicated to the event on the PDC website by clicking the blue arrow symbol.
Like the First Aid app this app is available in iOS (iPhone) or Android operating systems.
I can also recommend this application. I have a separate app for earthquakes. It’s called Quake Feed Earthquakes. It only covers earthquakes though and I wanted more.
Last but not least is The Free Shot Timer. This is a shot timer for shooting at the range.
The Free Shot Timer is the best shot timer app for multiple reasons. The best part is that it’s free. The Free Shot Timer App is easy to install on your iPhone, making it one less gadget you have to remember to bring to the shooting range. The display is very easy to read and utilize, and it uses different colors and sizes of numbers to quickly portray data and comparisons for the user. The start can be delayed from zero to four seconds, and there’s even a random start that buzzes two to five seconds after you press the start button. All of your shooting data can be saved, and you can even email results to yourself or others. If you have AirPrint, then you can also print your data right from your phone! The Free Shot Timer is a fantastic app that’s perfect for anybody who is new to collecting data on their shooting. If you’re simply someone who wants to enhance their skills and know more about their abilities, then a free app may be a much better choice than shelling out over $100 for a manual shot timer. Obviously, if you’re a serious competitor, then a shooting app probably is not the best buy you could make. However, I think the Free Shooting Timer app is the timer with the easiest display to read and the most memory storage. Unfortunately this app is only available in iOS so it’s limited to an iPhone.
Information is always important in being prepared. These apps can help.
Semper Paratus
Check 6
Burn

Buying A Glock Is Dangerous!

DON’T BUY A GLOCK!!! (Just say no!)

The Glock 17 was introduced in 1982. In the following decades, various models of the Glock handgun have been adopted by military and police all over the world.

What is not to like about them? They are affordable, reliable and have a wide range of aftermarket parts.

However, I am here to tell you there are numerous reasons not to buy a Glock.


Glock Reliability


How is someone supposed to practice clearing a malfunction if the handgun is super reliable?

Someone who has only shot Glocks probably has no idea how to clear a stove pipe, or what to do if there is a failure to feed. If there ever is a malfunction, they will probably stand there wondering what to do.


Aftermarket Parts


Shortly after someone buys a Glock, they start buying aftermarket parts. The amount of triggers, safeties, barrels, etc. on the market is staggering.

Maybe the people at the Glock factory put some kind of virus in the handgun that makes people lose all willpower when it comes to buying parts. Before you know it, all of the family’s money has been spent on aftermarket parts. A few months later the house is being foreclosed on.

Where is the family supposed to live? Think of the children, they did not ask to lose their home for their parents Glock addiction.


Online Communities


Before the Glock owner realizes what has happened, they will be spending hours visiting various Glock forums.

The obsession of having to know about the latest new parts and modifications will consume their life. Before long the obsession invades the office and work is not getting done. Then the boss has to let the obsessed Glock owner go.


Magazines Obsession


How many magazines are enough? Before long the closets are full, the attic is full, the basement is full, and the only place left is to stack boxes against the walls.

Just a few months after buying a Glock handgun, friends and family members start suggesting you may have a hoarding problem. Before you know it, the TV show Hoarders is at your front door wanting to do a show.


Ammunition


The Glock is so fun to shoot that owners start stockpiling ammunition. With every square inch of the floors, walls, attic and basement covered in Glock magazines. Where is the ammunition?

Then the secrecy kicks in, the Glock owner rents a storage unit just for the ammunition. As they start spending time at the storage building counting their ammo, the children are neglected. Before long the kids start asking “Where is Mommy or Daddy?” The other parent can only comfort the children as they bravely hold back tears.

Finally someone steps in. Someone who loves the addict and wants to help. They give the addict a pretty blue box. On the box are the words “Smith and Wesson.” The addict shuns the box. But slowly, patiently, the rescuer coaxes the addict to come closer to the box. They get the addict to open the box and look at the pretty M&P logo. Soon the addict is touching the gun metal. He is working the slide and enjoying the grip. The rescuer suggests a visit to the range. Soon the addict is shooting 1 inch groups and is giddy, smiling, and laughing again! The addict is cured! He goes home to his wife and kids and spends time with them. They have their husband and father back!

Lurking in the gun store is another Glock 17. It waits. It looks innocent enough. Then the next victim comes into the store…

