The .22 And The End Of The World As We Know It

Hello Preppers! I haven't had time to post in a while so I am seizing this opportunity while the baby is with his grandmother.

     It seems that all survivalist, preppers, zombie, and general SHTF forums always have a guy asking about using the 10/22 as a primary firearm. My belief is that a .22 is a terrible choice to be our primary post-apocalyptic weapon. Any rim-fire would be a terrible idea. There just not reliable enough. Ag odd quality rifle chambered in .223/5.56 such as an AR-15, a Sig 556, AK-74, or a Steyr Aug what I like try to persuade people towards.  I use an AR-15. The AR-15 and .223/5.56 is a topic of past posts and I'm sure it will come up in future posts. Back to the .22. Many will argue that a .22 is the one and only option for a SHTF rifle. When asked why the answers are generally the same. The guys and gals will go on about how cheaply they can stockpile .22 ammo. The also like the fact that you can carry more rounds before your load gets heavy. They are correct on both points. For me, these advantages do not out weigh the risk of a definite ammo malfunction. If I'm bugging out and come across a pack of filthy looters I want to know that I can reach of and touch someone and not get the familiar "click" that screams "my primer didn't detonate." I certainly don't want that if I'm staring down a herd of zombies.

     All preppers should have a .22 rifle in their stash; it does not need to be a primary defensive weapon. 10/22's are great for general firearms training, small game hunting, and target practice. If you shoot a rabbit that was intended to be dinner with an AK-47 half of your dinner is going to mixed into the dirt right behind the exit wound that is about the size of the rabbit itself. A .22 could have left that meat intact. The next consideration is which .22 should one buy.

     I am a Ruger 10/22 man myself but my dad swears by the Marlin 10/22. The are both great little pieces but I like detachable mags on the Ruger over the tube mags on the Marlin. The Ruger a certainly yhe most su Savage makes a nice affordable .22 too. A few companies are making drop-in .22 conversions for the AR-15. I'm havent uses any of these conversions yet but I hear that they are reliable and fairly accurate. The .223 and 5.56 barrel is only .003" larger inside that the .22. Without shooting with one I cannot know for sure but I imagine that a converted AR shoots about as accurately as a  worn out .22 rifle. What that means is that it is good for general shooting purposes but it not a geed idea to go match shooting with.

      This is off topic (kinda) but I beleive that everyone should listen to Lee Greenwoods's 'God Bless the USA.' at least on a weekly basis. It makes me want to run out and make sure my flag isn't wrapped around the pole.

-MOAAN ABE

EoTech has a new sight tailor made for zombie slaying!

I stumbled on this awesome edition of the unstoppable EoTech holographic sight. They are calling it the XPS2 Zombie stopper. It packs all of the standard features of the Eotech XPS like:

• Single transverse 123 battery to reduce sight length
• Shortened base only requires at most 2 3/4 inch of rail space
• Battery cap is a simple O-ring, tethered cap that offers a better seal
• Average battery life at brightness level 12 is roughly 600 hours

It also has a killer recticle! It is a 65 MOA ring with a 1 MOA dot in the center. The kicker are the tails coming off of the ring. It looks like a bio-hazard symbol.

Of course the tails add no function. They just make a cool sight even cooler! According to the EoTech website this edition of the XPS2 will be available in April of 2012. I found this video from SHOT Show. Check it out! ( It's just below) I have to give EoTech two thumbs up for this one. A top notch holographic sight with a biohazard recticle is just too cool. The insignia printed on the outside of of the sight isn't too shabby either.

If you are not familiar with EoTech they are worth checking out. I am not going to spew out all of the technical information because every other gun blogger on the internet has already done so. I just want to say that EoTech's are nearly indestructible and add an almost video game feel to putting precious metal down range. They make target acquisition nearly instant and effortless. Now that is exactly what we need when facing a horde of brain eaters!

This post has given me another idea. I am going to add an ultimate zombie AR page to the blog. I will scour the intrnet and provide you, the readers, with zombie themed and components. It will essentially be a list of what you need to build the ultimate zombie slaying AR15. Don't worry, function will surpass aesthetics in the components I list.

Visit the product page on EoTech's site for all of the technical details by clicking HERE.

Why you must keep iron sights on your guns.

