Prudent Prepping: And Now For Something Completely Different

The dust has settled and the First 72 Hours have passed. Now we concentrate on what to do in, and how to plan for, the long term via Prudent Prepping.

I have deliberately not written about any self defense topic or weapons, since I live in a state which denies its citizens the means to defend ourselves in a manner and with the tools that we the people choose.

I'm going to write about weapons from now on, mixed in with the rather boring posts of my prepping successes and failures.

Here is the first. 

The Pummel Pipe Melee Weapon

A friend of the blog (hat tip to Mr. Sullivan) posted a link to this site. Erin, my stunningly beautiful and amazingly talented editor (Why thank you! -- Erin)  asked me how much I thought all the parts would cost and if I would write a post about it.

It is a very simple melee weapon. I approve of the way it is put together, and the materials used. If left  partially disassembled in a vehicle, even in the passenger cabin, you can have plausible deniability since these parts could be used for a gas line repair in your or someone else house.

Here are the pieces that I chose to use, with one small change to the original list.

• 2  3/4" x 1 1/2" nipples   $1.26 each, $2.52
• 2  3/4" caps                   $1.74 each, $3.48
• 1 3/4" 3 way 'T'                                 $2.71
• 1  3/4" to 1/2" adapter*                      $2.37
• 3/4" x 24"  black iron pipe                  $7.24
• 1  1/2" plug                                      $1.34 

* I changed to a 1/2" adapter since my local Big Box store didn't have the original spec 3/4" x 1/4" in stock.

When Erin asked what I thought all these parts would cost, I guessed about $20. I was very close: the total is $19.66!


Here is a close-up of the business end of the melee weapon, showing all the pieces in the order of assembly. I recommend starting from the outside and working towards the middle; since you are winding things down, everything will get tighter and tighter as you go. No special tools are required to put this together; just one or two channel lock pliers or vice grips.

The original article mentions using thread locking compound on all the joints to make everything permanently attached. This might be okay in the Zombie Apocalypse, but for everyday running around in your urban center, this might be a bit hard to explain. In fact, if you decide to glue things down, everything except the handle could be done now, the handle being detachable would keep it from looking suspicious. 

Or at least not quite as suspicious, anyway.

I personally do not need a weapon like this at the moment, but with this information, I know I could make one with minimum cost and time.

I approve of this.

The Takeaway

• In situations like this, Faber College's motto of "Knowledge Is Good" comes to mind. Always try to learn something new every day. 

The Recap

• One improvised melee weapon, built from easily sourced parts found in any hardware store: less than $20.

One More Important Note
I am actively advertising the fact that anyone in the San Francisco to Sacramento California area , who would like to learn the basics of safe firearm handling and marksmanship for free,  can contact me or any of the other people listed on the interactive map found in Monday's post. If you are elsewhere in the US, look at the map to find a contact near you. No more tragedies like Orlando.


Just a reminder: if you plan on buying anything through Amazon, please consider using our referral link. When you do, a portion of the sale comes back here to help keep this site running!

If you have comments, suggestions or corrections, please post them so we all can learn. And remember, Some Is Always Better Than None!

NOTE: All items tested were purchased by me. No products have been loaned in exchange for a favorable review. Any items sent to me for T&E will be listed as such. Suck it Feds.

Black Powder Rifles: A Demonstration

Last week, I promised video of how to load and fire a black powder rifle. Today you get that video. In addition, I'll be linking the tools needed to safely load your rifle.

A flask and powder measure are needed to safely feed powder down the barrel. There are some wonderfully fancy ones on the market, but a simple pair like this will do the job very nicely.








The small tool you see me use to start the ball and patch down the bore is referred to as a short starter. It's not truly mandatory, but loading without it is an absurd pain.

There are other tools and gadgets on the market, with varying degrees of usefulness. As you get more experienced, you'll be able to decide which of these tools work best for you. And now, our feature presentation.



Have fun, and be safe and accurate.

Lokidude

A Google Map of LGBT-Friendly Firearms Instructors

Not actually Erin.

Picture by KJ Photography

& is used with permission.

So, I had a good idea this afternoon and it just kinda... BLEW UP on Facebook.

Long story short: There have been lots of cool people on social media saying things like what my awesome friend Nicki Kenyon said on her blog:

To my LGBT friends – I know you still face prejudice, bigotry, hatred, and ignorance even in this day and age. I know many of you are still afraid to walk down the street with your partner holding hands and are still apprehensive about entering a public bathroom for fear of becoming a victim. I know many of you still face physical threats.

I just want you to know I want you to be safe. I want you well-defended. I want you to have the tools and skills to protect yourselves.

