Sunday, April 5, 2015

Mobile Solar Power for Survival

Events can and will happen that are out of your control.  This will require adaptation. Here we share a synopsis of events in the hope that those who are now, or are going to be, hit with challenging times.


From 2004 to 2006 our family actively lived off the grid.  For much of this time it was in tents. Camping is a way of life for us. We came back to the rat race in 2006, but we took with us the skills in case of TEOTWAWKI (The End of the World as We Know It) or in case a more personal SHTF took place. Well.....then it happened.

Our 4-month Real-Life SHTF!  
My wife and I own a legal and medical transcription service. Starting in 2012, as the Affordable Health Care Act was being implemented, we lost close to 50% of our clients to the emerging EMR (electronic medical records) system. Foreseeing that we had to reduce costs requiring us to downsize and accommodate the reduction of revenue, we took two years depleting our savings to acquire the gear and tools we needed. In early 2014 we moved out into the wilderness in our Chevy Avalanche 4x4 truck, tent (Eureka Assault Outfitter), and a mobile power system that we designed. It had to be strong enough to power our communications and laptops as well as provide lighting and power a water pump. We prepped ahead and acquired what we needed for our SHTF scenario. We did not have a gas generator. We had a 12 volt RV pump attached to a portable Triton hot water heater system. 

Showers and Dishes
Water was critical while camping in Arizona. We had on hand 8 Reliance AquaTainers holding 7 gallons of fresh water each for cleaning, showering, and dishes. Easy to handle and an excellent way to haul water as 56 gallons is heavy. Each container acted as a baffling system to maintain vehicle stability.  We ran poly-tubing from the containers and used a self priming RV pump to deliver the water where we needed it.
350 watt solar power system ran everything.

Having power was the key to run our laptops and (boosted signal) cellular internet. We produced a simple design solar power unit that had to provide enough power as well as be safe, quiet, and easy to maintain, but mobile and tough enough to meet our demands. This has saved our business and our way of life. It made long-term camping enjoyable by running not only our computer systems, but our water pump and lighting systems for security. Arizona is known for sun, but also known for harsh environments. 
Our power system and the Eureka Assault Outfitter tent survived high winds, dust, rain, snow, and sleet. It worked great during those challenging times.

Tuesday, March 24, 2015

A Call to Defend Life! A true firearm defense story.

A CALL TO DEFEND LIFE

This story is based on actual events.  The names have been changed to protect identities. 

It was a gorgeous day on our ranch.  We had invited over a couple named Jack and Anna who lived a few miles away.  They brought with them a loader and backhoe.  We were bartering with them to do some work on our ranch in exchange for a chicken coup and tack and feed shed.  Jack worked down in the city, while Anna worked as a county sheriff's deputy.  The day was going great.  Our sons were getting to participate with Jack on the backhoe and my wife was having a great time with Anna talking about livestock. 

Suddenly, I received a call on my cell phone.  It was my neighbor Josie.  Josie is an elderly woman who lives about a mile away in this very remote off the grid ranch.  She is a hardened girl, tough and in good shape for being in her 70s.  However, on this particular phone call she was yelling, frightened, and in great distress.  At first I could not understand what she was saying.  I asked her to repeat and tell me what was going on.  Again, with a loud, distressed voice, she screamed, “There is a man here with a gun in my face!”  I immediately yelled this out to our guests knowing full well Anna was a sheriff's deputy.  Anna immediately got on her cell phone and contacted dispatch.  She immediately told me that the closest deputy was over an hour away.  I told Josie to hang on and hung up.  I grabbed my Winchester 1300 Defender combat shotgun and threw it in the truck.  I immediately headed out to Josie's.  Now Josie lives over a mile away, and we are her closest neighbor.  The road leading to her ranch is very rough.  It took me 5 minutes just to get there.  When I arrived, her steel gate entrance was chained and locked.  I got out of the vehicle and noticed in the soft dirt leading up to the gate a single set of large boot tracks that continued after the gate and went on down the soft dirt road deep into Josie’s ranch. 

I grabbed my combat shotgun loaded with 00 buckshot and entered into Josie's property.  Now I have been to Josie's property many times to help her and knew that I had almost a quarter-mile run just to arrive at her trailer.  Josie was not a full-timer and only came out when she was not working for a park service.  She would stay in a 20 foot travel trailer when she would come out.  After a hurried run, I cautiously approached the trailer.  As I approached I could begin to hear a male voice sounding belligerent and demanding to enter into her trailer.  I suspected he was on either drugs or alcohol intoxicated.  I was able to approach the trailer on the opposite side where the perpetrator who was maintaining a position at her trailer door.  I worked my way around to the front of the trailer where the hitch was and poked my head up and looked into Josie's trailer.  I could see her through the screen and dirty windows on the other side of the trailer pleading with the perp at her door.  She continued to plead with cracking voice to the perpetrator to leave immediately and leave her alone.  Wanting to ascertain the situation, I peeked around the corner and saw a swarthy male perpetrator who had a rifle in one hand and a revolver in the other.  I moved back into position concealing myself and ensuring that I was in a low-ready position.  Oddly, a sense of calm came over me.  A spirit of total resolve to do what is right to defend life.  I barely peeked around again observing very closely the actions of this perpetrator, knowing full well that if I were to see him level any one of his firearms at her door I would have to take immediate action to dispatch the offender with swift justice. 