Semper Paratus
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Burn

Privacy: Scribbling

I talk a lot about privacy and security here. I have been in the habit of writing certain communication down by hand. My kids think I’m old, but that’s not it. I love the digital world and use it as much as possible. If you put information on a computer and delete it, is really gone? It is not gone until it is over written. Can you control when that happens? Perhaps my son the computer science major can do this, but most of us cannot. If I want something to be really delete-able, I write it down. Then I can destroy what it was written on. There are also ways of making your writing illegible. This is not the best way to dispose of your writing, but you may want to preserve what is written on.
Sometimes we handwrite short pieces of text that should be destroyed after it had served its useful purpose. It could be a password, an address, a name, etc. It could be something you don’t want your roommate to ask questions about, or something you don’t want a random dumpster diver to collect.
There are a number of possible ways to purge this sensitive information, but many are unsatisfactory. Crossing out the text with a pen is among the lamest, as the information is readily recoverable. Manually tearing the paper into bits is messy, imprecise, and possible to reconstruct. Cutting with scissors is okay but still cumbersome. Shredding with an actual office shredder is good but not always available. Cross-cut shredders are much better than strip cut shredders. Physical destruction with fire, water, or chemicals is possible but very messy.
In fact there is a simple way to destroy handwritten text, simply overwrite it with more handwritten text until it’s no longer possible to distinguish what text is true and what text is nonsense. It’s helpful to overwrite with the same kind of plausible content. For example overwriting numbers with random numbers, overwriting names with names, overwriting English sentences with general phrases. If the same pen is used for the original writing and the overwriting, then it’s sufficient to add 2 to 4 layers of overwritten text. If the pen is not the same, then it’s best to use 3 or more different pens of similar colors to do the overwriting. This way it’s difficult to tell which pen wrote the real information and which pen wrote the gibberish.
Note that this technique of overwriting cannot safely destroy printed material, because the look of handwritten text is too distinct from typefaces, and pen stroke ink looks very different from laser printer toner or offset printing ink. Printed materials still need to be shredded properly; there’s no shortcut for that. Also for handwriting, avoid overwriting with simple patterns like long straight lines, periodic loops, etc. You should overwrite with text that actually imitates the sensitive text, because this is what makes it hard to separate the content from fiction. Finally note that overwriting is tedious for more than a paragraph of text, so bulk destruction of paper should still seek a proper cross-cut shredder.
Privacy, like most security, is a lot of work. It’s worth the peace of mind but it takes a lot more work to be secure than to just let things slide. Be vigilant.
Semper Paratus
Check 6
Burn

Overwatch: Drill Of The Month For October

October

Reload drill

At a distance of 10 yards, you will have a loaded chamber. Fire your round at the target. Within a 3-second window you should be able to drop the magazine and then deliver a second shot on target. For those who use revolvers for self-defense, the importance of speed reloading in defensive scenarios is just as real. The goal is 3 seconds. Practice to where you can make a speed reload on an empty revolver, AND a full cylinder of empties, or a successful mag change.

The reality of this drill is that it is as important as immediate action drills to clear a problem. I think it’s the most important drill for wheel-gun shooters.

Repeat 3 times with 2 shots.