If you are in the VA/DC/MD area and want a partner with whom to go to the range, just ask. I’ll not only go with you, I’ll pay for your range time! I’ll go with you if you want to purchase a gun for self defense. I’ll help you learn how to use it safely and properly. I’ll help you get your CCW.

I never want to see my friends trapped unarmed and terrified in a situation like the one in Orlando, begging for their lives and saying “goodbye” to their loved ones while waiting to die. I want you to have the tools to at least fight back against the prejudice and hate you face. I want you to live to see hatred and bigotry eradicated from this world. J want you to have a chance.

I want you to live. I love you all.

Enough people were saying this sort of thing on blogs or Facebook that I thought, "Hey, wouldn't it be cool if there were a master list of all these cool people?" and so I posted as much on my wall.

And that's when my Facebook page blew up, your honor.

I have literally been working ALL AFTERNOON collating the names, cities, and contact information from people willing to donate their time, their guns, their ammo and gasoline to help people learn how to use guns and discover if they'd like to own one for self defense.

It got so big that it turned from a Facebook list into a Google map. And then it got so big that I needed help. And then it got so big that I eventually said "OK, I'm setting this private while I take a break*. You folks just add yourselves and when I come back and make the map un-editable and this status visible again, we'll see where we stand."

So, to all my gun-owning friends who have volunteered yourselves: Bless you. You're doing a great things. And if you want to volunteer, just contact me with your name, city & state, and your preferred method of being contacted (email, telephone, etc).

To all the preppers out there who are wondering if they ought to learn how to use guns, the answer is a resounding YES.

To anyone wondering "Do I have to be Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual or Trans to get help from these folks?" the answer is no, it's welcome to everyone -- we're just pointing out that LGBT folks are extra-welcome and won't be judged by these folks.

I encourage you all to spread this map. As the Pink Pistols say, "Armed gays don't get bashed", and helping train our LGBT brothers and sisters might prevent them from becoming another victim of ISIS.

EDITED TO ADD:  
Due to the massive response (which is a wonderful problem to have, don't get me wrong) we have created a Facebook page where your contact information can be left for inclusion by myself or one of my lovely assistants.

Please join -- instructions for what information to give is in the pinned post! https://www.facebook.com/OperationBlazingSword/

*Which is when I'm writing this post, BTW.

Gun Blog Variety Podcast #95 – The Cheesecake Episode

It's the GunBlog VarietyCast cheesecake episode!

• No, not that kind of cheesecake. Adam is eating his birthday cake, and Sean has a bad knee. 
• Ever get so sick of something you'd rather go hungry than eat it? Erin Palette explains a phenomenon called "Appetite Fatigue," and shows us how to avoid it.
• How does an award for "Civility in Politics" given to Joe Biden and John McCain relate to gun ownership? Tiffany Johnson explains it all in "The Bridge".
• Beth Alcazar wrote a blog post about women crying on the shooting range, and you wouldn't believe the pushback she got! She and her friend, fellow shooting instructor Heather Borland, sit down at USCCA headquarters to talk about it.
• Teamviewer got hacked and everyone should uninstall it immediately! ...or everyone is overreacting and needs to calm down. Which one is it? Barron tells us what he thinks is going on.
• And finally, our old friend Joan Peterson convinced someone to stick a camera in her face again, but this time she managed not to make herself into the victim. Weer'd is here to tell us about the anti-gunners' latest project, the "Wear an Orange Shirt to Signal Your Virtue" campaign. Bonus appearances by Andrew Rothman of Minnesota's Gun Owners Civil Rights Alliance, and Paul Valone of Grass Roots North Carolina!

Thank you for downloading, listening, and subscribing. You are subscribed, right? We are available on iTunes, Stitcher Radio, and now on Google Play Music!

Listen to the podcast here.

Read the show notes here. 

Thanks also to Firearms Policy Coalition for their support.

And a special thanks to our sponsor, Law of Self Defense. Use discount code "Variety" at checkout for 10% off.

Upcoming Law of Self Defense seminars:

• August 7 - North Carolina specific - Raleigh, NC
• August 13 - Oregon and Washington specific - Sherwood, OR
• August 20 - Tenessee and Kentucky specific - Nashville, TN
• September 10 - Alabama specific - Talladega, AL
• October 1 - Pennsylvania and New Jersey specific - Bensalem, PA
• October 16 - New Mexico and Texas specific - Las Cruces, NM

Erin is All Right

Not actually Erin.

Picture by KJ Photography

& is used with permission.

