3 X 5 Card Drill
Distance: 3 yards and greater
Target: 3×5 card
Instructions: Place a standard 3×5 white index card three yards away. Fire five rounds at the card with no time limit. If all five shots hit the card, move to the seven yard line and fire five more. If those are all hits, keep repeating the drill, moving back an additional yard after each successful 5 shot string. The goal is to go as far as you can without missing a shot. Once you miss, end the drill or start over at three yards.
If you can see your shooting becoming a little loose, accuracy-wise, then this drill will
A lot of shooters get sloppy with their marksmanship standards, often because they simply use targets that are too large. If you only ever practice shooting at an 8-inch circle or a large silhouette, it’s easy to get slack about proper sight alignment and trigger manipulation. This simple drill will show you pretty quickly if your fundamentals need work. It’s also a good way to check the zero for your carry gun. As you back up from the 3×5 card, your point of impact might start to shift up or down, and you’ll need to adjust accordingly. If you’re able to make it past 15 or 20 yards with this drill, the 3×5 target will probably be stretching the limits of the mechanical accuracy of your gun and ammo.
This drill was originally developed by Todd Green at Pistol-Training.com
Monday, January 29, 2018
Thursday, January 25, 2018
LDS Gunsite's 4th Anniversary: Murphy's Laws
For our 4th anniversary I’ve chosen to celebrate with Murphy’s Laws.
Enjoy!
Murphy’s Laws of Combat Operations
1. Friendly fire – isn’t.
2. Recoilless rifles – aren’t.
3. Suppressive fires – won’t.
4. You are not Superman; Marines and fighter pilots take note.
5. A sucking chest wound is Nature’s way of telling you to slow down.
6. If it’s stupid but it works, it isn’t stupid.
7. Try to look unimportant; the enemy may be low on ammo and not want to waste a bullet on you.
8. If at first you don’t succeed, call in an airstrike.
9. If you are forward of your position, your artillery will fall short.
10. Never share a foxhole with anyone braver than yourself.
11. Never gamble with anyone crazier than yourself.
12. Never forget that your weapon was made by the lowest bidder.
13. If your attack is going really well, it’s an ambush.
14. The enemy diversion you’re ignoring is their main attack.
15. The enemy invariably attacks on two occasions: When they’re ready or when you’re not.
16. No PLAN ever survives initial contact.
17. There is no such thing as a perfect plan.
18. Five second fuzes always burn three seconds.
19. There is no such thing as an atheist in a foxhole.
20. A retreating enemy is probably just falling back and regrouping.
21. The important things are always simple; the simple are always hard.
22. The easy way is always mined.
23. Teamwork is essential; it gives the enemy other people to shoot at.
24. Don’t look conspicuous; it draws fire. (For this reason, it is not at all uncommon for aircraft carriers to be known as bomb magnets.)
25. Never draw fire; it irritates everyone around you.
26. If you are short of everything but the enemy, you are in the combat zone.
27. When you have secured the area, make sure the enemy knows it too.
28. Incoming fire has the right of way.
29. No combat ready unit has ever passed inspection.
30. No inspection ready unit has ever passed combat.
31. If the enemy is within range, so are you.
32. The only thing more accurate than incoming enemy fire is incoming friendly fire.
33. Things which must be shipped together as a set, aren’t.
34. Things that must work together, can’t be carried to the field that way.
35. Radios will fail as soon as you need fire support. Corollary: Radar tends to fail at night and in bad weather, and especially during both.
36. Anything you do can get you killed, including nothing.
37. Make it too tough for the enemy to get in, and you won’t be able to get out.
38. Tracers work both ways.
39. If you take more than your fair share of objectives, you will get more than your fair share of objectives to take.
40. When both sides are convinced they’re about to lose, they’re both right.
41. Professional soldiers are predictable; the world is full of dangerous amateurs.
42. Military Intelligence is a contradiction.
43. Fortify your front; you’ll get your rear shot up.
44. Weather ain’t neutral.
45. If you can’t remember, the Claymore is pointed towards you.
46. Air defense motto: shoot ’em down; sort ’em out on the ground.
47. ‘Flies high, it dies; low and slow, it’ll go.
48. The Cavalry doesn’t always come to the rescue.
49. Napalm is an area support weapon.
50. Mines are equal opportunity weapons.
51. B-52s are the ultimate close support weapon.
52. Sniper’s motto: reach out and touch someone.
53. Bolt actions speak louder than words
54. The one item you need is always in short supply.
55. Interchangeable parts aren’t.
56. It’s not the one with your name on it; it’s the one addressed “to whom it may concern” you’ve got to think about.
57. When in doubt, empty your magazine.
58. The side with the simplest uniforms wins.
59. Combat will occur on the ground between two adjoining maps.
60. If the Platoon Sergeant can see you, so can the enemy.
61. Never stand when you can sit, never sit when you can lie down, never stay awake when you can sleep.
62. The most dangerous thing in the world is a Second Lieutenant with a map and a compass.
63. Exceptions prove the rule, and destroy the battle plan.
64. Everything always works in your HQ, everything always fails in the Colonel’s HQ.
65. The enemy never watches until you make a mistake.
66. One enemy soldier is never enough, but two is entirely too many.
67. A clean (and dry) set of BDU’s is a magnet for mud and rain.
68. The worse the weather, the more you are required to be out in it.
69. Whenever you have plenty of ammo, you never miss. Whenever you are low on ammo, you can’t hit the broad side of a barn.
70. The more a weapon costs, the farther you will have to send it away to be repaired.
71. The complexity of a weapon is inversely proportional to the IQ of the weapon’s operator.
72. Field experience is something you don’t get until just after you need it.
73. No matter which way you have to march, it’s always uphill.
74. If enough data is collected, a board of inquiry can prove anything.
75. For every action, there is an equal and opposite criticism.
76. Airstrikes always overshoot the target, artillery always falls short.
77. When reviewing the radio frequencies that you just wrote down, the most important ones are always illegible.
78. Those who hesitate under fire usually do not end up KIA or WIA.
79. The tough part about being an officer is that the troops don’t know what they want, but they know for certain what they don’t want.
80. To steal information from a person is called plagiarism. To steal information from the enemy is called gathering intelligence.