See “Overwatch: Drill of the Month” page for more drills

Snipers

I’m not a big sniper fan. Now before you misunderstand, know that I’m am in awe of distance shooters. They are amazing! I also understand and appreciate their value in combat. I’m just no good at it. I can hit a deer or an elk (in other words, the side of a barn!) at about 200 to 300 yards. That’s about my limit. I have not even tried that for well over 20 years. So that’s why I’m not a sniper fan. Because I’m horrible at it. Everything I have is zeroed at 50.
Having said the above I do have heroes who are snipers. Carlos Hathcock, to me, is the “father” of modern sniping. Even though there are some good ones who went before. Chris Kyle is also one of my favourites and not for the reasons of being well known with movies and other things. I admired him when he was alive when not too many people knew his name. I do feel he is deserving of his fame and remembrance. I take note of his birthday here on this blog every year.
So here I’d like to celebrate the record holders of military snipers.
The current record holder is 3,540 meters, just over 2 miles away.
His name is unknown at this time because he was still an active sniper in Afghanistan. But he is from the Canadian Joint Task Force 2 and he used a McMillan TAC-50 50 cal rifle. What an amazing shot.
Now Canadian Forces hold 3 of the top 5 spots for furthest sniper shot.
The others being:
Craig Harrison
In November of 2009, UK Corporal of Horse (CoH) Craig Harrison of the Household Cavalry Life Guards fired a shot from an Accuracy International L115A3 during the War in Afghanistan that traveled an astounding distance of 2,707 yards, again substantially beating out the previous record holder. This was no coincidental achievement either. Harrison had to creatively modify his equipment on the fly to achieve the level of accuracy needed to make the shot over such a tremendous distance. Nonetheless, Harrison does say in his reports that he owed part of his accomplishment to the fine weather, which was optimal for long-range shooting.
Rob Furlong
Furlong was a member of the Canadian infantry, and managed to beat out his Arron Perry’s record within the same month during the War in Afghanistan. After Perry set his record, Furlong beat it with a kill ranging 2,657 yards—a substantially longer shot, during Operation Anaconda. Furlong used the exact same type of weapon as Perry and the latest record holder, the McMillan TAC-50
Arron Perry
In March 2002, this Canadian soldier in the 3rd Battalion, Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry broke the long-held record by Carlos Hathcock, shooting a McMillan TAC-50 over a range of 2,526 yards during the War in Afghanistan.
Brian Kremer
Kremer holds the fifth spot for a shot placed from a range of 2,515 yards, narrowly beating out Hathcock’s record. This U.S. soldier used a Barrett M82A1 and was a member of the 2nd Ranger Battalion in the Iraq War. He was not however the first to break Hathcock’s record. Kremer’s shot came in 2004, two years after Corporal Rob Furlong and Master Corporal Arron Perry broke Hathcock’s record in 2002.
I include Carlos Hathcock in this list of great snipers. Carlos won the 1965 Wimbledon Cup at Camp Perry, Ohio which is a 1000 yards hi-powered rifle match.
This U.S. marine is still considered a legend, and rightly so. In over forty years, only five other snipers have managed to break his 1967 record.
Hathcock’s most respected work as a sniper was done during his two tours of service in the Vietnam War. He set the record (since broken) for the longest documented sniper kill—a confirmed kill at 2,500 yards (1.42 miles) with a .50-caliber Browning rifle. He was also in a five-day engagement that devastated an entire company of Viet Cong soldiers. One of the most disciplined kills he made was accomplished by crawling 1,500 yards across an open field over the course of three sleepless days to take one successful shot at a Viet Cong general. (Skeptics have commented that no Viet Cong general is known to have died of gunshot wounds during the years Hathcock was in Vietnam. But you be the judge.)
Perhaps Hathcock’s most legendary kill was when he shot an enemy sniper who was hunting him in order to claim the several-thousand-dollar bounty that the Viet Cong had placed on “White Feather,” a nickname that Hathcock had earned because he wore a small white feather in his cap. The kill was made without ever seeing his enemy; he saw a glint of light in the jungle foliage and gambled on taking the shot. The kill was confirmed, and the enemy’s sniper rifle was found next to the body with the scope hollowed out by the bullet that had traveled its length and entered into the enemy sniper’s eye. This shooting is widely imitated in movies, including The Sniper (1993) and Saving Private Ryan (1998).
Hathcock’s second tour in Vietnam abruptly ended on September 16, 1969, when he was riding an assault vehicle that struck a 500-pound mine near the South Vietnamese village of Que-Son. Despite being covered with flaming gasoline that burned him almost beyond recognition, he returned to the vehicle and rescued seven marines. He refused a recommendation for a Medal of Honor for this heroic act but was awarded a belated Silver Star in 1996. After recovering from the burns, he served for another ten years, training USMC snipers until his forced medical retirement in 1979; he had been diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in 1975.
After battling multiple sclerosis for over twenty-five years, Hathcock died on February 22, 1999. He is buried at Woodlawn Memorial Gardens in Norfolk, Virginia.

On the team trophy at Camp Perry it depicts a soldier in a helmet holding a pack of 4 dogs depicting the Shakespeare line from “Julius Ceasar”:
"Cry 'Havoc!', and let slip the dogs of war,” (Shakespeare’s “Julius Ceasar”)

There is always a place for learning distance shooting. It can be challenging and fun, or can just put meat in your freezer. I’ve decided to shoot with my hunting rifle at least monthly to try and stay current on the weapon. Maybe with some practice I can hit the bra side of a barn!

Semper Paratus
Check 6
Burn

What We Can Learn From The Vegas Shooting

Things I Learned From Vegas Shooting

I recently went all over the internet to read and listen to eye-witness accounts of those who were at the concert in Vegas when shots rang out. My thoughts and prayers still go out to the families and friends of those murdered and injured.
In reviewing these accounts I learned a few things I’d like to share here.

1.When in a crowd, no matter where or what, know where your exits are. You must know what you consider your primary route to that exit and a secondary route and exit. This exit should not be your entrance, although your entrance can be your 3rd or 4th exit. Most people in a panic will run toward the place where they came into the building simply because they have not taken note of any other entrances or exits. Sometimes they will pass an exit to get to the spot where they came in. This is why taking note of exits, any exits, is important. The reason I say any exits is sometimes there are exits not readily available to the public such as backstage exits, or personnel exits. Don’t let fences, barriers, vehicles, or even windows stop you from a fast egress from a dangerous situation. But make sure you know these are exits, which means doing a little homework on the building or event location.

2. One thing that I’ve bothered my family with for years is how you dress. Modesty is important to me but even more important is utility. If you are in a place where there are a lot of people, such as an airport, you may need to move quickly. Is it easy to run in flip flops? What if you have to walk a long distance, would your foot-ware tire you out? What if your long walk or run was through high weeds or alleys? Would your shorts be the best clothing? Comfortable shoes you can run in, long pants and maybe even a long sleeved shirt might serve you well in a unforeseen situation. Carry ID, cash, keys, phone, credit cards, a knife or blade if possible. You may not get back to your car or hotel room or home for some time. What you carry may be it for a while. Don’t be a “refugee” but someone ready for whatever comes their way. Coats, gloves, rain gear, or a hat are also a plus in inclement weather.

