Bugging Out: What Calibur Rifle?

Posted: 7th May 2012 by Andrew in AR-15, Bug out Bag, Bugging Out
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Just received a great question about bugging out from one of our friends on Survival Blog’s Facebook page: which caliber rifle is best for bugging out?

Great question!

Here’s the deal – I’ll be carrying my AR15 – but I have a conversion kit that will convert it to a .22 by just changing the bolt.

I can literally change my AR15 from a .223 to a .22 in 3 seconds which makes it the most versatile rifle I own. I can hunt small game with the .22 and use the .223 for big game (and personal defense!) without carrying two rifles.

Bug out bag contents - AR15 to .22 conversion kit

Simply pop in this bolt and use this magazine to fire .22LRs from any standard AR15! Costs about $150 bucks.

On another note, I refuse to put any sort of optics on my rifle (carry handle sites only) because I would worry that in a grid down or bug out situation, if my optic broke, it would render the firearm useless if the scope was damaged. Imagine how hard it would be to find a replacement.

DPMS AR15

This is the DPMS AR15 that I’ll be using for bugging out. Note that it has the carry handle sights – less chance of breaking.

I encourage any survivalist to comment below on what rifle they will include in their bugging out, but here are some factors I would keep in mind.

Best Bug Out Caliber Tip #1: Choose a weapon you are proficient with.

The last thing you want to do in a SHTF situation is learn to use your rifle. Make sure you are very proficient with your rifle and that you know it well. You should also stock up on parts that are common for your rifle – just in case. Parts will be hard to come by during TEOTWAWKI.

Best Bug Out Caliber Tip #2: Choose a Caliber you can hunt with.

Whether it be a long or short bug out situation, you’ll need some way to gather grub. Hunting for big game with a .308, 30/30, or 30/06 is standard – even a 12 or 20 guage shotgun will do. A .223 has a smaller round than most hunters would prefer, but where it lacks with hunting, it gains with personal protection.

Remmington 710

This is my Remmington 710 – I love this rifle, great for hunting, affordable, and super accurate. Synthetic stock keeps it light.

Do you know of any good .308 or larger caliber auto or semi auto rifles? Let me know of makes and models in the comments below.

Best Bug Out Caliber Tip #3: Think about who you will be bugging out with.

Will you be bugging out with a friend, spouse, or your entire family? Think of the advantages of bugging out wing others – the more people in your bug out party, the more opportunity you have to bring different calibers and more ammunition.

My wife will be carrying my Kimber .308 sniper rifle (with a great scope) and I’ll have my .223 AR15 (and my .22 conversion kit.)

Kimber .308

This is my Kimber .308 sniper that my wife will carry. I can hit a beer cap at 500 yards!

What Caliber rifle will you be taking and why? Leave a comment below with your thoughts.

AR15 Guest Blog: Prepper Joe’s Preferred AR15/M4 Style Rifle Starter List

Posted: 18th April 2012 by Andrew in AR-15
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When it comes to finding your first AR15/M4 style rifle there are a few guidelines I recommend following (these are purely from my experience and research and are of course entirely opinion):

• Make sure it is 5.56 NATO/.223 Remington. You can shoot .223 Remington from a 5.56 but not a 5.56 from a strictly .223 Remington (Some say you can shoot 5.56 from a .223 Remington, but you run the risk of severely damaging your weapon and possibly injuring yourself—don’t do it).

• I don’t recommend building your first AR style rifle. While they are not hard to build, there are too many reports of people going out, piecing together their ideal build and then having issues with it not firing, etc. I recommend buying one straight out, getting used to the weapon, learning its mechanisms, and then slowly start piecing together your next one based on your experience.

How to Choose an AR15 That’s Right for You

• I recommend getting an AR with a flat top or optic ready top. If you get the railings you limit the ease of application and capability of some scopes. If you get a flat top/optic ready you can generally put about any scope you want on them.

• My personal preference is a 16” barrel compared to the more expensive 18” or 20” barrels. Unless you’re planning on shooting beyond 350 yards, you really don’t need more than 16”. Also, keeping the 16” barrel holds true to the tactical nature of many of these weapons—they provide easier maneuverability and adjustment to closer threats.