By the grace of God, the perpetrator started growing weary and he proceeded to walk over to a log which Josie would use to sit at her open pit fire.  He laid down his firearms on the log and sat down.  His hands were now free.  This is when I seized the moment, coming around the corner in total authority with my 12-gauge combat shotgun leveled right at him.  I commanded him in a loud concise voice, “Do not to move a muscle!”  He jerked and became stiff as a board and had an expression of utter fear, and he complied immediately with my commands.  I was able to secure his weapons.  

When Josie saw through her window that I had the situation under control she immediately burst out of her trailer and grabbed a hold of me hugging me so tight.  I was amazed at her strength.  I immediately questioned the perpetrator.  Upon questioning I found out he was an illegal alien from Mexico brought to the ranches by another ranch owner who happened to live on the east coast.  He was brought to that ranch to watch over it. 

I got on my cell phone and called Anna, the sheriff's deputy at my ranch, and told her of the situation.  She informed me that they would not be able to send out a deputy to respond to this situation and apologized profusely.  To this day, I have never been given any explanation as to why the sheriff would not respond. 

I had this illegal invader in my custody.  I asked Josie what she wanted to do.  Josie stated that she knew who the ranch owner was after the perpetrators admission on who is. She now knew who brought this illegal invader to their ranch, and she would contact them immediately and notify them of the situation.  She made the call while I had him in custody.  She hung up her cell phone and she then requested that I escort him back to his ranch where the owner would deal with him. 

I commanded the invader to walk out in front of me and proceed to my truck on the other side of the ranch.  Josie followed along with me to see us out.  While on the way out she nearly collapsed out of severe stress.  I grabbed a hold of her and gave her a big hug.  She regained her strength.  When we arrived at my truck I gave the invader strict orders with a very stern face not to leave his ranch until his person of authority arrived and that I would be watching him.  He stated that he would comply. 

I took him back to his ranch and gave back his firearms after I had unloaded them.  I watched him cautiously until he arrived at his cabin and went in.  I then left.  When I arrived back at my place my wife and kids gave me a big hug, as well as Anna the sheriff's deputy. 

I recounted the entire event to them.  My sons and I set up observation to watch over the invader to make sure he stayed where he belonged.  The very next day, the ranch owner from the east coast blazing in with their truck and took away the perpetrator immediately. 

We never saw him again. 

The use of a firearm though not having to dispatch a perpetrator saves this woman’s life in my opinion.  I had no doubt that he would have eventually harmed her.  I always keep my combat shotgun with me on patrols by request of other ranch owners.  It has been my primary weapon system for 20 years and I have developed accessories to fulfill my needs to use such a defensive weapon. 


Now, of course after this incident hind sight is always 20/20 and for some reason (I believe the Lord) it worked out the way that it did.  Of course reviewing over this story there are crucial things that I probably could have done, but did not do.  Your input is constructive to this true story and it can help others to put into practice on what can be/or not be done. 

Sunday, February 8, 2015


Best Primary Weapon Defense System









You can only carry one when on the run or standing a post.
There is a plethora of information on the web regarding firearms and there application in SHTF scenarios. It is of our opinion, that if you are going to survive there is one weapon system that might see you through the other side. It is known that many Americans have stock piled a diverse amounts of ammo, pistols, revolvers, shotguns, and rifles. Recent firearm sales have broken records. But, unless you are supplying an army, buying as an investment/collector, when it comes right down to it, "what if your location becomes compromised?" How much of it do you plan to carry? What weapons system is your go to? We have it set up to only grab one gun.
The go to primary weapon system that we believe is the overall best for SHTF/TEOTWAWKI/WROL/APOCALYPSE and having owned many BRs, ARs, rifles, pistols, revolvers; the combat pump action shotgun is our primary weapons system. It has been for decades and find it to be the best overall weapons system for a prepper/survivalist/sheep warrior.




Why?

Ease of use 
Reliability - Based on over 100 years of development.
Availability of a wide range of ammunition - From bird shot, buckshot, slug, flechette and sabot, to specialty ammo from non lethal to very exotic along with low recoil to magnum power rounds making a single weapons platform a definite force multiplier. This system can even be a launcher with blank rounds to launch a grappling hook or other ordinance.  
Your personal load-out should have a few of each dictated by your own personal intelligence of the situation at hand. An ammo load-out is about a total of 25 to 50 rounds depending on your capabilities of weight management. Use of a tactical vest or equivalent to carry a load-out of shot shell carrier card for ease of acquisition extra shot shells is critical. 
Ammunition reloading components are widely available and easy enough to even reload with basic tools by hand in the field if necessary.