3. Flashlights are indispensable. Many of these shootings have happened at night or in the dark of a theater, or a night club. A light can save you by showing you where real cover is, where concealment is, or show you the path to an exit. Moving in darkness can be dangerous and fruitless. I’ve carried a flashlight for years and often it gets more use than my multi-tool.

4. Situational awareness is always so important wherever you are. I’m not saying you have to be in Orange all the time, but at least Yellow! Too many times we get too relaxed and we slip into White and are totally unprepared. Being aware can keep you from being hit by a vehicle, whether the driver is intentionally or unintentionally, careening toward you in a crowd of people. If you are so inclined or have the opportunity, find out what gunshots really sound like. Too many witnesses say “I thought it was fireworks…” when they should have been moving toward an exit or cover. Learn to identify a muzzle flash too. Also, learn what cover really is. Too many people think a car door will stop a bullet. You can relax and enjoy yourself without going stupid and being in White. (Referring to the Cooper color code) When you are aware make sure it is 720 degrees. That is all around you and up and down too. In the case of Vegas, the danger was coming from above.

5. Be armed all the time everywhere. Be legal, but be armed. In the case of the Vegas shooter returning fire was not a good idea. I’m not sure of distance involved and you’d hate to hit short and hurt or kill someone else. But in most cases, evil shooters cower in the face of return fire or better yet, kill themselves. These people are not soldiers, they are generally cowards. Being armed is not easy. It takes time, money, and work. But being able to defend yourself is truly priceless. If I can’t carry a gun I’ll have a blade, tactical pen, and other legal defense weapons.

6. Medical knowledge and med kits are invaluable. Some people carry in their EDC a battle dressing or a tourniquet or both. These type of things are essential in a mass shooting situation. Get some good training from a medic or an EMT. Someone who deals with emergency medicine. Most medical professionals are tied to a hospital or ambulance filled with supplies and equipment and communication gear. If you learn the basics of using tourniquets and compression bandages. Often what you really need are blood stoppers. Having a good stocked first aid kit in all your vehicles is a must. The average first aid kit from Walmart is not very good. It is better than nothing though. I recommend you make your own and include 10 to 15 surgical pads. I stopped at a car accident once and needed more than the 4 pads I had in my kit.

In summary going out in this world can be dangerous. We are no longer safe from wackos or terrorists. We can be better prepared. Most of us think we are different than war-torn countries but that is an illusion. Our world can be turned upside down in a second. Being in a large crowd is not advised but don’t become paranoid and never go to a football game or a concert again. Use your head. Try to sit near an exit if possible. Do the same in restaurants. If we’re careful we can minimize being caught in a dangerous situation. If all of us did the above six steps we could make a difference and be an asset if something goes down.

Stay safe!

Semper Paratus
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Burn

Monthly Read: Book Review For October

Once a month I will review and recommend a book. I know in this digital world that paper books are a little out dated. Most hard copy books are now in digital form, often in PDF. I would recommend a good well rounded hard copy library in your home. Some of the best books are old and out of print. There are certain publishers and authors I really like. This will be books I like and really only my opinion. If you’d like to recommend a book for me to review e-mail me and we can make it happen. The subjects will be varied but will have to do with the theme of this website, LDS Gunsite. Guns, preparedness, LDS History, security, self-defense, and patriotism are just a few examples. I have a big library of mostly reference books so I will draw heavily from that. Some books may be old and out of print. But most will be books you can find on Amazon.
October’s Monthly Read is: Wood Heat by John Vivian
Publishers review
More and more people are buying stoves, having fireplaces installed, laying in cords of firewood. This book will tell you everything you need to know, and more, about heating with wood. There is a photo series showing how a masonry fireplace is built, line drawings showing the proper way to install an insulated stovepipe chimney, a chapter on annual maintenance, and a visual guide to 22 of the most common North American fuelwood trees.
My review:
I love this book! I borrowed an old copy from a friend and kept it for longer than I should. When I went to return he told me I could keep it. I was so grateful! Then I found a more recent edition of it and just last year gave away that original copy to someone who just built a new house with a wood stove in it. So it went to a good home.
This book is very thorough as far as it covers literally everything concerning heating with wood in your home. I love the illustrations in it. It covers building your own stove to most of the commercial stoves that are out there. The author gives you lots of ideas for cutting, splitting, and storing wood. I learned much about heating with wood from this book. I recommend it whole heartedly.