• Always take your time and research the weapon you want to purchase. Read reviews, read specifications, read fine text then reread the reviews! Make sure you’re going to get what you’re wanting.

There are three particular AR Styled rifles that I recommend as a first purchase. Each of these has quite a few variations available, but the base models are as follows:

Colt LE6920

Colt LE6920

Colt LE6920 – Approximately $1000-$1200 online depending on source
Barrel Length: 16.1”
Standard Magazine Capacity: 30+1
Total Length: 35.5”
Weight (Unloaded): 6.95 Pounds

Bushmaster 90888

Bushmaster 90888

Bushmaster 90888 – Approximately $875 online depending on source
Barrel Length: 16”
Standard Magazine Capacity: 30+1
Total Length: 36.25”
Weight (Unloaded): 6 Pounds

Windham Weaponry R16M4FTT

Windham Weaponry R16M4FTT

Windham Weaponry R16M4FTT – Approximately $825 online depending on source
Barrel Length: 16”
Standard Magazine Capacity: 30+1
Total Length: 34.5”
Weight (Unloaded): 6.9 Pounds

As you can see, all of these guns are pretty much identical. Same barrel length, very slight variations on total length and weight, and each of them will generally use the same magazines. Generally when you buy an AR, unless you’re in California, it will come with a single 30 round magazine.

I have not shot or handled a Windham Weaponry R16M4FTT, but have read many great reviews and heard good things from people close to me. I personally prefer the Bushmaster 90888 for its price and capabilities, but the Colt, despite paying more for a name, is the most reliable AR I’ve handled/shot.

Though I’ve never had the desire to dip my Colt in mud and then attempt to fire it, I’ve read reports on people doing just that and having it fire. I would never condone testing that, but it is a testament to its reliability.

This guest blog post was written and sent in by Prepper Joe over at http://prepcommunity.net/

How to Choose an AR15 That’s Right for You

Survival Knives 101

Posted: 18th April 2012 by Andrew in Survival Gear, TEOTWAWKI
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Your survival knife is one of the most important pieces of equipment and will save your life.

It can really be the center of your survival when all you are left is with is your survival knife. We previously ran an article on how to purchase a survival knife and this offers more insight to knives and their quality.

Survival Knife Tip #1: Blade, materials, and design

The knife blade has variations that make it an important consideration in your purchase.

You should be considering the following:

  • Material
  • Design
  • Thickness

Survival Knife Materials

A good survival knife should either be stainless steel or carbon steel.  Carbon is said to hold a blade longer but rusts faster.

Survival Knife Design

A smooth stone can be used to sharpen a straight blade knife in the wild, and these types of blades are better for chopping wood. Serrated blades generally require a special sharpener, a consideration you may want to look at depending on the application.

For thickness, you are looking for a knife that does not have a lot of flex in the blade. We recommend knives that are 3/16 to 4/16 of an inch for durable wood chopping and prying.

Survival Knife Tip #2: Only one piece

The tang of a knife is the portion of the blade that extends into the handle. Cheap knives end at the beginning of the handle whereas the best knives have tangs that go all the way to the base of the knife. A fuller tang gives the knife more power and is one of the most important factors of its strength.

Do not buy survival knives that are more than one piece.

Here are some survival knives to stay away from:

Survival Knife

Try to stay away from any knives that fold or that are not one single piece of metal.

 

 

Survival Knife Tip #3: Handles

Mentioned above was the opinion that tangs that ended at the beginning of the handle should be avoided. Knives like a hollow handle knife fit this bill

It may sound like a good idea to have miscellaneous items in your knife but if you lose your knife you also lose those important items. Look for knives that are hard rubber or made out of a polymer material.

Survival Knife Tip #4: Sheath

The knife sheath will affect how you carry and draw your knife and thus plays an important part in your selection. Knife sheaths can be attached to your backpack by a strap contained on the sheath. This may give good access to your knife as would strapping it to your leg. You may also want to look into a knife that contains a sheath that has a belt attachment for waistline access.

Finally you will want to look at a knife with a strap that crosses over where the handle meets the sheath so it does not allow the knife to slide out.

Here’s a great looking sheath from a Glock knife:

Glock survival knife

Here’s a great survival knife with a saw edge made by Glock for about $30 bucks. Make sure your survival knife is one piece of metal from tip to hilt!