81. The weapon that usually jams when you need it the most is the M60.
82. The perfect officer for the job will transfer in the day after that billet is filled by someone else.
83. When you have sufficient supplies & ammo, the enemy takes 2 weeks to attack. When you are low on supplies & ammo the enemy decides to attack that night.
84. The newest and least experienced soldier will usually win the Medal of Honor.
85. A Purple Heart just proves that were you smart enough to think of a plan, stupid enough to try it, and lucky enough to survive.
86. Murphy was a grunt.
87. Murphy was not in the Air Force
88. Body count Math –> 3 guerrillas plus 1 probable plus 2 pigs equals 37 enemies killed in action.
89. The bursting radius of a hand grenade is always one foot greater than your jumping range.
90. All-weather close air support doesn’t work in bad weather.
91. The combat worth of a unit is inversely proportional to the smartness of its outfit and appearance.
92. The crucial round is a dud.
93. Every command which can be misunderstood, will be.
94. There is no such place as a convenient foxhole.
95. Don’t ever be the first, don’t ever be the last and don’t ever volunteer to do anything.
96. If your positions are firmly set and you are prepared to take the enemy assault on, he will bypass you.
97. If your ambush is properly set, the enemy won’t walk into it.
98. If your flank march is going well, the enemy expects you to outflank him.
99. Density of fire increases proportionally to the curiousness of the target.
100. Odd objects attract fire – never lurk behind one.
101. The more stupid the leader is, the more important missions he is ordered to carry out.
102. The self-importance of a superior is inversely proportional to his position in the hierarchy (as is his deviousness and mischievousness).
103. There is always a way, and it usually doesn’t work.
104. Success occurs when no one is looking, failure occurs when the General is watching.
105. The enemy never monitors your radio frequency until you broadcast on an unsecured channel.
106. Whenever you drop your equipment in a fire-fight, your ammo and grenades always fall the farthest away, and your canteen always lands at your feet.
107. As soon as you are served hot chow in the field, it rains.
108. Never tell the Platoon Sergeant you have nothing to do.
109. The seriousness of a wound (in a fire-fight) is inversely proportional to the distance to any form of cover.
110. Walking point = sniper bait.
111. Your bivouac for the night is the spot where you got tired of marching that day.
112. If only one solution can be found for a field problem, then it is usually a stupid solution.
113. All or any of the above combined.
Murphy’s laws seems to always be true.
Semper Paratus
Burn
Enjoy!
Murphy’s Laws of Combat Operations
1. Friendly fire – isn’t.
2. Recoilless rifles – aren’t.
3. Suppressive fires – won’t.
4. You are not Superman; Marines and fighter pilots take note.
5. A sucking chest wound is Nature’s way of telling you to slow down.
6. If it’s stupid but it works, it isn’t stupid.
7. Try to look unimportant; the enemy may be low on ammo and not want to waste a bullet on you.
8. If at first you don’t succeed, call in an airstrike.
9. If you are forward of your position, your artillery will fall short.
10. Never share a foxhole with anyone braver than yourself.
11. Never gamble with anyone crazier than yourself.
12. Never forget that your weapon was made by the lowest bidder.
13. If your attack is going really well, it’s an ambush.
14. The enemy diversion you’re ignoring is their main attack.
15. The enemy invariably attacks on two occasions: When they’re ready or when you’re not.
16. No PLAN ever survives initial contact.
17. There is no such thing as a perfect plan.
18. Five second fuzes always burn three seconds.
19. There is no such thing as an atheist in a foxhole.
20. A retreating enemy is probably just falling back and regrouping.
21. The important things are always simple; the simple are always hard.
22. The easy way is always mined.
23. Teamwork is essential; it gives the enemy other people to shoot at.
24. Don’t look conspicuous; it draws fire. (For this reason, it is not at all uncommon for aircraft carriers to be known as bomb magnets.)
25. Never draw fire; it irritates everyone around you.
26. If you are short of everything but the enemy, you are in the combat zone.
27. When you have secured the area, make sure the enemy knows it too.
28. Incoming fire has the right of way.
29. No combat ready unit has ever passed inspection.
30. No inspection ready unit has ever passed combat.
31. If the enemy is within range, so are you.
32. The only thing more accurate than incoming enemy fire is incoming friendly fire.
33. Things which must be shipped together as a set, aren’t.
34. Things that must work together, can’t be carried to the field that way.
35. Radios will fail as soon as you need fire support. Corollary: Radar tends to fail at night and in bad weather, and especially during both.
36. Anything you do can get you killed, including nothing.
37. Make it too tough for the enemy to get in, and you won’t be able to get out.
38. Tracers work both ways.
39. If you take more than your fair share of objectives, you will get more than your fair share of objectives to take.
40. When both sides are convinced they’re about to lose, they’re both right.
41. Professional soldiers are predictable; the world is full of dangerous amateurs.
42. Military Intelligence is a contradiction.
43. Fortify your front; you’ll get your rear shot up.
44. Weather ain’t neutral.
45. If you can’t remember, the Claymore is pointed towards you.
46. Air defense motto: shoot ’em down; sort ’em out on the ground.
47. ‘Flies high, it dies; low and slow, it’ll go.
48. The Cavalry doesn’t always come to the rescue.
49. Napalm is an area support weapon.
50. Mines are equal opportunity weapons.
51. B-52s are the ultimate close support weapon.
52. Sniper’s motto: reach out and touch someone.
53. Bolt actions speak louder than words
54. The one item you need is always in short supply.
55. Interchangeable parts aren’t.
56. It’s not the one with your name on it; it’s the one addressed “to whom it may concern” you’ve got to think about.
57. When in doubt, empty your magazine.
58. The side with the simplest uniforms wins.
59. Combat will occur on the ground between two adjoining maps.
60. If the Platoon Sergeant can see you, so can the enemy.
61. Never stand when you can sit, never sit when you can lie down, never stay awake when you can sleep.
62. The most dangerous thing in the world is a Second Lieutenant with a map and a compass.
63. Exceptions prove the rule, and destroy the battle plan.
64. Everything always works in your HQ, everything always fails in the Colonel’s HQ.
65. The enemy never watches until you make a mistake.
66. One enemy soldier is never enough, but two is entirely too many.
67. A clean (and dry) set of BDU’s is a magnet for mud and rain.
68. The worse the weather, the more you are required to be out in it.
69. Whenever you have plenty of ammo, you never miss. Whenever you are low on ammo, you can’t hit the broad side of a barn.