Mainstream Media Does It Again

News. There’s a joke. I just read several articles about this new “evil” stock that makes your rifle an automatic. It’s called a bump fire stock. Well what a surprise. In an attempt to scoop everyone, these reporters get stupid research and rely on it for their reporting. So do law makers. A bump-fire-stock is only something that helps you do what I’ve done since I was a kid. It’s called bump fire and it’s not illegal. I can do it with any semi-auto rifle. I’ve even done it with a semi auto shotgun (which is fun as heck, I might add!). I used to do it with my 10/22 when I was a teenager. Some nut case kills a bunch of people and the general public, law makers, and law enforcement think they can figure out a way to never let it happen again. I don’t care how many guns, accessories, or ammunition you ban, it WILL happen again. There are sick, evil people out there who do these things and we’ll probably never know why.
Really what it comes down to is the only person that can keep you safe is YOU! And even then, there’s always the human element that could put you in harm’s way. I don’t think I can think of any idea as to how you would stop someone from doing what this nut case did in Vegas. There are some safeguards you can put in, but never an absolute thing that can be done to keep this from happening again. I’m not saying we shouldn’t look at any options but banning a stock won’t do much. Dianne Feinstein wants to ban it because she thinks it’s like “war”. She obviously has never been in combat. I can just see someone trying to bump-fire in combat. They would be what we call a casualty. It drives me nuts that people who know nothing about guns, combat, or shooting write stories, and make laws about something they know absolutely nothing about! I don’t know why these people can’t find real sources for their gun and shooting information. It’s not too hard to find an expert who will give you honest, unbiased info. But, as I have said before. I’m not sure some law makers or “journalists” care much about the truth. They have an agenda and that’s all they are concerned with. And before the friends, and family can even grieve, these hacks have made their judgements and have taken their stances. They will not let any tragedy go by without trying to make headlines or political hay. They, in my opinion, are guilty of some hand in these shootings. They go crazy with them and turn them into a three ring circus. Other nuts actually learn from every detail of a shooting that the press mishandles. If they would just stop going into detail for every nut case and government hater to learn from I think that might help. But they will not. They are not really interested in public safety.
Do me a favor. When you watch the mainstream media or read what they write understand that their knowledge of guns and shooting are extremely limited. There are a few journalists that know what they are talking about. They paid the price and actually did more than a Google search. Search for the truth about the guns that were used and don’t just believe them because they are published or on TV. It’s like the internet, not everything is true.

My thoughts and prayers are with the victims and their families and friends.

Semper Paratus
Check 6
Burn

How To Store Ammo and How Much

If you shoot a lot, whether it is competition, keeping your skills up, or hunting, you’ll probably store some ammo. As with long-term storage of almost any item, try to focus on storing ammunition in cool, dark and dry areas. The number one concern with extended ammunition storage is moisture and humidity, which can lead to corrosion. In general, ammunition must be protected from moisture and should also be protected from temperature extremes.
In most cases, you can adequately store modern ammunition in their original paper boxes for several years inside your house, which typically has a controlled humidity level. However, this does not address the challenges of storing ammunition for 3-5 years or longer. If you plan on storing it for any longer time periods, than you need to take a several precautions:
1. Store your ammunition in a low humidity location. Humidity is the enemy and it will kill your ammunition with corrosion, thus making the rounds dangerous to fire. One of the best methods for extending the service life is to use ammo cans. If you have good ammo cans and pack your ammo well you can easily have your ammunition survive very long term storage.

When using ammo cans, the key to success is to lower the humidity in all the packing material before sealing the ammunition in an airtight ammo can. If you are storing loose ammunition this is not really an issue since there is nothing to trap humidity, but air. If you are storing your ammunition in cardboard boxes inside the ammo can you will need to get the humidity out of the cardboard before sealing the can for storage. The easiest way is to use a dehumidifier, you probably have on inside your gun safe to protect your guns. Placing the ammo and container (unsealed and open) inside the safe several days will draw the moisture out of all the packing material to ensure you start with the proper humidity conditions. Also, make sure that the ammunition itself is clean, dry, and wiped off, especially if you have handled it with your hands. Next take a few new desiccant packets and place them in the ammo can. The great thing about using silica gel desiccant packets is that they can be recycled and reused by simply putting them in a dehydrator or in a kitchen oven on a 150 F degree setting for a few hours, which will remove the humidity and moisture for reuse. In addition, add a humidity sensor card to provide a quick visual inspection as you conduct periodic checks of your ammo. All you need to do now is seal the ammo can and it should give you years of successful storage.

Another method to fighting the humidity problem is to vacuum seal your ammunition to help protect it from water, rusting or even burying it underground. Use a desiccant packet in your vacuum sealing process for added protection.
2. Rotate your ammunition whenever possible. It is important to note not to store you ammunition longer than necessary. Rotation, just like long-term food storage, is the second key to successfully storing ammo. Rotate your ammunition as often as possible and make sure you mark dates on your ammo cans so you use the oldest ammo first.
3. Now that you have your ammunition sealed and stored you will need to conduct periodic checks every 12 to 24 months. This step will only take a few seconds if you placed a humidity sensor card in the ammo can during step number one. Simply, inspect the card to ensure the humidity is less than 30%. You can also remove the existing desiccant packets and replace with new (or recycled) desiccant packets. Doing periodic checks will make sure your stocks are ready when you need them.

