Jamie Jackson

I appreciate the recommendation Spots. It looks like a decent piece of kit, and at a good price.         Tell me more about boiling water in a wax paper cup Red. I wasn't aware it was an option. :stunned: TIA :pleased:

I like the Stanley setup Spots. :up:

    I keep a [url=http://www.campmor.com/outdoor/gear/Product___15749] Blue enamel metal cup[/url] in my Get Home Bag. You can certainly boil water in it. It's relatively small and that sucker get hot...but it serves my purpose. I keep a couple of small ziplock bags with instant coffee, hot chocolate, and instant soup in it to conserve space.   As thin as it is I wouldn't trust it for a protracted situation...months yes, but not years.

I never handled a Kelly Kettle, but the reviews are very positive.   As to the aluminum construction. No worries. My All American Pressure canner is made of aluminum, and as jcj mentioned, many companies made their camping gear of alunimun.   http://www.allamericancanner.com/allamerican930pressurecanner.htm

We have a [url=http://www.basspro.com/Mr-Heater-Big-Buddy-Propane-Heater/product/64858/?hvarAID=shopping_googleproductextensions&om_mmc=shopping_googleproductextensions&kpid=64858] Mr.Heater Big Buddy[/url] that's nothing short of outstanding, imho. We also have the attachments and hose for large canister propane use.   I would like to have a kerosene heater for the sake of redundancy though. I have had and use one quite a bit back in the mid-80's when I lived in the Midwest. I never had any issues with it, but I can't even begin to recall the manufacturer.   I'm looking forward to the recommendations and reviews.

Excellent video and a sound argument for "doing the right thing". We have to follow our own moral compass.   If I am forced to shoot someone (I pray that never happens), it is not to kill them...but to halt their violent aggressive action. After that, when I am confident the scene is safe enough, I will render care. It's my choice and my plan.   The other point is to have the gear available and accessible for self-care, or to be used by someone else to treat you. I keep a "mini-BOK" in my right hip pocket. It contains a TQ, Emergency bandage, and a small PriMed gauze (for wound packing). I keep what Yeager describes as their VOK, of my own making, in my rangebag, in my auto's, in my GHB, and rifle cases.   Way back before dirt was invented and I was a Corpsman, I made sure all of the young Marines in my charge had identical med gear in a known location, on their persons, and damn well made sure that each of them knew the what, where, and how of it.   It's just common sense. And it is good to hear it being discussed.   Disclaimer: I am an RN (ER) and long ago had EMT Creds and I have stopped at many, many MVC's (car wrecks) over the years and given care. I have never once been threatened with a lawsuit.   Thanks for posting the vid Robert.   Self Care and Buddy Care should be as much a part of our training and practice as shooting holes in things.  Just my unsolicited and ever devaluing $.02 worth.  :cool:

JAB;   Definitely looking forward to learning of your experiences.   I keep a fair quantity of o2 absorbers on hand...500ml-2000ml. I have only ever used them for room temperature food items.     Some folks caution to use all the absorbers that come in a package at one time.....I think they just want to sell more of 'em. :cool: I use a Black and Decker food sealer (inexpensive Walmart unit) to reseal the o2 absorbers after use. I prep all the items and ready them for the absorbers, open the sealed absorbers, place the needed ones in the cans-jars-bags or whatever and quickly reseal the absorbers. The absorbers maintain very well that way.     fwiw...I have stored a 5 lb bag of granola trail mix for 3 years simply using the vac seal. It tasted great when we started using it. YMMV.   Good Luck.

    Uncle Sam taught us old Sailors that trick as well. LOL. And it flippin works. :up:     btw...Thanks for the link Spots. Looks pretty good my friend.

I haven't seen the bags you mentioned...but I figure a couple of contractor bags otta get me across the one river and 2 creeks I'll need to cross. At least that's the plan.

Excellent advice Spots.   I have a couple of contractor bags in my GHB...I'll rearrange it as you suggest.   Tossing my GHB into one and floating it was my plan...your suggestion will simply have me one step ahead.       I am a ziplock bag junkie...at least according to my Wife. :cool:   Many, many uses. Great stuff and a person can never have too many.

Thanks for the link JAB. Interesting concept and it looks viable.   I generally load up 10-12 jars of dehydrated foods (that we dehydrate) or divide up bulk frequent use dry goods...and add an o2 absorber. The oven canning method you linked to might well work.   If you give it a try, please let us know how it works for you.   :hat:

Great points, concerns and thoughts folks.   Crossing bodies of water will be the greatest challenge, imho.   Even though there are numerous back roads(and I do have several routes mapped out to my home) bridges are relatively few and are natural choke points. Face it, we have a lot of creeks, rivers, and lakes in the SE. Maintaining a small inflatable or flotation device in your "get home" kit is something to consider.   I too live relatively close, less than 20 miles. I agree...unass the area ASAP. But consider how rapidly traffic congests normally, and plan accordingly.   :2cents:

I am a bit confused about what you're suggesting JAB.   Are you talking about oven dehydration as Dennis mentioned? or actually trying to use the oven to essentially sterilize the jar and contents while initiating a seal?     We pressure can, water bath can and use an Excalibur dehydrator...it's running as I type this. :pleased:   I've read of folks using the oven to "can" butter and cheese...but I've also read knowledgeable folks like Jackie Clay advise against it.     I've used this link and it's offshoots many times before: http://nchfp.uga.edu/how/can4_vegetable.html     Be safe Good Sir. :hat:

Exactly JAB. What you are saying isn't too much of a stretch imho.   And that is exactly the reason I want to have several years worth of components on hand.   Heck...If I don't shoot it all up, then my Son and Grand Kids will still have the opportunity.   The powers that be have very well demonstrated they'll devour of God Given Constitutionally Protected Rights one bite at a time...Insidious soulless bunch that they are.