70. The more a weapon costs, the farther you will have to send it away to be repaired.
71. The complexity of a weapon is inversely proportional to the IQ of the weapon’s operator.
72. Field experience is something you don’t get until just after you need it.
73. No matter which way you have to march, it’s always uphill.
74. If enough data is collected, a board of inquiry can prove anything.
75. For every action, there is an equal and opposite criticism.
76. Airstrikes always overshoot the target, artillery always falls short.
77. When reviewing the radio frequencies that you just wrote down, the most important ones are always illegible.
78. Those who hesitate under fire usually do not end up KIA or WIA.
79. The tough part about being an officer is that the troops don’t know what they want, but they know for certain what they don’t want.
80. To steal information from a person is called plagiarism. To steal information from the enemy is called gathering intelligence.
81. The weapon that usually jams when you need it the most is the M60.
82. The perfect officer for the job will transfer in the day after that billet is filled by someone else.
83. When you have sufficient supplies & ammo, the enemy takes 2 weeks to attack. When you are low on supplies & ammo the enemy decides to attack that night.
84. The newest and least experienced soldier will usually win the Medal of Honor.
85. A Purple Heart just proves that were you smart enough to think of a plan, stupid enough to try it, and lucky enough to survive.
86. Murphy was a grunt.
87. Murphy was not in the Air Force
88. Body count Math –> 3 guerrillas plus 1 probable plus 2 pigs equals 37 enemies killed in action.
89. The bursting radius of a hand grenade is always one foot greater than your jumping range.
90. All-weather close air support doesn’t work in bad weather.
91. The combat worth of a unit is inversely proportional to the smartness of its outfit and appearance.
92. The crucial round is a dud.
93. Every command which can be misunderstood, will be.
94. There is no such place as a convenient foxhole.
95. Don’t ever be the first, don’t ever be the last and don’t ever volunteer to do anything.
96. If your positions are firmly set and you are prepared to take the enemy assault on, he will bypass you.
97. If your ambush is properly set, the enemy won’t walk into it.
98. If your flank march is going well, the enemy expects you to outflank him.
99. Density of fire increases proportionally to the curiousness of the target.
100. Odd objects attract fire – never lurk behind one.
101. The more stupid the leader is, the more important missions he is ordered to carry out.
102. The self-importance of a superior is inversely proportional to his position in the hierarchy (as is his deviousness and mischievousness).
103. There is always a way, and it usually doesn’t work.
104. Success occurs when no one is looking, failure occurs when the General is watching.
105. The enemy never monitors your radio frequency until you broadcast on an unsecured channel.
106. Whenever you drop your equipment in a fire-fight, your ammo and grenades always fall the farthest away, and your canteen always lands at your feet.
107. As soon as you are served hot chow in the field, it rains.
108. Never tell the Platoon Sergeant you have nothing to do.
109. The seriousness of a wound (in a fire-fight) is inversely proportional to the distance to any form of cover.
110. Walking point = sniper bait.
111. Your bivouac for the night is the spot where you got tired of marching that day.
112. If only one solution can be found for a field problem, then it is usually a stupid solution.
113. All or any of the above combined.
Murphy’s laws seems to always be true.
Semper Paratus
Burn
Thursday, January 18, 2018
Expedient Fallout Shelter: For When It's Real
Tokyo- Japanese public broadcaster NHK issued an on-air apology Tuesday after issuing an alert incorrectly claiming that North Korea had launched a ballistic missile.
On Saturday, residents of Hawaii received the following message from the Emergency Alert System on their phones: “Ballistic missile threat inbound to Hawaii. Seek immediate shelter. This is not a drill.”
These are two portions of news reports that happened last week that got everyone’s attention. It was a good/bad test for Hawaii that I think many failed.
For decades, movies and some in the media have portrayed a nuclear attack as a "doomsday" event implying most people would be killed on impact ... and survivors would want to die once they come out of their shelters. In reality, unless you are actually at ground zero or within a several mile radius of the blast zone (depending on the size of the nuke, of course), there is a very high probability you'll survive as long as you limit your exposure to radiation, take shelter with proper shielding, and wait for the most dangerous radioactive materials to decay.
Reduce exposure - Protect yourself from radioactive fallout with ...
-- distance - the more distance between you and fallout particles, the better
-- shielding - heavy, dense materials (like thick walls, earth, concrete, bricks, water and books) between you and fallout is best. Stay indoors or below ground. (Taking shelter in a basement or a facility below ground reduces exposure by 90%. Less than 4 inches (10 cm) of soil or earth can reduce the penetration of dangerous gamma rays by half.)
-- time - most fallout loses its strength quickly. The more time that passes after the attack, the lower the danger. 90% of the radiation from fallout is gone in seven hours, and 99% of it is gone in 48 hours.
The "seven-ten" rule - For every sevenfold increase in time after the initial blast, there is a tenfold decrease in the radiation rate. For example, a 500 rad level can drop to 50R in 7 hours and down to 5R after 2 days (49 hours). In other words, if you have shelter with good shielding and stay put for even just 7 hours ... you've really increased your chances of survival. Your detection devices, emergency radio or cell phone [if the last 2 are working, that is] can assist you in knowing when it’s safe to come out.
Basic shelter requirements - Whether you build a shelter in advance or throw together an expedient last-minute shelter during a crisis, the area should protect you from radiation and support you for at least 2 weeks. Some basic requirements for a fallout shelter include ...
-- shielding
-- ventilation
-- water and food
-- sanitation and first aid products
-- radiation monitoring devices, radio, tools, firearms, etc.
Shielding materials - All fallout shelters must provide good protection from radioactive particles. FEMA suggests having a minimum of several inches of concrete or 1 to 2 feet of earth as shielding around your shelter, and the more the better. The following shows examples of shielding materials that equal the protection of 4 inches (10 cm) of concrete ...