Now that you know how to store ammo the question is how much? This question has been debated for years. I’d like to shed a little light on this but I’m sure there will be many voices that may agree or disagree. I’ve noticed this subject is not really one that even gets discussed with shooting buddies at the range. No one wants to admit that they are a little paranoid or even genuinely concerned about future laws, current political climate, or even ammo availability. All of these things are good reasons to store ammunition. I have stored ammo for years only because I want to be able to shoot what I want, when I want. I live outside a small town that has only so much ammunition is so many calibers. When the crunch hit in 2008 to 2014 I didn’t have any problems because I had ammo storage. I was looking, like everyone else, because I was afraid I wouldn’t be able to replenish what I was using. It didn’t stop me from training though, which I’m grateful for.
I’d love to be able to say there is a fast and hard rule for an amount of stored ammunition. There is not. Everyone will give you a different answer. Try searching the internet for that answer. You will come away more confused than you started. Some say you need X amount for a zombie apocalypse. Others think that’s silly and talk about specific amounts for practicing, hunting, and defense. Some just have a rule of thumb “X number”. So I guess I need to do the same. As a general rule of thumb, I would suggest you keep a minimum of 1,000 rounds of ammunition per caliber stored away not to be used for practice, and another pile of 1,000 rounds for practice. That amount will fluctuate as you use it and replace it. That’s a minimum of 2,000 rounds that you should buy over time, and that’s also just for one caliber. I actually put my storage goals on my ammunition inventory sheet. Some calibers I will get more than others. These numbers depend on your guns. I have several 9mm hand guns and even a 9mm carbine. Obviously, I’ll get more of that than a little .25 caliber handgun that we own. I shoot a lot of 9mm and .22, so that number will be higher than my stock of .308. I don’t hunt anymore so I’ll shoot that rifle once in a while. We only own one .308 rifle so that will influence how much we stock. 2,000 is just a number and you should be realistic about the amount you think you’ll need. Some say an Army infantry soldier carries only 210 rounds in his load out. That may be true, but what kind of re-supply can he receive? I don’t plan on having firefights but what if I did? Would I be able to take care of those ammo needs? I’m not suggesting 10,000 rounds per battle rifle, but I’m suggesting being real. Those that say you’ll never be in a war situation are being un-realistic. It could happen, but is it likely? These are the questions you must ask and answer. Don’t impugn someone’s choice of storage ammunition. If that’s the way they feel who’s to say they are wrong? Like food, water or any other preparations, you must decide for yourself. I feel comfortable with the above 1,000 for practice, and 1,000 for storage “rule”. Would I ever have more than that? Of course, Rudyard Kipling said it best:
"A man can never have too much red wine, too many books, or too much ammunition."
I suppose he knew. Storing ammunition can be easy and simple, but you must do your best to be safe. I’m not too worried about kids getting into ammo. Why are some politicians so worried about ammunition but not about sharp knives in the home? Ammunition is pretty safe outside of a gun. Yes it will “explode” but without the confinement of a guns chamber, the bullet won’t “shoot”. Being able to hit a primer at the right angle and pressure is difficult unless you get a nail and a hammer. Power tools, steak knives, and over-used electrical outlets are more dangerous than loose ammunition. But I digress.
You must determine how much ammunition to store. If you follow the above precautions, you will have years of service from stored ammo. If you know the origin of the ammo, and how it was stored, you can probably safely shoot it. If you do not, be very careful with it. Old ammo can be dangerous. Corroded ammunition should never be shot. It’s not worth the risk to your safety, to others around you, and to your gun. I’ve seen people do this, but in experimental form. With a specific gun mounted, and being safely away from the gun when it shot. I would strongly advise against it! It’s not worth those few cents.
I will share with you several ideas I found on the internet and you can see how crazy it can be out there.
Example 1: Hunting ammo should include (a minimum) of 1000 rounds of assorted hunting loads for your shotgun, 400 rounds for your big game rifle, and 4000 rounds of .22 Long Rifle.
Defensive ammo should include (a minimum) of 500 rounds of defensive ammo for your tactical shotgun, 1000 rounds for your handgun, and 2000 rounds for your rifle. For the rifle and pistol also have a good supply of magazines.

Example 2: Hunting and defense ammo. Both types of ammo are highly essential for SHTF. For defense, you should stock up a minimum of 500 rounds of defensive ammo for your shotgun, approximately 2000 rounds for your rifle and finally 1000 rounds for your handgun.

Meanwhile for hunting, you should possess at least 1000 rounds of varying and assorted hunting loads for your shotgun, 400 rounds just for your large game rifle and finally 4000 rounds for your .22lr rifle

Example 3: Input I have collected from numerous preppers seem to settle on the figure of at least 5,000 rounds per caliber on hand

Example 4: Looking at the Army’s own information about this, we find that infantry soldiers carry a total of 210 rounds of ammunition for their rifles. That consists of one magazine of 30 rounds in their rifle and six more magazines of 30 rounds attached to their plate carrier and/or chest rig.

Then it would seem that 1,000 rounds of good rifle ammo and 150+ good pistol ammo is a bare minimum for stockpiling when the you-know-what hits the fan.

