Category: SHTF

Thoughts On That Poodleshooter Post

SHTF, The Gun Thing

My acquisition of an AR-15 “pistol” (above) generated more than a few comments, but the one that interested me the most was this one:

Your friends are logically planning for group support. They’ve got your back, and you’ve got theirs. 

Armies standardize platforms and calibers for a reason. Sometimes, that’s a compromise.

The scenario in question is a group defensive action, and one of you runs out of ammo. If it’s you, and you’re the one shooting .375 H&H, you’re just outta luck. If it’s your best friend, and all you’ve got is 7.62×39, he’s dead. Because you won’t give up your outdated niche calibers.

Harsh, but true.

Then again, I remember back when 7.62x51mm NATO was the mainstream, and the .223 Rem was the varmint-appropriate “niche caliber”.  But that’s not the point.

Frankly, knowing my friends as I do, if there were any suggestion of a “group defensive action”, I know that each of them has at least one “spare” AR-15 poodleshooter to hand me, and let’s just say a sufficiency of ammo to share (actually, they singly and collectively have enough ammo for about a company of troops let alone just me, but let’s not go there).  I think we’re covered, in that regard.  (Oh, and by the way, if they happen to be at my place when the SHTF, let’s just say that I have the means to do the same for them, just with a sufficiency of 7.62x39mm as the “common” ammo, and the necessary guns to shoot them.)

What worries me is if I’m flying solo in a SHTF scenario.  In that dismal eventuality, the ammo-intensive “spray and pray” mindset is never going to be an option for me — my habit of “making every shot count” dates back at least half a century, and is unlikely ever to change. And I practice, endlessly, to ensure that I have the ability to support such an activity.

In that scenario, my go-to gun — if I have the time to make the choice — is always going to be an AK / SKS-type rather than an AR simply because when it comes to self-defense, I always want to be absolutely confident in my weapons.

I ditched carrying 9mm pistols for that precise reason — because I always felt “under-gunned” with the High Power despite its 15-round mag —  and now I carry only 1911s or (if I’m feeling like a change) a .357 Mag revolver.  And I understand that in these modern times, both of these gun types are “quantity-deficient”, ammo-wise.  To compensate for that, I just have to carry sufficient backup magazines / speedloaders (which I do) and practice reloading of same, which I also do;  the latter activity for something like an hour every single day of the work week, using empty mags and / or dummy ammo for obvious reasons.

As for the long gun option:  rest assured that my pack-out ammo load is sufficient to inflict a considerable reduction of numbers in any goblin horde I may encounter.  And I don’t want to wound or incapacitate said goblins, or shoot to make them keep their heads down or chase them away or whatever;  in that final extreme, if I’m really going to be forced to shoot, then I want fucking death to occur at the naughty end of my firearm.

And my caliber choices reflect that mindset.

Now all that said, as I think about this issue, there is a definite reason to keep the AR-15 pistol:  as a practice tool if ever I’m going to be forced into a “group defensive action” with my buddies.  It’s all very well to have a spare gun handed to you, but it’s useless if you don’t know how to work the damn thing.

So I guess it’s probably going to stay in Ye Olde Gunne Sayfe.  But we’ll see… because if we’re looking at a small carbine (which is what the AR-15 pistol really is), then all sorts of options come into play — such as this lovely thing.

And everyone — my friends as much or more so than many — will have some .45 ACP lying around.

By the way, that insistence on ammo compatibility does not extend to our handguns.  Doc carries something chambered in 10mm (because he’s a big, tough guy — no sarcasm or irony, he really is), and CC (who is also big and tough) carries either a 9mm pistol or occasionally a .357 Mag snubbie revolver.  Interestingly enough, on a day to day carry basis I think I actually carry more spare ammo on hand than they do.  And in a SHTF scenario, I almost certainly have more backup .45 ACP mags than either of them have for their carry guns.

When The Elites Start To Panic

SHTF

This little episode made me giggle:

Three days?  Three DAYS?  Does she think that a miracle will occur, or the disaster have passed, by Day Four?

As I recall, the BritGov suggested the same time period — probably using the same asinine reasoning, if it can be called that.

At the risk of sounding repetitive on this topic, three months’ worth of supplies sounds more realistic, and still longer would be better (assuming that one has the storage space to hold all that stuff).