-- 5 - 6 inches (12 - 15 cm) of bricks
-- 6 inches (15 cm) of sand or gravel
-- 7 inches (18 cm) of earth
-- 8 inches (20 cm) of hollow concrete block
-- 10 inches (25 cm) of water
-- 14 inches (35 cm) of books or magazines
-- 18 inches (46 cm) of wood
Underground is best - Taking shelter in a basement or a facility below ground reduces exposure by 90%. Less than 4 inches (10 cm) of soil or earth can reduce the penetration of dangerous gamma rays by half.
Prefab shelter - If you have bucks, time and land, there are many types of prefabricated shelters you can purchase and have buried on your property. Some have complete living quarters and come fully stocked with food and other items. Suggest you do some research and get references first though.
Outside shelter - There are free books and pamphlets with instructions on building underground fallout shelters by FEMA, Cresson Kearny (author of “Nuclear War Survival Skills”), Shane Connor (CEO of KI4U, Inc.) and others. If you have a few days, tools, property you can dig down into, and don’t mind heavy labor ... check out http://www.oism.org/nwss or http://www.ki4u.com . (Both sites describe other shelters too like lean-tos, pole covered trench shelters, etc.)
Indoor shelter locations - If you don’t have a fallout shelter you can get to safely and quickly, these options could provide protection from dangerous radiation by using shielding materials described below.
-- basement - find the corner that is most below ground level (the further underground you are the better)
-- 1-story home / condo / apartment - if no underground facility, find a spot in center of home away from windows
-- trailer home - find sturdier shelter if at all possible (like a basement or a brick or concrete building)
-- multi-story building or high-rise - go to center of the middle section of the building. Note: if the rooftop of a building next to you is on that same floor, move one floor up or down since radioactive fallout would accumulate on rooftops. Avoid the first floor (if possible) since fallout will pile up on the ground outside.
Indoor shelter shielding - Below are some ways to build an expedient last minute shelter in your home, apartment or workplace. Please realize these tips are very basic things to help protect you from dangerous radiation.
-- Set up a large, sturdy workbench or table in location you’ve chosen (see above). If no table, make one by putting doors on top of boxes, appliances or furniture.
-- Put as much shielding - furniture, file cabinets, appliances, boxes or pillowcases filled with dirt or sand, boxes of food, water or books, concrete blocks, bricks, etc. – all around sides and on top of table, but don’t put too much weight on tabletop or it could collapse. Add reinforcing supports, if needed. (See above about shielding materials and remember, the more shielding you use, the better protection you’ll have from radioactive fallout.)
-- Leave a crawl space so everyone can get inside and be prepared to block opening with shielding materials.
-- Leave 2 small air spaces for ventilation (about 4"-6” each) - one low at one end and one high at other end. (This allows for better airflow since warm air rises.)
-- If you have time and ability to do so, add more mass or shielding materials (like earth) on the floor above you. Support or brace floor from below for the added weight.
-- Have water, detection devices, radio, food and sanitation supplies in case you have to shelter for days or weeks.
Ventilation - While inside a shelter you need to circulate fresh air in to reduce carbon dioxide buildup and help reduce heat. If shelter is above ground, the natural flow of air through cracks or windows outside shelter can help move stale warm air out, but basements and underground shelters may have trouble getting airflow. Some ways to improve airflow ...
-- open a door or window - consider opening a door or window in another part of house or building to improve the natural air circulation (but don’t expose yourself to fallout or high radiation levels and don’t open window in shelter)
-- air pump - by planning ahead you can purchase or make a portable pump (read App. B at http://www.oism.org/nwss/ )
-- directional fanning - make a strong 2-handled fan using 2 sticks (or folded cardboard) and tie or tape a piece of cloth (or 2 pieces of cardboard) between sticks to make a rectangular fan. You want to push warm air out of the shelter so start with fan straight up in front of your face, then forcefully push it out and down with your arms completely extended until fan is parallel with floor (about waist high), pause then repeat often and as needed.
In summary, those within the blast zone of Ground Zero (depending on the size of the nuke) won’t make it .. BUT .. if you are several miles outside the zone your chances of surviving it are high but you MUST have detection devices (e.g. dosimeters, survey meters, KFM kits, RADStickers, NukAlert, etc) to monitor levels of radiation and a plan to stay sheltered for at least 48 hours or up to a few weeks. First Responders will have to wait for the deadly fallout to decay before they enter a hot zone so the more you prepare, the better your odds of surviving a terrorist nuke.
Today’s political climate is similar to the 60’s but I think we’re better educated about nukes. The above was just a starting point for where we should be so that we can survive and thrive.
Consider your own situation and plan.
Semper Paratus
Check 6
Burn
On Saturday, residents of Hawaii received the following message from the Emergency Alert System on their phones: “Ballistic missile threat inbound to Hawaii. Seek immediate shelter. This is not a drill.”
These are two portions of news reports that happened last week that got everyone’s attention. It was a good/bad test for Hawaii that I think many failed.
For decades, movies and some in the media have portrayed a nuclear attack as a "doomsday" event implying most people would be killed on impact ... and survivors would want to die once they come out of their shelters. In reality, unless you are actually at ground zero or within a several mile radius of the blast zone (depending on the size of the nuke, of course), there is a very high probability you'll survive as long as you limit your exposure to radiation, take shelter with proper shielding, and wait for the most dangerous radioactive materials to decay.
Reduce exposure - Protect yourself from radioactive fallout with ...
-- distance - the more distance between you and fallout particles, the better
-- shielding - heavy, dense materials (like thick walls, earth, concrete, bricks, water and books) between you and fallout is best. Stay indoors or below ground. (Taking shelter in a basement or a facility below ground reduces exposure by 90%. Less than 4 inches (10 cm) of soil or earth can reduce the penetration of dangerous gamma rays by half.)
-- time - most fallout loses its strength quickly. The more time that passes after the attack, the lower the danger. 90% of the radiation from fallout is gone in seven hours, and 99% of it is gone in 48 hours.
The "seven-ten" rule - For every sevenfold increase in time after the initial blast, there is a tenfold decrease in the radiation rate. For example, a 500 rad level can drop to 50R in 7 hours and down to 5R after 2 days (49 hours). In other words, if you have shelter with good shielding and stay put for even just 7 hours ... you've really increased your chances of survival. Your detection devices, emergency radio or cell phone [if the last 2 are working, that is] can assist you in knowing when it’s safe to come out.