As I’ve said above, use discretion, wisdom, and some sense in choosing what you will store. As far as fire hazard, ammunition is not. But that’s for another article.

Semper Paratus
Check 6
Burn

Porter Rockwell and The OODA Loop

The OODA loop is well known in fighting circles. It’s even used in business.
Whether you’re developing a retirement savings plan, or buying lunch, you’re using the OODA loop. Even when you’re doing things as automatic as grabbing a drink from the fridge or driving the same route to work as you do everyday — you’re using the OODA loop. It’s a proven model, and when we use it to an extent that matches the importance of the actions we’re taking, it works remarkably well.

So, what is the OODA loop? OODA stands for Observe, Orient, Decide and Act. When we do anything this process is what our brain must go through. We observe that something is happening, orient towards it (figure out what it is), make a decision as to what we need to do and then act.
The OODA Loop principle was developed by Lt. Col. John Boyd for aerial combat in the Korean and Viet Nam war era. John R. Boyd figured this science out as a young U.S. Air Force fighter pilot. John was cocky even by fighter-pilot standards…he issued a standing challenge to anyone who dared to try to defeat him in mock aerial combat. To make it even more of a challenge for him once in the air he would start from a position of disadvantage. He bet that he’d have his jet on the challenger’s tail within 40 seconds, or he’d pay them $40. Legend has it that he never lost. His amazing ability to win any dogfight in 40 seconds or less earned him his nickname “40 Second” Boyd.
What Lt. Col. Boyd discovered was that if he could keep the opponent in the loop, and he got through OODA, that he had a great advantage. For example, if the enemy was observing Boyd roll right, was orienting to this move but before he could decide or act Body rolled left it made that enemy have to start the OODA loop all over again.
As Boyd taught the principal and taught airmen to get through the loop (and keep others in it) he discovered that after five go rounds at actual air combat that pilot became virtually unbeatable. After five they would not get caught in the loop but would rapidly get through it and act first. He put science behind what pilots had somehow knew in WWI and WWII as they called a pilot who shot down five enemies an Ace.
There is an FBI report on Law Enforcement Officers Killed and Assaulted. This report is based on interviews with those who have been arrested for assaulting police officers. Remember how the pilots were virtually unbeatable after five times facing combat? According to this report the average person who attacks a law enforcement officer in a deadly force engagement has had an average of five uses of deadly force in their past. This is why reality based training is so important. Our brains do not know the difference between real events and events in training. Using scenarios we could get through dozens of deadly force engagement and learn from them!
In self-defense we want to get through the loop and keep the attacker in the loop. If, while the attacker is observing and orienting to our defense they get kicked in the groin or finger jabbed in the eye their brain will automatically go back to observing and orienting. When they get to the orienting about the strike we then attack again and start the loop all over again for them. Keeping the attacker in the loop while we are to the action phase of the loop is a big step towards winning an encounter.
Porter Rockwell understood this. There is a story about him that illustrates Port’s keeping an opponent in the loop.
A young gunslinger got the drop on Rockwell. “Say your prayers,” he demanded. Rockwell replied, “You wouldn’t try and shoot a man without a cap on your pistol, would you?” The instant the man glanced at his gun, he was blown from his saddle by Rockwell, who had a gun hidden in his pocket. Port understood concealed carry. He also understood the OODA loop and how to use it effectively.
We too can be as wise as Porter Rockwell.
Semper Parartus
Check 6
Burn

Your Safety And Security Is Your Responsibility

I was contemplating a new article for this blog last Friday. This is not a response to the Vegas tragedy. I felt inspired to write about an active shooter situation. We’d just done an active shooter exercise at work and so it was fresh in my mind.
Sunday September 30th, in Las Vegas another nut case let loose on unsuspecting, innocents. They were just enjoying a concert. The details are still being found but the shooter was a 60 something year old man. From some of the videos it sounded like he had an automatic weapon. A true “assault weapon.” Details are still sketchy but as usual with these cowards, he killed himself when someone confronted him. It was a little unusual that he shot from a hotel window down on a crowd.
Over the years I’ve talked to a lot of military, tactical, and law enforcement professionals who’ve spent their careers training and dealing with violent individuals: U.S. marshals, SWAT officers, and Special Forces operators. And I’ve asked them all this same question: What’s an average Joe civilian like me supposed to do when faced with a gunman who’s indiscriminately firing on people?
They’ve all answered the same way.
1.You’re on your own
I know this is much less than comforting. How is this information relevant? I think it speaks to situational awareness and other things. You can’t always control where you will sit during a large public event such as a concert or sporting event. But you can do your homework. As you come into the event, take note of the exits. Find at least another exit besides where you came in. Most shootings are over within 2 to 5 minutes. This means very few police will be on scene. There might be some security right there, but you are basically on your own. So, when your hear shots, don’t be like everyone else and say after the killing “I thought it was fireworks!” which is what everyone seems to think. When you hear those shots, go toward your pre-designated exit unless that would be toward the shots. Then choose your other exit. What’s the worst that can happen? You go back to your seat when it was found that it really was fireworks? Actually the worst is that it really is shots. But you have found a way out. Every situation is different but leaving and getting out of the area is best. Especially before it turns into a stampede. Do not freeze, act! It’s easy enough to assume all is well or to not know what to do. Don’t be like the rest of the sheep. This is called the normalcy bias. This causes people to act as if nothing is out of the ordinary. You must fight off this tendency and do something. Fireworks fits better with their brain than someone indiscriminately killing people. Do not be like everyone else, move, act, and be safe. Even in combat those in it don’t want to believe it.
2. Decide now what to do.
Once you’ve decided what you would do, work that plan when it happens. This will help you keep away from the normalcy bias. Work through scenarios and have a plan. Even if you have to alter the plan there is something in place.