 

Reconnaissance – Learn What You Are Up Against

Posted: 17th April 2012 by Andrew in Airsoft Drills, Military Drills, Reconnaissance
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According to the U.S. Army:

Reconnaissance is a mission to obtain information by visual observation or other detection methods, about the activities and resources of an enemy or potential enemy, or about the meteorologic, hydrographic, or geographic characteristics of a particular area.

Recon Patrol

Recon Patrol

Knowledge is power, and when SHTF, power is a beautiful thing.

Before the advent of technology, information about your enemy was carried out by men on horseback that would send troops into enemy territories to get information about terrain and the enemy before sending more troops into the area or pursuing the battle-related goals.

Assuming you don’t have the power of a military or aerial and satellite resources to help with your recon, you may need to resort to primitive times to get the information you need for your surviva during a grid down (TEOTWAWKI) situation.

There are three types of Reconnaissance to look at:

  1. Terrain-Oriented Recon - surveying the terrain for its features that may affect your mission.
  2. Force-Oriented Recon - this looks into the forces you will be up against and determines their vulnerabilities.
  3. Civil-Oriented Recon - looks at the structures or civil dimensions of a battlespace.

Often your reconnaissance mission may require that you or your team carry out all three types of reconnaissance where other missions may just take one or two elements out of the above. Your goal as a commander of troops into a potentially hazardous area is to have a full grasp on what you are up against.

Recon Tips #1: Always use recon teams, and assign specific objectives.

Here are some common reconnaissance objectives:

  1. Enemy – who, what, when, where, and how is your enemy assembled
  2. Terrain – what sort of terrain are you facing? Can you find any choke points to ambush your enemy?
  3. Troops and support available – does your enemy have more troops and support available than you?
  4. Time available – how much time will it take to accomplish your goals?
  5. Civil considerations – are there non-combatants or other civil areas to consider?

Recon is the most important part of your support troops.

Recon Tips #2: Give your recon team the support they need to be successful.

Here are some important parts of a recon team:

  • Keep the ream team small – 4 recons at most
  • Keep the recon team agile – the less they need to carry, the better
  • Keep your recon team protected – two recon members should carry automatic weapons, one should carry

There are variations on reconnaissance depending on what the objectives of the mission are. For example, if the objective is to determine the location of enemy fire the act of firing first may allow you to locate enemy locations as a strategic piece of information for a future attack. Another example would be determining that a particular area of the battlefield was less guarded than other areas. This area may be a great location to base future attacks, recon missions, or make note of exploitable information in which friendly forces can pass while avoiding contact from the enemy.

Above all else, information about the enemy can prove to be your most valuable asset. Consider the above when you are placed in a situation where you have the time and resources to plan your mission so that it can be carried out in the most strategic way possible.

How to Have a Bug Out Drill

Posted: 12th April 2012 by Andrew in Bugging Out, Survivalist Preparation, TEOTWAWKI
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The military trains its troops with one method - repetitive drills. Muscle memory is where its at!

Its super important that when a SHTF scenario happens, you and your family is ready to react – at least until things settle down.

Here are your goals:

  • Get to safety as quick as possible
  • Make sure you have everything you need to sustain life – fire, shelter, food, and water

Your family is probably going to think you’re a little weird for asking them to have a bug out drill – but someday, it might just save their lives.  That said, here are a couple bug out drills to practice with just you or the entire family.

Bug Out Drill #1: Evacuation

This scenario is not as likely as other bug out scenarios, but here’s one to practice your speed and coordination in a stressful situation.

Imagine you get a knock on your door – its the fire department, EMTs, police, or whoever.  They give you 5 minutes to pack what you need and move out.

Time you and your family – anything you can carry after 5:00 minutes will be taken, all else left. Take your family out to eat and discuss the items they brought. Get your family thinking about the essentials of your bug out.

Bugging out

Bugging Out During a Forced Evacuation May Save Your Life

Bug Out Drill #2: Bug Out Weekend

Bugging out can be fun – plan with your wife to bug out, but if you have kids, don’t mention it to them until 5 or 10 minutes before you leave. Give your children 5 minutes notice that you’ll be spending the weekend camping, hiking, or whatever your budget can afford. That will really give you an idea of how well your bug out bag is prepared.