Firepower!
Tough!






Accessories - User customization with accessories including easy barrel change outs, choke systems, light systems, sight systems, carry systems, ammunition holders, hardware and adjustable furniture configurations.

A combat pump shotgun in a survival situation is the ultimate hunting system for the survivalist from small game to the largest North American game such as elk, moose and even big bears.










The combat pump shotgun is a one man army weapons system; in a SHTF scenario you can only handle one weapon system at a time. The combat pump shotgun with its ability to handle and cycle such a wide diverse ammunition loads, fulfills every need that you may face that requires a firearm!

In a survival situation it is unrivaled.  For defense, security, engage close quarter targets to engaging targets up to 300 yards. (For those who doubt the long range capability check video below. Smooth bore common 12 gauge foster slug. It is impressive)



In a bug out situation,*  the combat pump shotgun is my go to weapon system with the knowledge of the aforementioned it is a weapon system that I know I can deal with any situation requiring the need of a firearm.


Remember, preserve life, defend the weak and helpless. Love your countrymen!


*This is a last resort. Bugging out after the SHTF  is precarious and extremely challenging. It is best to have planned routes to a secured locations that is a primary, secondary and tertiary with caches along the way. Belonging to a like minded group when on the move each with their own particular training and skills is also a major plus. 

A full load-out of 12 gauge ammo is heavy; (This goes for any preference of weapon system as well as other supplies) 100 rounds of 2.75 inch 9 pellet 00 buck, just under 10 pounds equivalent to 10 mags of .223/5.56mm respectively . It is already known, that many will talk about  the possibility of engaging in a firefight, but remember the majority of ammo expended in such a scenario is suppression. To which, 100 rounds of 00 buck is 900 projectiles of .33 caliber 53 grain shot within a typical 100 yard range of contact engagement suppression compared to just 300 projectiles with a heavy load-out of .223/5.56mm.


FireFight! Realities for the Prepper and Survivalist

The prepper/survivalist has ensured every material that will mitigate most critical situations of passing through the fire of cataclysm and catastrophic society breakdown. One of the major primary considerations has been their weapon system, which is the heart of any true prepper/survivalist.
The prepper knows his weapon system as any true soldier knows his rifle. The training is as deep as he or she has exercised.
Over the years, observing many actual videos of true battles in war especially small arms firefights, there are no delusions of grandeur. It is not pretty. If ever should one come in contact with an enemy force even a small force, a firefight is one thing a true prepper/survivalist should avoid at all costs.


With today's technology, observation of gritty true life firefight videos have opened a door to which many of us really do not see. It really throws into reality what happens during a firefight.




The laws in a small arms firefight are:
  • You will fall down, A LOT! Whether in the field or just in your own compound.
  • Nature will grab a hold, trip, get in your way namely dirt, dust, snow, ice, rain, fog, sticks, rocks, bushes, trees, etc.
  • Man made structures will grab a hold of you, get in your way, trip you, give way, snag you, hit you etc.
  • Your own gear will get in the way. 
  • You won't see it coming.  
  • You will be tired and exhausted when the enemy attacks. 
  • You can not run as fast as you think you can. 
  • You will drop your weapon.
  • You will try to shoot with your safety on. 
  • You will forget to charge your weapon.
  • Your weapon will malfunction. 
  • and last one is the most critical law: YOU WILL RUN OUT OF AMMO! 



In a firefight: Hundreds of rounds can be used in a matter of minutes by a single shooter.
Ammo is one of the main issues to be covered here. Observing the U.S. military when coming in contact with local insurgents in the middle east, the military uses extensive suppression tactics when engaging with the enemy, especially ambush. Watch Funker Tactical videos on YouTube and you will hear a lot cussing, screaming and just a lot of what seems like to be utter chaos to get more ammo up to the soldiers who are laying down the hurt.


This is critical intelligence for the prepper/survivalist, since either you are a lone wolf or belong to a small prepper/survival or militia unit, ammunition goes fast when having to suppress and then engage to defeat the enemy.


For the overwhelming majority of prepper/survivalists, this is not at all practical and is not at all encouraged to consider as a mindset to engage in a firefight. When engaged in an unforeseen firefight, one of the best guerrilla defensive tactic is to suppress in the generally direction of the enemy fire, escape and evade. Training should be the majority of this art form. You will make your escape an immediate coarse of action with no exceptions.
With the endless possibilities of scenarios that can be had here. It is encouraged to do your due diligence to research, apply techniques, train and assess your program to adapt to your specific defensive needs.