Remember the OODA loop. Everyone, including the shooter, is running their loop. Observe, orient, decide, and act. He who finishes their loop first usually wins the fight. OODA Loops can begin way before an actual encounter starts. By coming up with a plan of what you would do in an active shooter situation before one ever happens, you’re already engaged in the second step: Orienting. Should you encounter a shooter, you can act immediately because you’ve already begun the cycle and already have a plan in place. Remember, ABO: Always Be Orienting. Because the world around you is constantly changing, orientation is something you can never stop doing. “ABO = Always Be Orienting” should become your mantra. With preparation you can always be one step in front of an opponent.
3. Maintain situational awareness wherever you go.
It drives my family crazy that I’m always throwing up scenarios to them. What would you do if this happened? Or that? It used to be a fun game but I guess I’ve turned it into an annoyance.
But we must be aware. I’ve written a lot on this subject so I won’t go into it all here again. I’m sure it will be in numerous articles to come.
Here are some of my previous articles on the subject:
Pearl Harbor and Situational Awareness 12/7/2016
Happy Situational Awareness Day! 9/26/2016
Situational Awareness...Again 8/2/2016
Seeing And Hearing An Attack 6/29/2016
Learning From San Bernardino and Terrorist Attacks 6/10/2016
Vigilance and "Some Sort of War" 8/6/2016
Let’s just review some of the basics.
Stay in Yellow. There’s no specific threat situation, but you have your head up and you’re taking in your surroundings with all your senses. Most people associate situational awareness with just visual stimulation, but you can also learn a lot about a particular scenario from sounds. This is especially true for active shootings. If you hear gunshots or something that sounds an awful lot like gunshots that should be a sign that you need to start immediately preparing to take action.
Though your senses are slightly heightened in Condition Yellow, it’s also important to stay relaxed. Staying relaxed ensures that you maintain an open focus, which allows you to take in more information about what’s going on around you. Research shows that when we get nervous or stressed, our attention narrows, causing us to concentrate on just a few things at a time. A narrow focus can therefore cause us to miss important details in our environment.
Remember to establish baselines. A baseline is what’s “normal” in a given situation, and it will differ from person to person and environment to environment. A baseline in an office would be people working at their desks or chatting in a lobby. A baseline at a restaurant would be people in uniforms coming in and out of the kitchen and customers entering and exiting the restaurant through the front door.
We establish baselines so that we can look for anomalies. Hearing gunshots at a college campus is definitely out of the ordinary, and should immediately trigger your active shooter plan of action. But let’s take a look at a subtler anomaly. If you’re at a movie theater and you see a guy entering the theater from the exit near the screen. That should definitely put you on alert. It could just be a guy sneaking in for a free movie, but it could also be a gunman. You don’t need to go and immediately tackle the guy, but you’d certainly want to keep your eye on him and make sure you’re prepared to quickly move out.
The experts say your best bet in an active shooter even is to Run, Hide, Fight.
Run
Running away should always be your first line of action. As soon as you hear gunfire, leave the premises immediately using your preconceived escape plan and get as far away from the shooter as possible. Ideally, you’ll be able to escape without having to cross the shooter’s path.
Hide
Sometimes running isn’t an option. Maybe the shooter is in front of the only exit and you can’t jump out the window because you’re on the fourth floor. If you can’t make an escape, the next best thing to do is to hide in a secure location.
Fight
When running or hiding have failed or aren’t viable options, it’s time to resort to plan C: Fight!
Most civilians don’t think they can take on an active shooter because, well, the shooter has a gun and they likely do not. But here’s the thing: it is possible for unarmed individuals to subdue or chase away an armed shooter. Anthony Sadler, Spencer Stone, and Alek Skarlatos — the 3 friends who rushed a terrorist aboard a train to Paris — did it, saving dozens of lives. So did Frank Hall, a football coach who ran down a shooter and chased him out of a high school in Ohio before he could wreak massive carnage.
Remember that there is always something you can do. You don’t have to be a victim!
Semper Paratus
Check 6
Burn