Basic shelter requirements - Whether you build a shelter in advance or throw together an expedient last-minute shelter during a crisis, the area should protect you from radiation and support you for at least 2 weeks. Some basic requirements for a fallout shelter include ...
-- shielding
-- ventilation
-- water and food
-- sanitation and first aid products
-- radiation monitoring devices, radio, tools, firearms, etc.
Shielding materials - All fallout shelters must provide good protection from radioactive particles. FEMA suggests having a minimum of several inches of concrete or 1 to 2 feet of earth as shielding around your shelter, and the more the better. The following shows examples of shielding materials that equal the protection of 4 inches (10 cm) of concrete ...
-- 5 - 6 inches (12 - 15 cm) of bricks
-- 6 inches (15 cm) of sand or gravel
-- 7 inches (18 cm) of earth
-- 8 inches (20 cm) of hollow concrete block
-- 10 inches (25 cm) of water
-- 14 inches (35 cm) of books or magazines
-- 18 inches (46 cm) of wood
Underground is best - Taking shelter in a basement or a facility below ground reduces exposure by 90%. Less than 4 inches (10 cm) of soil or earth can reduce the penetration of dangerous gamma rays by half.
Prefab shelter - If you have bucks, time and land, there are many types of prefabricated shelters you can purchase and have buried on your property. Some have complete living quarters and come fully stocked with food and other items. Suggest you do some research and get references first though.
Outside shelter - There are free books and pamphlets with instructions on building underground fallout shelters by FEMA, Cresson Kearny (author of “Nuclear War Survival Skills”), Shane Connor (CEO of KI4U, Inc.) and others. If you have a few days, tools, property you can dig down into, and don’t mind heavy labor ... check out http://www.oism.org/nwss or http://www.ki4u.com . (Both sites describe other shelters too like lean-tos, pole covered trench shelters, etc.)
Indoor shelter locations - If you don’t have a fallout shelter you can get to safely and quickly, these options could provide protection from dangerous radiation by using shielding materials described below.
-- basement - find the corner that is most below ground level (the further underground you are the better)
-- 1-story home / condo / apartment - if no underground facility, find a spot in center of home away from windows
-- trailer home - find sturdier shelter if at all possible (like a basement or a brick or concrete building)
-- multi-story building or high-rise - go to center of the middle section of the building. Note: if the rooftop of a building next to you is on that same floor, move one floor up or down since radioactive fallout would accumulate on rooftops. Avoid the first floor (if possible) since fallout will pile up on the ground outside.
Indoor shelter shielding - Below are some ways to build an expedient last minute shelter in your home, apartment or workplace. Please realize these tips are very basic things to help protect you from dangerous radiation.
-- Set up a large, sturdy workbench or table in location you’ve chosen (see above). If no table, make one by putting doors on top of boxes, appliances or furniture.
-- Put as much shielding - furniture, file cabinets, appliances, boxes or pillowcases filled with dirt or sand, boxes of food, water or books, concrete blocks, bricks, etc. – all around sides and on top of table, but don’t put too much weight on tabletop or it could collapse. Add reinforcing supports, if needed. (See above about shielding materials and remember, the more shielding you use, the better protection you’ll have from radioactive fallout.)
-- Leave a crawl space so everyone can get inside and be prepared to block opening with shielding materials.
-- Leave 2 small air spaces for ventilation (about 4"-6” each) - one low at one end and one high at other end. (This allows for better airflow since warm air rises.)
-- If you have time and ability to do so, add more mass or shielding materials (like earth) on the floor above you. Support or brace floor from below for the added weight.
-- Have water, detection devices, radio, food and sanitation supplies in case you have to shelter for days or weeks.
Ventilation - While inside a shelter you need to circulate fresh air in to reduce carbon dioxide buildup and help reduce heat. If shelter is above ground, the natural flow of air through cracks or windows outside shelter can help move stale warm air out, but basements and underground shelters may have trouble getting airflow. Some ways to improve airflow ...
-- open a door or window - consider opening a door or window in another part of house or building to improve the natural air circulation (but don’t expose yourself to fallout or high radiation levels and don’t open window in shelter)
-- air pump - by planning ahead you can purchase or make a portable pump (read App. B at http://www.oism.org/nwss/ )
-- directional fanning - make a strong 2-handled fan using 2 sticks (or folded cardboard) and tie or tape a piece of cloth (or 2 pieces of cardboard) between sticks to make a rectangular fan. You want to push warm air out of the shelter so start with fan straight up in front of your face, then forcefully push it out and down with your arms completely extended until fan is parallel with floor (about waist high), pause then repeat often and as needed.
In summary, those within the blast zone of Ground Zero (depending on the size of the nuke) won’t make it .. BUT .. if you are several miles outside the zone your chances of surviving it are high but you MUST have detection devices (e.g. dosimeters, survey meters, KFM kits, RADStickers, NukAlert, etc) to monitor levels of radiation and a plan to stay sheltered for at least 48 hours or up to a few weeks. First Responders will have to wait for the deadly fallout to decay before they enter a hot zone so the more you prepare, the better your odds of surviving a terrorist nuke.
Today’s political climate is similar to the 60’s but I think we’re better educated about nukes. The above was just a starting point for where we should be so that we can survive and thrive.
Consider your own situation and plan.
Semper Paratus
Check 6
Burn
Friday, January 5, 2018
Hearing Protection: Hear Me Out
Safety isn’t always cool and safety isn’t always very exciting. But safety must be at the core of everything we do with guns. The alternative is tragedy and expensive or painful reminders of why we’re talking safety all the time.
I teach the 4 safety rules like this:
The 4 safety rules are:
1 All guns are always loaded
2 Never point a gun at anything you are not willing to destroy
3 Keep your finger off the trigger and out of the trigger guard until ready to shoot
4 Know your target and what’s beyond it
We keep number 3 because of why? Because of 1.
Number 1 is important because of why? So you will never have a negligent discharge because the gun was “unloaded”.
If we keep number 2 even if the gun goes off negligently all will be well.
2, 3, and 4 are in place because of 1.