But no politician is going to suggest such a holding, of course, for two reasons:

  1. it may cause the population to panic, and
  2. it would suggest that the government might fail in its primary obligation (to protect its citizens).

…and we can’t have that, can we?  Far better to suggest a paltry three days, and allow vast numbers of people to perish from starvation, etc.

Of course, in unarmed Europe, “going shopping with my AK card” is not possible because of civilian disarmament and stringent gun control laws.

It’s a recipe for disaster, as any fule kno, but it couldn’t happen to a nicer bunch of neo-socialists.

Fundamental Principle

Bureaucracy, Gummint, SHTF

I have said, many times before on this blog and elsewhere, that in America there is no such thing as “taking to law into our own hands”, for the simple reason that in America, the law has never left our hands.  Oh sure, we have deputized its enforcement, mostly to local law enforcement and (lamentably) on occasion to the federal government.

But make no mistake:  if our deputized law enforcement is unable or unwilling to enforce the law (most often the former, thank goodness), then it is indeed up to We The People to make damn sure that it is.  Which is why we have statutes like the Castle Doctrine and “stand your ground” principles;  we have every right to defend our families and properties, and that defense does not require us to “run away” in the face of such predation either.  (Of course, in some states — Massachusetts, Minnesota etc. — such prescriptions are an anathema, which is why their citizens live in fear most of the time, whereas in Florida, Oklahoma and Texas criminals commit crimes at their own peril, and the law-abiding are not themselves prosecuted for providing that peril.)

Which brings me to the next issue involving fundamental principle:  disaster recovery.

The United States, taken has a whole, experiences a wider range of natural disasters than just about anywhere else:  tropical storms and hurricanes, blizzards and deep freezes, earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, wildfires and floods;  you name the manifestations of that bitch Mother Nature’s enmity, and we get ’em, good and hard.

Typically, the responses to such disasters take several forms:  at state level, if the government has its ducks in a row, you have disaster preparation such as Florida having a veritable army of utility workers prepositioned to make sure that infrastructure can be restored quickly (thank you, Gov. DeSantis), or Texas having a “rainy day” fund for precisely that purpose.  And if you can take anything to the bank these days, it is the generosity of ordinary Americans to help out where they can, trucking in supplies such as water, food, construction materials and so on, quite often without asking any form of compensation other than grateful thanks from the recipients.

And then you have the federal government’s attempts at recovery assistance.  What a fuckup.  The so-called Federal Emergency Management Administration (FEMA) has proven itself most recently to be completely and utterly inept, which by the way is typical of any Big Government agency trying to address a local situation:  they screw things up.

Worse still, when Big Agency can’t provide assistance, its inherent systemic arrogance often leads to hindering and even preventing assistance from being delivered by private individuals and organizations.  (It’s a childish and petulant attitude that “If we can’t do it, then nobody can”, and it’s a typical manifestation of bad government.)

Over at PJMedia, Scott Pinsker has written a fine piece on just this topic.  Go ahead and read it because it contains all the details that I can’t be bothered with;  but at the end he comes to this conclusion:

Most FEMA fieldworkers [as opposed to FEMA management — K.] are doing the best they can.  But something profound is going on:  The American people have stopped expecting the government to help them.  Instead, they’re turning to the Free Market.

And:

The majority of Asheville residents (the ones who are still left) probably couldn’t tell you who runs FEMA. But I guarantee you they know who Elon Musk is: He’s the billionaire who’s actually trying to make a difference.

And when help finally comes to North Carolina, it’ll be from Musk — not Uncle Sam.

Keep your eyes on this: The ground is starting to shift… and not because of natural disasters.

I expect that voters are going to demand from their state governments that they (state government) and not FEMA be held responsible and accountable for disaster recovery.  What should follow after that is the state government should actively prosecute federal officials for getting in the way.

And I’m not advocating this, but I am warning of it:  the next time some FEMA helicopter “propwashes” an “unapproved” private supply dump, do not be surprised if local residents react violently.

I’m pretty sure that I’d be tempted to, in such a situation — and I’m ordinarily the most law-abiding person I know.  But catastrophe and disaster are not “ordinary” situations, and while a federal government agency may see it as just another bureaucratic exercise needing proper, orderly management, the people on the ground won’t, and shouldn’t.