Hi, everyone. I'm fine. I know a lot of you were worried that I might have been harmed in the Orlando nightclub shooting last night (I've gotten more than a few emails, PMs and at least one G+ comment) so let me set your minds at ease by stating I was at home all last night.

Home, by the way, is Daytona Beach, which is at least an hour's interstate drive from Orlando (and that isn't counting time spent in traffic within the city), I was literally in the next county over, so if anything happens in Orlando that affects me it's going to be BIG. As in, Nuclear/Biological/Chemical attack big.

That said, it's not unreasonable to think that I might have gone into Orlando for a night of clubbing. However, Florida has statutes against carrying in businesses whose primary source of revenue is alcohol sales (and I'm not going to analyze a location to see if it's primarily a bar or primarily a dance club), and my rule of thumb is "If there aren't armed guards and I'm not allowed to carry, I don't go there unless it's unavoidable."

Thank you to everyone who expressed concern for my well-being. I appreciate it more than you know. You take care of yourselves as well -- in the words of fellow GBVC contributor Beth Alcazar, "Stay safe and be well-armed."

The Many Uses of a Washcloth

Not actually Erin.

Picture by KJ Photography

& is used with permission.

I don't mean this in a breathless "lifehack" sort of way; I mean it more in terms of "a washcloth has a place in your bugout bag, and here's why."

Washing Your Body
Let's start with the obvious: washcloths are perfect for wiping the sweat, dust, and other bits of grunge off your body. Yes, I suppose you could use a shemagh or other bit of cloth for this, but:

1. If you use your shemagh for this, you now have a wet 4'x4' piece to cotton. A wet washcloth takes up much less space, so it dries faster. 
2. Also, you might not want your shemagh to be wet, or you might want to use it for other things. 
3. Washcloths have a better texture for cleaning than a shemagh or a t-shirt. 

Washing (ahem) "Other Things"

Let's say you didn't properly wipe yourself after performing the squat & drop, and now sweat has run down your back and between your buttocks. You desperately need to clean up, but regular toilet paper won't do and you really don't want to put your shemagh back over your face after wiping down there. Or perhaps you're a lady, and you have to keep your pubic area clean, and the thought of using a dirty piece of clothing to rinse just makes you shudder. In all of these cases, you will be glad for a dedicated washing cloth.

Protip: Use a dark-colored washcloth for this. Trust me. It will make you feel better about yourself and prevent other people from being grossed out when you put it out to dry.

Protip: If you're easily grossed out, pack two washcloths. Use the light one for regular washing (face, hands, etc) and the dark one for nether bits to prevent confusion.

Some of you may be asking "Why do we need two, if I use only one on the shower?" and the answer to that is "When you're in the shower, you have access to soap and hot running water. When you're bugging out, you'll be lucky to have a splash of water to moisten the cloth. Trust me, getting cloths clean in the field is a lot harder than in the home.

Replacing Facial Tissue

I have chronic allergies, and so I'm constantly sneezing and blowing my nose. If I use disposable tissues while camping, I usually run out of them quickly and then start using the toilet paper. But if I have a washcloth for a handkerchief, it lasts a lot longer and is cleanable -- and don't underestimate the relief that a wet cloth has on a raw, red nose!

Padding
Sometimes a pack strap just won't sit comfortably, or you keep bumping a bruised or otherwise sensitive area. A dry washcloth secured with tape or velcro straps can serve to cushion and protect that area. 

Water Catchment
Since washcloths are meant to absorb water, they are great for absorbing moisture -- such as when you are constructing a solar still, or trying to catch the morning dew.

First Aid
This is where the washcloth really shines.

1. If someone is overcome with heat injuries or a severe headache, a wet compress can bring relief. 
2. If you need to wipe away dirt and blood before you can address the wound, it makes more sense to use a washcloth than use up alcohol swaps. Clean first, then disinfect.
3. If you have a child who panics at the sight of blood, a red or otherwise dark washcloth applied to the wound will make it less traumatic. 
4. If you or someone in your group knows how to make poultices to help with rashes, swelling etc, then you won't care if your first-aid washcloth gets stained. Protip: this is a good use for thin washcloths, either those who have gotten a bit threadbare from use or are just cheap to begin with (like the kind hotels use). 

If you plan to use a washcloth for first aid, make sure it's as clean as you can get it. Wash it with bleach, and then store it in a watertight container (like a ziploc bag) after it dries. It won't be sterile the way bandages are, but it will certainly be cleaner than if it was just loose inside a first-aid kit. 

Washcloths are small, light, and multi-purpose. Pack a few in your bugout bags and you'll find out just how versatile they are. 