Personal protection equipment (PPE) is often overlooked. Eye protection and hearing protection is sometimes not stressed because some think it’s an individual choice. I think that’s a cop-out. This just as important as the safety rules. We wear seat belts for our personal protection. We carry guns for personal protection. We should wear PPE every time we shoot for personal protection.
Ear protection is often misunderstood. The following calibers give a report at the following levels.
.25 ACP – 155.0 dB
.32 LONG – 152.4 dB
.32 ACP – 153.5 dB
.380 – 157.7 dB
9mm – 159.8 dB
.38 S&W – 153.5 dB
.38 Spl – 156.3 dB
.357 Magnum – 164.3 dB
.40 S&W – 156.5 dB
.41 Magnum – 163.2 dB
.44 S&W Magnum – 164.5 dB
.44 Spl – 155.9 dB
.45 ACP – 157.0 dB
.45 COLT – 154.7 dB
12 Gauge Shotgun – 155 dB
.22 Pistol or Rifle – 140 dB
M-16 – 160 dB
It’s important to note when sound levels are represented in decibels, the increase in sound intensity is expressed in a logarithmic scale. The softest audible sound—near total silence—is represented as 0 dB. A sound 10 times more powerful is 10 dB. A sound 100 times more powerful than near total silence is 20 dB. A sound 1,000 times more powerful than near total silence is 30 dB. This means a change in volume from 150 dB to 140 dB is a more significant reduction in noise intensity than reducing 50 dB to 40 dB.
For example: NRR 29 is figured with the following,
Subtract 7 dB from the NRR: 29 dB - 7 dB = 22 dB
Divide by 2: 22 ÷ 2 = 11 dB
Subtract 11 dB from the noise
exposure: 80dB - 11 dB = 82 dB
Types of Hearing Protection:
• Passive Ear Plugs – These are basically soft plugs that are usually made from plastic or some type of foam based substance. These plugs are placed into the ear opening and they serve to dampen any high volume sound that the ear is exposed to. They are called “passive” because these plugs don’t utilize any electronic devices that damper noises. Ear plugs are by far the least expensive form of ear protection, but do they actually work well? The sound is dampened a bit, but can still be quite loud. The plugs help some, but they really don’t protect your ears as well as they can be protected.
• Passive Hearing Protection – This model generally is comprised of ear muffs that have a cup which encompasses the entire ear. The muffs are usually attached by a headband or headpiece of some type. Like the passive ear plugs, this model won’t have the electronic sound dampening device. The ear muff style design is nice as the cup has a seal that protects the entire ear from the noise versus the ear plugs which only partially protect the ear canal itself. Most ear muff models have the ability to be adjusted, although some of the less expensive ear muff models may not have this feature. Unfortunately, ear muffs of this design dampen all or most sound, so the wearer can’t hear anyone speaking or any other important sounds.
• Electronic Noise-Cancelling Hearing Protection – This design incorporates an ear muff style and integrates it with electronic technology that reduces the noise down to a level that isn’t harmful to the human ear. The entire sound dampening process takes place faster than the blink of an eye as the suppressed sound is transmitted to the wearer almost instantly. The best feature of electronic hearing protection is the ability to hear everything that is going on around you while you are shooting. In many situations, such as on the range, during training, or while hunting; this can be a great benefit. Of course, due to the technology needed, electronic hearing protection tends to be the most expensive of all the hearing protection devices. A number of the higher end electronic models may have other enhancements such as a separate volume control for each side of the ear muffs, enhanced adjustability, a battery saver feature to conserve battery use, and ambient sound magnification. The ambient sound magnification is a great benefit for hunters as it amplifies noise to a degree that is far greater than the naked ear can hear. At the same time, the augmented sound is instantly dampened when a shot is fired.
Hearing protection isn’t sexy like shooting an M-60 like Rambo, but it is very important for your future. The older you get the more these problems arise and it’s no fun to not be able to hear. Being tough has nothing to do with it. Use PPE when shooting any gun, every time.
Semper Paratus
Check 6
Burn
I teach the 4 safety rules like this:
The 4 safety rules are:
1 All guns are always loaded
2 Never point a gun at anything you are not willing to destroy
3 Keep your finger off the trigger and out of the trigger guard until ready to shoot
4 Know your target and what’s beyond it
We keep number 3 because of why? Because of 1.
Number 1 is important because of why? So you will never have a negligent discharge because the gun was “unloaded”.
If we keep number 2 even if the gun goes off negligently all will be well.
2, 3, and 4 are in place because of 1.
Personal protection equipment (PPE) is often overlooked. Eye protection and hearing protection is sometimes not stressed because some think it’s an individual choice. I think that’s a cop-out. This just as important as the safety rules. We wear seat belts for our personal protection. We carry guns for personal protection. We should wear PPE every time we shoot for personal protection.
Ear protection is often misunderstood. The following calibers give a report at the following levels.
.25 ACP – 155.0 dB
.32 LONG – 152.4 dB
.32 ACP – 153.5 dB
.380 – 157.7 dB
9mm – 159.8 dB
.38 S&W – 153.5 dB
.38 Spl – 156.3 dB
.357 Magnum – 164.3 dB
.40 S&W – 156.5 dB
.41 Magnum – 163.2 dB
.44 S&W Magnum – 164.5 dB
.44 Spl – 155.9 dB
.45 ACP – 157.0 dB
.45 COLT – 154.7 dB
12 Gauge Shotgun – 155 dB
.22 Pistol or Rifle – 140 dB
M-16 – 160 dB
It’s important to note when sound levels are represented in decibels, the increase in sound intensity is expressed in a logarithmic scale. The softest audible sound—near total silence—is represented as 0 dB. A sound 10 times more powerful is 10 dB. A sound 100 times more powerful than near total silence is 20 dB. A sound 1,000 times more powerful than near total silence is 30 dB. This means a change in volume from 150 dB to 140 dB is a more significant reduction in noise intensity than reducing 50 dB to 40 dB.