Their lives and community are more important, and the sooner Big Government realizes that, the better — because if they don’t, a shit-storm will follow, and it will be their own fault.

Funniest Headline Of The Week

Funny Stuff, Journalist Scum, SHTF

From last Friday:

Well, if Black Lives Matter, Pink Pussyhats and Earth First members aren’t going to step up after a catastrophe, then someone has to.

And just a little note to the Daily Fail:  the Patriot Front isn’t a “white supremacist” organization, even though the Anti-Defamation League may think so.  (Irony Alert:  labeling the PF “white supremacist” is per ipso pretty much defamatory.)

Then there’s this:

Militia groups, such as Patriot Front, are reportedly using the devastating hurricanes to push a narrative about a failed or corrupt government hurricane response.

It’s not just “militia groups” who are calling the federal government’s response inadequate and pathetic;  it’s just about everyone who isn’t a Lefty asshole.

And we haven’t even started to discuss how the Fedgov’s agencies are blocking privately-funded aid and -supplies from reaching those ravaged areas…

Worth Knowing

SHTF, The Gun Thing

From Friend & Longtime Reader JCinPA:

I’ve been handicapping the probability of widespread violence around the election—I mean as in nationwide—for a couple of years and now I believe any sentient person knows it is now virtually 100%. The only question remaining is which side wins the election, that will determine which side kicks off the festivities, but we will have festivities.

For any of your readers who are not firearms enthusiasts (there must be 1 or 2?), you may want to put this out as a public service announcement. Good condition S&W police surplus revolvers. Add $50-75 for s&h and processing, but in the unlikely event someone has no weapon and is now regretting that fact, these are the ticket for the non-shooter.

Along with four to five 5-gal water bottles and some 4patriot food packs, it’s time to get prepared.

All good advice and two good links.  Thankee, my friend.

I actually added some supplies to the SHTF cupboard a day or two ago, for no apparent reason.  Hadn’t done it for a while, but something must have been tickling my antenna.  And I don’t think I’m the only one…

That List, Again

SHTF

Faced with imminent risk of flooding over in Britishland, the Met Office has provided a helpful emergency list for those Brits at risk of same:

“Think about putting together an emergency flood kit with essential items that will help you cope in a flood, including: Insurance documents and list of contact numbers; torch and spare batteries; first-aid kit and any prescription medicines; warm waterproof clothes and blankets; bottled water and snacks; battery or wind-up radio and if it applies to you: supplies for looking after your baby or pet. Make sure that everyone knows where to find this kit and what to do if flooding happens.”

Of course, what isn’t mentioned is whether the flood risk involves home evacuation or simply being isolated at home (surrounded, say, by floodwaters).

I have a couple of grab ‘n go chests ready if I had to leave home, and they contain all the above along with more serious survival stuff, to be supplemented only with things I keep in the house, e.g. Rx meds, rain gear and of course my laptop computer (which contains all the documentation I need to run my life).  And as long as I have sufficient gas in the car, the power inverter I keep inside it will provide all the power I’d need.  Of take-along guns we will not speak, of course, but most Brits don’t have any of those, so their supplies are pretty much there for the taking by anyone (e.g. a criminal or police officer [some overlap] ) who can simply commandeer whatever they need.

As for staying in place at home, I think we could survive for about a month, maybe even two before being seriously inconvenienced.

In other words, I’m not too worried about the problem — unless the disaster strikes (as it usually does in Texas) during a severe winter storm, in which case things might be a little more tricky, but not insurmountable.  As our apartment is on the ground floor and overlooks a large lawn, I could always park the car next to the patio railing and use the inverter for emergency power inside the apartment if necessary.  (The complex has all sorts of rules about outdoor cooking on the patio etc., but in a SHTF situation I’d ignore pretty much everything that stood in my way anyway.)

Feel free to run over all the things you’d need to get through a catastrophe of the above nature.  It’s a good mental exercise even if you believe you’re adequately prepared, and who knows, you might find that you have a few things to attend to, e.g. getting in some more batteries or non-perishable foods.

Disaster prep:  if you don’t do it, you deserve everything that hits you.