Bugging Out Can be a Fun Family Trip!

Bug Out Drill #3: TEOTWAWKI Weekend – Bug-IN Weekend

Plan a bug in weekend – a weekend where you shut off the power and water to your house and spend the entire weekend with the power out and the water off. This will also give you a good idea of how you would cope in a grid-down scenario.

Before you have a TEOTWAWKI weekend, make sure you have a security plan, a plan for food and water, and a simple schedule of activities to keep your family having fun.

If you are not bugging out alone, then everyone in your family/party will need to have an idea of what they need to bring in the event SHTF and you need to bug out. A bug out bag packed with all of your survival gear prepared for each person is a must for any person preparing for TEOTWAWKI.

Bug in Weekend

Bug in Weekends Can be Fun and Affordable!

Keep your bug out bag in an accessible location that is personalized for each individual. This is important because men and woman may have different needs as would a child or adult. Consider packing a change of clothing as well as shoes, a bottle of water, high energy snacks, first aid supplies and toiletries. You should also consider medicine, cash, candles, matches, a cell phone charger and extra battery and a thermal blanket.

These items should be placed somewhere convenient and someplace easily accessible. Everyone in the family should know where to find these items and what it is they are responsible for. The goal is to have this accomplished in under five minutes, essentially a grab and go.

Practice the Bug Out Drill

The military trains by repetition and so should you. Practice this drill every so often and time yourself to see how quickly you can respond to a scenario where you need to move you and your loved ones fast. You will also be able to determine the most ideal locations for your backpacks as well as the space you have in your vehicle.

Best Bug Out Vehicle: Marauder

Posted: 5th April 2012 by Andrew in Bug Out Vehicle
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If you are a fan of bad-a** survival vehicles you may have seen the Marauder SUV developed by the Paramount Group based in the perpetual survivalist nation of South Africa. This vehicle gained so much popularity it was featured in the British automotive program Top Gear. For comparisons sake, the truck was matched to the Hummer, where it was tested for driving off-road as well as over cars, ordering fast food, and being blasted by explosives. To give you an idea of how great this bad-boy is, reference this episode to watch how the same explosives that were used on the H3 that completely destroyed it left the Marauder completely operational with the exception of a single blown tire.

Bad Ass Marauder Bug Out Vehicle Specs

  •  20,000+ lb. beast that can weigh up to 33,000 lbs. when combat ready
  • Holds up to eight passengers

Marauder Survival Armor

Ballistic Protection

  • 7.62x54mm RB 32 API & .50cal API (Equivalent to STANAG 4569 level III)

Mine Protection

  • Mine Protection – Double anti-tank mine (14kg TNT) under any wheel
  • Single anti-mine (7kg) under the hull. (Higher than STANAG 4569 level 4a and 4b)
  • The truck or truck/tank hybrid gets its power from a Cummins ISBe4 Diesel engine that can reach 100-120 km/h depending on the tires.

Use of the Marauder Survial Vehicle

The Marauder is designed to carry a crew of two in the front and eight fully equipped soldiers in the rear. It can be adapted to be an ambulance, a command center, or to house an overhead weapon system (my favorite).

Initially developed for recon and peacekeeping missions, the Marauder can be outfitted with light and medium caliber machine guns, cannon weapons, missile launchers, and anti-aircraft guns (just kidding).

How To Get Your Marauder

In the event that you need to withstand an anti-tank blast under the hull, or a double anti-tank mine blast under any wheel, the Marauder is for you.

For $500,000 bucks the Marauder could be yours!

The company is in an agreement with the King Abdullah Design and Development Bureau (KADDB), Jordan’s primary governmental military agency that develops and manufactures defense systems, and which serves as an independent technical advisor to the Jordanian Armed Forces (JAF).

Currently the vehicle is only in operation in Azerbaijan, South Africa, and in use by the Indian Army.

 

Super Bug Out Vehicle: Kick Ass Survival Vehicle

Posted: 29th March 2012 by Andrew in Bug Out Vehicle, Bugging Out
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Knight XV Conquest

Knight XV Conquest

This Bug Out Vehicle Will Save Your Life

In a recent article we posted on the Best Bug Out Vehicle we took a look at some of the land and sea vehicles you should consider as your ultimate SHTF bug out vehicle.