For example: NRR 29 is figured with the following,
Subtract 7 dB from the NRR: 29 dB - 7 dB = 22 dB
Divide by 2: 22 ÷ 2 = 11 dB
Subtract 11 dB from the noise
exposure: 80dB - 11 dB = 82 dB
Types of Hearing Protection:
• Passive Ear Plugs – These are basically soft plugs that are usually made from plastic or some type of foam based substance. These plugs are placed into the ear opening and they serve to dampen any high volume sound that the ear is exposed to. They are called “passive” because these plugs don’t utilize any electronic devices that damper noises. Ear plugs are by far the least expensive form of ear protection, but do they actually work well? The sound is dampened a bit, but can still be quite loud. The plugs help some, but they really don’t protect your ears as well as they can be protected.
• Passive Hearing Protection – This model generally is comprised of ear muffs that have a cup which encompasses the entire ear. The muffs are usually attached by a headband or headpiece of some type. Like the passive ear plugs, this model won’t have the electronic sound dampening device. The ear muff style design is nice as the cup has a seal that protects the entire ear from the noise versus the ear plugs which only partially protect the ear canal itself. Most ear muff models have the ability to be adjusted, although some of the less expensive ear muff models may not have this feature. Unfortunately, ear muffs of this design dampen all or most sound, so the wearer can’t hear anyone speaking or any other important sounds.
• Electronic Noise-Cancelling Hearing Protection – This design incorporates an ear muff style and integrates it with electronic technology that reduces the noise down to a level that isn’t harmful to the human ear. The entire sound dampening process takes place faster than the blink of an eye as the suppressed sound is transmitted to the wearer almost instantly. The best feature of electronic hearing protection is the ability to hear everything that is going on around you while you are shooting. In many situations, such as on the range, during training, or while hunting; this can be a great benefit. Of course, due to the technology needed, electronic hearing protection tends to be the most expensive of all the hearing protection devices. A number of the higher end electronic models may have other enhancements such as a separate volume control for each side of the ear muffs, enhanced adjustability, a battery saver feature to conserve battery use, and ambient sound magnification. The ambient sound magnification is a great benefit for hunters as it amplifies noise to a degree that is far greater than the naked ear can hear. At the same time, the augmented sound is instantly dampened when a shot is fired.
Hearing protection isn’t sexy like shooting an M-60 like Rambo, but it is very important for your future. The older you get the more these problems arise and it’s no fun to not be able to hear. Being tough has nothing to do with it. Use PPE when shooting any gun, every time.
Semper Paratus
Check 6
Burn
Wednesday, January 3, 2018
Monthly Read: Book Review For January
Monthly Read: Book Review For January
Poor Man’s James Bond Series (1 through 4) By: Kurt Saxon
Publisher’s Review
Intended originally for the political Right, The Poor Mans James Bond is now geared for use by the Civil Authorities. It embodies all the practical paramilitary knowledge collected and studied by dissident groups through-out America.
My Review
Though much of the information (chemistry, chemicals, improvised weapons, weaponry, bombs, explosives, etc.) found in these books could be used for some home grown domestic terrorism, Mr. Saxon has assembled it all in one handy package for one reason and one reason only. So that you and/or any group of your friends or fellow citizens would have all the info necessary to defend yourselves from all the thugs, punks and assorted two-legged vermin that always seem to come out of the woodwork when any local, state or national disaster strikes.
His program is in no way political, racist or religious. He leaves such considerations to those who seek security in belief rather than practical knowledge.
He claimed that the “opposite” book, “Anarchist Cookbook” was inaccurate and this is the reason for his series.
Some of the information may be handy one day, or not.
As with all things, be careful with this knowledge. Know your laws and what is legal and what is not. Do not break the law and be safe.
There are places on the internet you can find these books free in PDF form.
Poor Man’s James Bond Series (1 through 4) By: Kurt Saxon
Publisher’s Review
Intended originally for the political Right, The Poor Mans James Bond is now geared for use by the Civil Authorities. It embodies all the practical paramilitary knowledge collected and studied by dissident groups through-out America.
My Review
Though much of the information (chemistry, chemicals, improvised weapons, weaponry, bombs, explosives, etc.) found in these books could be used for some home grown domestic terrorism, Mr. Saxon has assembled it all in one handy package for one reason and one reason only. So that you and/or any group of your friends or fellow citizens would have all the info necessary to defend yourselves from all the thugs, punks and assorted two-legged vermin that always seem to come out of the woodwork when any local, state or national disaster strikes.
His program is in no way political, racist or religious. He leaves such considerations to those who seek security in belief rather than practical knowledge.
He claimed that the “opposite” book, “Anarchist Cookbook” was inaccurate and this is the reason for his series.
Some of the information may be handy one day, or not.
As with all things, be careful with this knowledge. Know your laws and what is legal and what is not. Do not break the law and be safe.
There are places on the internet you can find these books free in PDF form.
Tuesday, January 2, 2018
LDS Gunsite Index 2017
Each year I post this index to give you an idea of where stuff is. I hope it is helpful.