Heat Injuries

With a little over a week until the official beginning of summer, the temperatures are rising for most of us. Here in the upper Midwest we're looking at highs near 100° F for the next week; the poor souls in AZ are at 105° F and above. Humans are adaptable, though, and given a couple of weeks in a hot climate we become acclimated to the heat. That's the only excuse I can think of, other than insanity, for living in areas where temps spike over 120° F. 

If you're like me and work outside most of the time, you already know the tricks to staying out of the hospital, but many folks don't experience summer heat for much longer than it takes for the AC in the car to start working. In the event that TSHTF, that AC isn't likely to be available, so you should know the basics of heat injuries and how to prevent them.

Causation
Heat injuries are mainly caused by a combination of high ambient temperature and high relative humidity. Up to a certain temperature, low humidity will let your body's natural cooling mechanisms keep your core temperature in a normal range, but once humidity prevents sweat from evaporating, or the temperature climbs to a point where you can't produce enough sweat to keep up, your body temperature will start to go up from the (roughly) 98.6° F that is normal. Once your body temperature gets above 104°F, brain cells start to cook and other organs are damaged. Alcohol use, as well as several drugs and diseases that cause fluid loss, can make a person more susceptible to heat injury. 

Types of Heat Injury and their Treatment

Heat Cramps

Also known as dehydration, its main symptoms are;

• Painful muscle cramps and spasms from loss of salts through sweating
• Profuse sweating
• Hot, red, damp skin

Treatment for heat cramps involve replacing lost electrolytes (salts), cooling the body by removing tight clothes and applying wet cloths to the skin. Get into shade and rest, stretching out the cramped muscles slowly.

Heat Exhaustion

Heat exhaustion is more serious and needs to be treated as soon as possible. Symptoms include:

• Headache
• Confusion
• Pale, damp skin
• Cramps
• Body temperature over 100°F
• Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea

Treatment is the same as for heat cramps with the addition of intravenous (IV) fluids if unable to take water by mouth. A trip to the ER may be in order if symptoms don't go away in a few hours.

Heat Stroke

Heat stroke can kill. It is a result of the body's cooling mechanisms being completely overwhelmed and shutting down. Once you stop sweating, you only have minutes to get things back under control before permanent damage starts. It is usually identified by:

• Hot, dry, skin. The body can no longer produce sweat.
• Loss of appetite
• Rapid heart rate
• Seizure or coma possible
• Mental confusion
• Body temperature over 104° F

Treatment:

• Get the victim into shade.
• Remove all clothing, place the victim in cool (not cold) water or pour cool water over them if available.
• Place ice packs in armpits and groin (high concentrations of blood vessels close to the skin), and seek medical aid if available.
• Don't try to get an unconscious person to drink, they'll just choke on it. If they're awake and alert, get water and replacement salts into them at a slow rate.

Prevention

It is easier to avoid heat injury than it is to treat it.

• Take it easy the first two weeks of hot weather. Adults take about that long to get acclimated; children and teens take a bit longer. Older folks and infants may not acclimate at all, since their heat regulating systems are not working properly.
• Take frequent breaks. Drink small quantities of water or your favorite uncaffeinated sport drink  often, rather than chugging large quantities and hoping it will last (it will just fill your bladder instead).
• Plan activities for the cooler parts of the day. Evenings and mornings are the best time to get things done that require physical activity, while the afternoons are a good time to find shade and rest. The “siesta” is not a sign of laziness; it is a viable way to work around oppressive heat when air conditioning isn't available.
• Wear light-colored clothes, preferably made of a fabric that will wick away sweat. Poly-anything is a poor choice during the summer, since it doesn't absorb much sweat and doesn't “breathe” very well. Looser knits, natural fibers, light colors will make you more comfortable.
• Use a water mister or place damp cloths around your neck and wrists (both good places to remove excess body heat). Getting wet will cool you off.
• The average American diet has more than enough salt in it to replenish what you'll lose through sweating, but changes in diet can remove some of that excess salt and make you more prone to heat injury. Watch for cramps; they are normally the first sign that your body is lacking sodium and/or potassium.

After-effects

Having both treated and been treated for heat exhaustion, I can tell you that it is not fun. It tends to wipe out all of your energy for at least a few days, leaving you unable to do much more than get to the bathroom and the dinner table. 

I've seen heat stroke a couple of times, but we were able to send them to a hospital where they got proper treatment. Once or twice I've caught myself working in the heat and noticed that I'd stopped sweating, and that's my cue to tell the boss I'm going to go sit down for a while. No job is worth my life, and heat stroke isn't something to toy with; it's one injury is high on my list to avoid suffering in a SHTF situation.