Best Bug Out Vehicle Ever

Best Bug Out Vehicle Ever

Given the popularity of our last article and the utter sickness of this bug out truck, we thought we would dedicate one post to the Knight XV by Conquest Vehicles. Conquest is responsible for the design of ultra-luxurious, fully armored, sport utility vehicles.

Click your thumbs up button above if your want this truck! Can I get a hell yeah??

Knight XV

The Knight XV is their flagship vehicle and offers more features, amenities and luxury than any gangster limo you can dream of.

Ultimate Survival Vehicle - Knight XV

This beast contains a GM 6 liter V8 or an optional Cummins 6.7 liter diesel engine that put out 325 HP and 300 HP respectively.

Best Bug Out Truck Ever!

Complete with a serious luxury interior and thermal imaging camera, the features inside this truck are sure to please even the most seasoned tank driver.

 

Knight XV Rims - Serious Survival Rims

If you are into rims more than crushing everything, you’ll be happy to know that the Knight XV comes with either 20’s or 22.5” rims that are forged from heavy grade aluminum.

Top it off with an armored grille, commercial grade air ride suspension and joystick controlled search lights, and you are just starting to get into what makes this monster moan like a wildebeest.

Knight XV Security Features

After you are done drooling over the fine leather and sweet sound system, you can move on to the real reason you are purchasing this hog- the security appointments. The Knight XV comes standard with the following survivalist features:

  • Front and rear night vision cameras
  • Roof mounted rear view camera
  • Transparent, tinted, armor glass throughout
  • Transparent moon roof panels
  • Run flat system on all tires
  • Passive anti-theft key system
  • Under vehicle explosive protection system
  • Under vehicle magnetic attachment detector
  • Black box made for vehicle usage
  • Fire resistant security safe
  • Oxygen survival kit
  • Positive pressure defense system against gas attacks
  • Exterior surveillance camera
  • Fire extinguisher

Optional Features

Although the truck comes stock with some pretty serious protection the owners have the option to upgrade their trucks based on their own individual requirements. For example, the ballistic glass used in the Knight can be upgraded to meet the required protection and tint level. Not that you would be so concerned about the tint if you were choosing to upgrade a truck that comes bullet proof. The engine too can be upgraded to a Flex Fuel package or a 400 HP diesel package that, in case you were wondering, is U.S. DOT compliant.

How do you get one? Put $25,000 down to secure your deposit along with your Production Reservation Order Form. How much will it run you? Only about $295,000. I guess it pays to live, and with the Knight XV, you certainly increase your chances.

Bug Out Vehicle - K

Bug Out Vehicle – K

Knight XV 4

Knight XV 4

Knight XV

Knight XV

How to Choose an AR-15 that’s Right for You

Posted: 28th March 2012 by Andrew in AR-15, Firearms
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AR-15 101: How to Choose an AR-15

AR-15 101: How to Choose an AR-15

The AR-15 rifle is a heavily sought after semi-automatic rife that has many applications and add-ons for anyone wanting to survive.

In the U.S. it is perfectly legal to own AR-15 rifles although some states regulate the possession of the guns or their features. The purchaser of the AR-15 will be subject to specific regulations on a per state basis and should consult with their gun provider for these laws before they purchase any additional features that may be suspect to regulation.

The AR-15 is Used By:

AR-15's in action

AR-15′s in action

  • U.S. Navy
  • Air Force
  • Army
  • Marine Corps
  • Law-enforcement agencies
  • Civilians
  • Survivalists who want to survive!

The original AR-15 was less than six pounds although heavy-barrel versions are now available and weigh upwards of 8.5 lbs. Because of the various add-ons and variety of companies that manufacture the gun have skyrocketed the popularity of the gun has attracted the attention of sport shooters and law enforcement around the world.

The AR-15 is known for is accuracy and personalization abilities particular to each enthusiast or application. It will also be one of the most important survival tools you could ever own.