Burn
LDS Gunsite Index 2017
Jan (10)
1. Why 9mm Defends Me 1/1/2017
2. Reasons To Carry 1/4/2017
3. January Drill Of The Month 1/4/2017
4. Preparedness Goals 1/12/2017
5. Military Slang For Everyday 1/16/2017
6. Email and Privacy 1/23/2017
7. Guns Make Us Safe 1/26/2017
8. 3rd Year, Oaths, and Immigration Security 1/31/2017
9. LDS Gunsite Index 2016 1/31/2017
10. Overwatch: Drill of the Month for January 1/31/2017
Feb (10)
11. More Immigration Security 2/2/2017
12. Should YOU Carry? 2/2/2017
13. Tacticool Gear 2/8/2017
14. Surviving A Knife Fight 2/14/2017
15. The Survival Gap 2/14/2017
16. Top 5 Articles For 2016 2/15/2017
17. Shooting From The Ground Up 2/16/2017
18. Self-Defense For The Average Guy 2/21/2017
19. My Dear Scouting Is Dying 2/22/2017
20. Gun Safety And You 2/24/2017
Mar (15)
21. Your Precious "Metals": Storing Ammo 3/2/2017
22. The Key To Self-Defense: Keychain Weapons 3/2/2017
23. Overwatch: Drill of The Month For March 3/3/2017
24. When To Draw 3/3/2017
25. EDC: I Love Tac Pens! 3/3/2017
26. When To Leave: REDOUT 3/6/2017
27. Important Questions For Preparedness Planning 3/8/2017
28. Nutrition And Food Storage from FLAG 3/8/2017
29. Biker Attack Security 3/14/2017
20. How To Treat A Stalker 3/15/2017
21. How To Fly With A Gun 3/15/2017
22. Beware The IRS and Other Scams 3/16/2017
23. Mossberg Family Gunmakers 3/20/2017
24. Civilian Response To Active Shooter Event 3/22/2017
25. Brigham Young's .31 Cal 3/24/2017
Apr (10)
26. State Of The World 4/5/2017
27. Overwatch: Drill of the Month For April 4/5/2017
28. The Castle Doctrine And You 4/6/2017
29. After All We Can Do 4/7/2017
30. Stay In The Fight: Freeze, Fight, or Flight 4/12/2017
31. FLAG's Food Storage Journey 4/21/2017
32. Self-Sufficiency 4/26/2017
33. And More Self-sufficiency: Preparedness In The Burbs 4/27/2017
34. .38 Special: Love/Hate Relationship 4/28/2017
35. Eating For Health: The Foundation Of Defense from FLAG 4/28/2017
May (10)
36. The Holy Grail: Shot Placement 5/2/2017
37. Shotguns For Home Defense 5/2/2017
38. Overwatch: Drill Of The Month For May 5/8/2017
39. Jeff Cooper's Birthday: Seven Principles Series, Intro 5/10/2017
40. Eating Healthy By FLAG 5/10/2017
41. LDS Scouting Slipping Away 5/11/2017
42. Part 1 Jeff Cooper's 7 Principles: Alertness and Decisiveness 5/11/2017
43. Peace Officer Memorial Day 5/15/2017
44. Part 2 Jeff Cooper's Seven Principles:
Aggressiveness, Speed, Coolness 5/17/2017
45. Part 3 of Jeff Cooper's Seven Principles:
Ruthlessness and Surprise 5/30/2017
Jun (12)
46. Warrior Checklist From Steve Claggett 6/1/2017
47. Overwatch: Drill of the Month for June 6/6/2017
48. Expand Your Situational Awareness With Drills 6/7/2017
49. Monthly Book Review: June 6/7/2017
50. When Is Fake, Real? When It's News 6/9/2017
51. Learn To Embrace The Suck! 6/14/2017
52. Perfect Practice: Good Habits 6/15/2017
53. Buying Food In Bulk by FLAG 6/21/2017
54. The Darknet: Mystery and Free Speech 6/21/2017
55. Porter Rockwell Philosophy 6/21/2017
56. Don't Be A Sitting Duck! 6/23/2017
57. Rotating Carry and Defense Ammo 6/26/2017
Jul (10)
58. Aim Small 7/6/2017
59. Overwatch: Drill of the Month For July 7/6/2017
60. Eating Healthy and Crap: From FLAG 7/6/2017
61. Monthly Read: Book Review For July 7/6/2017
62. The Unexpected Bang: Negligent Discharge 7/11/2017
63. Concealed carry Advice From A Pro 7/19/2017
64. Security Dealing With A Stalker 7/20/2017
65. Importance Of An Exit 7/26/2017
66. Types Of Surveillance: Who's watching Who? 7/26/2017
67. I'm Not A Knife Guy, I Swear! 7/31/2017
Aug (10)
68. Extreme Weapons And The Atomic Bomb 8/7/2017
69. Monthly Read: Book Review For August 8/7/2017
70. Not Being A Man Of Blood 8/11/2017
71. Overwatch: Drill Of The Month For August 8/11/2017
72. Human Trafficking: How To Prevent Kidnapping 8/14/2017
73. You Carry A Gun? 8/18/2017
74. We Are Not Australia: Gun Control 8/22/2017
75. Choirboy and Burns List of Security At Church 8/23/2017
76. Concealed Carry “Don’ts” 8/23/2017
77. Who Decides? 8/28/2017
SEP (12)
78. Strike First to Survive 9/1/2017
79. Emergency Preparedness Security 9/4/2017
80. Remembering 9-11 9/11/2017
81. LDS Missionary Fights Back After Attack In Brazil 9/13/2017
82. Monthly Read: Book Review For September 9/13/2017
83. Overwatch: Drill Of The Month for September 9/13/2017
84. Safe Water: Boiling 9/19/2017
85. Reality Based Training 9/19/2017
86. Basic Privacy: Big Brother Is Out There 9/21/2017
87. Saving Water Damaged Guns 9/22/2017
88. National Situational Awareness Day 9/26/2017
89. Wet Ammunition 9/26/2017
OCT (11)
90. Your Safety And Security Is Your Responsibility 10/3/2017
91. Porter Rockwell and The OODA Loop 10/3/2017
92. How To Store Ammo and How Much 10/5/2017
93. Mainstream Media Does It Again 10/5/2017
94. Monthly Read: Book Review For October 10/5/2017
95. What We Can Learn From The Vegas Shooting 10/12/2017
96. Snipers 10/12/2017
97. Overwatch: Drill Of The Month For October 10/13/2017
98. Privacy: Scribbling 10/19/2017
99. Buying A Glock Is Dangerous! 10/20/2017
100. Some Phone Apps To Consider 10/31/2017
NOV (5)
101. Utah State Firearm: 1911 and John Browning 11/2/2017
102. Current State Of Our Lives: Church Security 11/11/2017
103. Changing Hearts and Minds: Teaching Shooting 11/15/2017
104. Stats, Reality, And Always Being Armed 11/16/2017
105. Monthly Read: Book Review For November 11/17/2017
DEC (9)
106. Reminders Of OP Rockwell Philosophy 12/1/2017
107. December 7th and Christmas 12/7/2017
108. EDC Ideas 12/7/2017
109. Suicide Bomber Profiles 12/13/2017
110. Tips In Being Vigilant During Christmas Season 12/14/2017
111. Bugout To Survive 12/16/2017
112. Security Mindset 12/16/2017
113. Monthly Read: Book Review For December 12/18/2017
114. Buying A Tourniquet 12/21/2017
115. Porter Rockwell and Christmas 1847 12/23/2017
Semper Paratus
Check 6
Burn
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)