I've used 5.8 grs of Unique and 5.7 grs W231 for 230 gr LRN 45 acp for many years. It's always ran well in my 45's.

    Thank you Sir.  :hat:

That's good to know Dolomite.   I have a set of RCBS .223 dies I purchased around 1990 or so...at least by checking an old reloading log I've kept. And they were never as smooth as these new "Black Box" RCBS dies.   I believe I've read you don't necessarily crimp your 5.56 rounds, but rely on friction to maintain the projectile. It's my understanding these Black box dies incorporate a taper crimp, which I find positive, as it'd be unnecessary to purchase an additional die for this step. Have you found the crimp "action" of these dies to work well for you?   Sorry about the potential thread drift folks...although I'm not really certain it is LOL.   TIA

    I don't doubt they haven't considered it.   But powder and primers are still available...relatively so....at reasonable pricing. (like from our own dlm). And the components store well for a mighty long time. I'm still using some IMR 3031 I purchased in 1991. And some Remington primers from the same time.   Purchasing powder in 4-8 pound containers will also save you some money.   I have a shooting Bud that hasn't started reloading yet...but that has already put back a very decent supply of components at pre-Newton pricing. He's planning ahead.It's doable.   As has been said many times by many folks..."Buy it cheap, and Stack it deep"...in a few years we may come to realize just how "cheap" components are nowadays.   :2cents:

I use an undersize die for my 9mm, as I'm loading lead bullets for my Lone Wolf Glock barrels. Lubing them makes the reloading process markedly smoother and easier. I'm using One Shot as well, but will definitely be looking into the lanolin- alcohol mixture. Thanks.   I set up a new (to me) set of RCBS .223/5.56 (black box) small base dies [url=http://www.midsouthshooterssupply.com/ar_dies.asp] link[/url] yesterday. They worked like a charm. :up:  But I only had time to deprime and straighten 100 rounds.   I'm certain those dies were recommended here at TGO. Thanks on that one too folks.

Falcon bullets are excellent quality...no doubt. But that's some darn fine shooting DL! :hat:

GtG;   Thank you for initiating this thread, and thank you for getting us back on track.   I am looking forward to attending this class and greatly appreciate your hosting Randy.

  Excellent points Dennis.   The fantasy of the lone wolf mentality may be appealing to some readers of PAW fiction…but it is just that, a fantasy.   I read Mel Tappan’s “On Survival” back in the 80’s. Even then he stressed the common sense need for community.   While we all need to “know a little something about everything”, no one or two people can “know everything about everything”.  And we all succumb to fatigue and illness given the proper circumstances. There is strength in numbers…something I think we all already know.   Forming a M.A.G. or a Mutual Assistance Group now, with only the everyday stress of life (God knows that is enough) before an untenable situation arises just makes sense to me.         Besides…some member of your group is bound to have some coffee stored. LOL :pleased:

  I am up to date on the 299 Days saga as well.   Good points from Robert and whitewolf. LOL. Yeah, it'd be nice to have an unlimited bank account. It is also the running theme in many books of this genre; to have a few well armed SF guys show up to help out. Great if it happens…but not something to count on... "Going Home" and "Surviving Home" had the SF aspect as well.   I am about 7/8 done with book one of Joe Nobody's "Holding Their Own" series. Excellent book and I'll be ordering the rest ASAP.(meaning today). Thanks for the suggestions, yet again, folks. :up:     What I do like the most about the aforementioned books is their ability to teach while entertaining.   I just wish I had started the “Holding Their Own” series sooner.  :cool:       Robert: I found the “Overton Window” to be a very good read when it first came out. Thanks for the head’s up on "The Eye Of Moloch".

Thank you for the AAR roar-k.  Much obliged.   This is a critical topic and skill that a lot of "gun guys" don't fully consider. Not enough anyway, imho.   In our society, the initiator of violent action is generally viewed as the aggressor, from a legal, and generally a moral standpoint. Preemptive action follows a narrow point of application. Our use of force is predominately reactive in nature.   Predators exist. By their nature they usually attack( initiate their actions) when they view the odds heavily in their favor. Having concepts such as Geoff Thompson’s “Fence”, Tony Blauer’s “S.P.E.A.R.”, and “Default Cover” as taught by SouthNarc and others in your toolbox allow you the opportunity to create distance and open a window for retreat or counter.   I would say your time and energy at this class was well invested. I hope to take advantage of it when it’s again offered.   imho the skills learned with such training sessions are invaluable.   Thank you again roar-k.

Sounds like a good turnout/class size. I hope he'll consider the review.   I need to set aside the time and funds for the next one. I've reverted to a state of conscious incompetence...but at least I'm aware. LOL.   Thank you Sir.