How to Choose an AR-15: AR-15 Uppers

An AR-15 upper is the upper part of the AR-15 that supports the barrel assembly and to house and guide the bolt carrier group. Here are the parts that are located on the AR-15 upper receiver:

  • Ejection port cover
  • Forward assist
  • Rear sight assembly
  • Charging hammer

A1/A2 – AR-15 Upper Receivers

AR-15 A1 Upper

AR-15 A1 Upper

  • Windage-only adjustable rear sight mounted on a fixed carrying handle
  • Sight is a peep-hole type sight
  • Has larger close-range appeture and smaller longer range appeture
  • The adjustment for elevation is made with the front sight post
  • The A1 type sight may be difficult to come by and you may have limited options

Did you know you could convert any .223 AR15 into a .22 and practice shooting while saving money? Its so easy and cheap! Click the image below to read about it.

Bug out bag contents - AR15 to .22 conversion kit

Simply pop in this bolt and use this magazine to fire .22LRs from any standard AR15! Costs about $150 bucks.

A3 – AR-15 Upper Receivers (Flat Top Receivers)

AR-15 Lower Receiver

A3 AR-15 UpperReceiver

  • Usually more desirable than the A1 or A2 AR-15 upper receivers
  • The major benefit of the A3 AR-15 upper is the Picatinny rail system
  • This provides a solid attachment point for all types of optics and accessories
  • Bottom line: you have way more options to roll with when customizing your AR-15

AR-15 Lower Receivers

AR-15 Lower

AR-15 Lower

The lower receivers contain the fire control system, the magazine well, and serves as the attachment device of the buttstock and pistol grip.

The lower receiver is pretty much common for all upper receiver and buttstock types.

There are 9 subassemblies attached to the lower receiver:

  • Buttstock
  • Pistol grip
  • Fire control selector (fire, safe, off)
  • Trigger group
  • Magazine group
  • Bolt catch
  • Trigger guard
  • Rear takedown pin
  • Pivot pin
You can either buy the individual parts, a kit, or an entire pre-assembled lower receiver ready to go for your AR-15.  You can have an absolutely unlimited number of custom parts and assemblies – the internal workings of the AR-15 lower can be completely customized. For the purpose of this article, however, we won’t be discussing customizing the lower AR-15 receiver – this article is more for beginning survivalists interested in AR-15s.

AR-15 Customization Tips

Keep these tips in mind when customizing your AR-15:

  • There are different sizes of trigger/hammer pins. Make sure you know what size yours is before ordering custom parts. The most common are 154 thousandths for military and after market specs, and 171 thousandths. You’ll need to know what size yours is, and make sure your fire control pin, trigger pin, and hammer pin match. If you’re not completely sure, use a set of calipers to measure.
  • AR-15 pivot pin sizes are super important – make sure your pivot pins match the upper and lower receivers. You can also get adapters to get the pins to match up.

What Will You Use Your AR-15 For?

The application of your AR-15 should be taken into account when selecting a gun that is appropriate for you.

  • Will you use it for survival/personal protection situations? Maybe a red dot sight or rail sight would work best for you.
  • Do you want to make it into a long range (sniper rifle?) You will want a heavier barrel and a great sight.
AR-15’s are used in law enforcement and in military applications but are also used for sport and hunting. Sport or militant operations may consider the application of a fully automatic AR-15 to satisfy the use of the rifle.
Other accessories of the gun that may also be taken into account when selecting the right gun includes the caliber, sight, optical devices and stock. As the application of the AR-15 may mandate differing features you will want to discuss with your gun provider or online gun forums what the preferred features are for you and your desired use(s).

Shooting an AR-15

You should shoot as many AR-15’s as possible to see which one feels right to you. Because there are so many variations of the gun including barrel lengths and caliber sizes each gun may feel different in your hands.

Handling the gun at a shooting range will give you the best idea of which options or manufacturer you feel most comfortable with.

Cost of AR-15

Your budget for your new AR-15 should be taken into consideration because the price points of the gun can vary significantly. The average price of the AR-15 ranges from $850.00 to $2,000.00 for new guns.

The cheaper alternative would be to purchase a used gun which can picked up for around $600.00 and up.

For more great tips and resources on the AR-15, feel free to check out the videos here: http://www.brownells.com/.aspx/lid=11006/learn/

Survival Lessons From Rambo’s First Blood

Posted: 14th March 2012 by Andrew in TEOTWAWKI
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Even Survivalists Need a Laugh :)

In First Blood, John Rambo is reintroduced to civilian life after spending the last few years (or movies) kicking a** in Vietnam. Apparently Rambo’s transition to civilian life is a rocky one (pun intended) as an insult from a small town’s sheriff angers Rambo to a point where he becomes violent and takes out his frustration on lesser trained law enforcement and the National Guard. In this awesome example of survivalism we can take away a few lessons although we aren’t recommending anyone go postal the way Rambo did on those ignorant deputies.

Let's Learn Some Things From Rambo!

Let's Learn Some Things From Rambo!

Don’t Underestimate Your Enemy

In First Blood the first thing that excites moviegoers is the ignorance of Sheriff Teasle and the other deputies when underestimating the sheer badassness of Rambo, a former Green Beret and Medal of Honor recipient. After threatening Rambo and abusing him in jail, Rambo manages to break free and flees to the forest. Thinking that Rambo is now an easy target, the law enforcement agencies underestimate the skills and expertise Rambo has in the area of jungle warfare as he proceeds to kill officers, take out helicopters and ruin angry dogs in the process.

Rambo Survival Techniques

Survival Techniques from Rambo!

Training Equals Increased Chance of Success

This movie stresses how important Rambo’s training is to his success. Besides being borderline psycho, he is also highly trained to survive the wild and protect himself in this element. By creating shelter and weapons Rambo is able to fight off the deputies and the National Guard. Rambo has an uncanny ability to recognize the threat against him and prepares accordingly by utilizing his army training to create the demise of the local authorities. When Rambo’s former commanding officer, colonel Trautman, shows up to smooth things over, he understands the training that Rambo has undergone and predicts the necessity of body bags due to the reluctance of the deputies to give up.

The More Survival Training You Have, the Better!

The More Survival Training You Have, the Better!

Know Your Environment

Rambo knows the jungles of Vietnam and the heavily wooded area of Washington State don’t differ much in terms of foliage and natural resources. To help guard himself against the deputies and National Guardsmen, Rambo utilizes the cover of the thick forest to make himself invisible to his enemies. By hiding in the forest, making improvised torches in mining caves, and stealing CB radios, Rambo perfects the art of adapting to one’s environment and wrecking hell on relative novices who keep failing to realize that they are way in over their heads.

 

Survival Knives

Survival Knife - Rambo

Group or Solo Survival?

Posted: 14th March 2012 by Andrew in Survival, TEOTWAWKI
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The Army Special Forces works in 12-man groups where they share specialties between the members in the areas of: weapons, engineering, medicine, communications, and operations and intelligence. They are able to help each other out as they are also trained to overlap each other’s skills to support the team in the event one or more men go down. They are also able to break apart into two six-man teams that operate separately as well as splitting down to two three-man teams to get more accomplished.

Survival

Survival

Six people is said to be the ideal number that allows for the factors necessary to survive or accomplish group tasks. These include quiet movement, self-sustainment off natural resources, and self-defense. What happens in the event you don’t have the training to accomplish great things with a group? Do you make the decision to mobilize on your own? When SHTF or TEOTWAWKI springs, will you be the loner or will you decide that the group is the best way to survive the apocalypse?

Solo Survival

When you are alone you can mobilize when and where you want to without any hesitation from a group. You also need fewer supplies but you will have to dedicate more time to getting the resources you need to find calories and fluids. Soloists also have the advantage of being stealthier than a group and creating less of an impact on their surroundings. There is much less of a chance for an individual to be tracked than a group because they leave a smaller footprint. The final advantage is there is no argument of authority or chain-of-command. In the military this is established early but with makeshift groups this could prevent the group from being efficient.

Solo Survival

Solo Survival

Group Survival

Solo survivors are said to have a 20 percent chance of survival compared to individuals in a group. That stat alone should prove useful in the decision-making process. Fact is a companion or two can help encourage us or motivate us when the going gets hard. The support system that can be established with a group will mean that there is more equipment available, divided work effort, companionship, greater security, and a good mix of skills that contribute to the overall group. In long-term survival the most important part of the group is protection and security. Together the group can work towards achieving this goal better than an individual could without someone to watch their back.

Group Survival

Group Survival

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