    Of all of my guns only one is without it's iron sights. My "Baby Barrett" is a Ruger 10/22 that has been modified to look like a mini .50 sniper rifle. Irons are crucuial unless your just want to hit someone with your stock. EoTechs and Aimpoints are phenomenal optics but there is one event that can render them completely useless. An EMP, or electromagnetic pulse, basically destroys all electronic devices and grids. Your fancy optic stands no chance against an EMP.
   Solar flares have been in the news a lot lately because of the giant one that passed over us a few weeks ago. It was the size of Jupiter but was minuscule compared to what the sun is capable of. Many experts believe that a much larger solar flare will hit Earth before the end of 2011. I am not going to go into much detail about EMP's and solar flares because I am assuming that if you are smart enough to be reading this blog than your are smart enough to use Google.
   The point I want to make is that everyone needs to make sure their primary firearms have iron sights on them. You also need to be proficient with your irons. I am not saying that we need to shoot up into the sky to try to wound the solar flare in such an event. I am just saying to be ready with the basics. A massive solar flare could keep you without electricity for 4 or more months. Can you imagine how desperate the unprepared will be after 4 months with no electricity? It could get ugly. Defend your family with iron sights. The bullets are just as effective coming from in front of them as they are from the best Aimpoint money can buy.

MORE INFO ON SOLAR FLARES

• http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-1359136/Global-Katrina-Biggest-solar-storm-cause-power-cuts-MONTHS.html
• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solar_flare
• http://www.telegraph.co.uk/science/space/7819201/Nasa-warns-solar-flares-from-huge-space-storm-will-cause-devastation.html

 

AK-47 Field Manual

....long time no post.

I am behind of ZS blog posts because I am working on a multi-part article on the science behind the threat of a zombie outbreak. Anyways, here is a manual for the almighty AK-47. If you don't have an AK in your arsenal you should look into adding one! Enjoy...

AK47USArmyOperatorManual

WEAPONS: The AK47

   The AK47, or Avtomat Kalashnikov Model 1947, was originally used by the Soviets and most participants of the Warsaw Pact. It is a select-fire, gas piston operated rifle chambered in 7.62x39mm. The AK47 is the most iconic weapon of all time for good reason. It is just plain bad ass! I prefer the AR/M16 platform but the AK is a very close second.
   The AK47, from here referred to as the AK, has plenty of great attributes but it's best of them is it's design. It is rock solid and is renowned for it's durability. If the 7.62x39 were the choice of the U.S. military the AK would be my platform of choice (it's an ammo availability in a SHTF situation thing). They can be thrown in the mud, filled with sand and shaken out, thrown form cliffs, you name it, the AK can take it and more. The sight system is nice but not the best. It is kind of heavy too, factory specs had them weighting in at 9.5lbs but they are more like a full 10lbs. One great thing about the AK is that it can be field stripped in under a minute without much effort. I can tell you factoids until I am blue int he face or you can find a way to try one out. If that isn't an option just follow this youtube link. There are tons of AK related videos there. Bunches of those are the useless AK vs AR crap. I am sick of the argument, they are both great weapons but useless without training and knowledge.

The black AK above is one of my home brew AK's

   In the U.S. we are allowed to own any gun we want, even the really cool auto and suppressed stuff if we get a tax stamp from the ATF. We can also build guns for personal use. I have built a few AK's, most recently I did a run of 7 as part of a group buy and group build. (Don't build just anyone a rifle, these were people I knew very well. Dad, brother, grand dad, close friend, and of course a few for me) I will try to dig up some photos of the process and put a step by step together for the readers. If you can't wait on that just head on over to AR15.com for more AK info than one man's brain can handle. A word of caution though: rebuilt rifles usually don't have serial numbers on their receivers and most police officers do not realize that if you can legally own a gun you can legally build a gun for yourself. Check you state laws before taking my word on it though. Also, AK prices are down right now and can be bought a good deals so it may not pay to build one. There is something cool about knowing that you built it yourself, it adds a little something extra to that whole "This is my rifle, There are many like it, but this one is mine..." thing.

Choose your weapon!

  

This is one of the more fun sides to a zombie survival plan. Weapon choice isn't as cut and dry as one might think. Guns are ideal but need ammo. Blades are good but are only good for close range. Bows are great but arrows are limited and fragile. We can't forget about random items such as ball bats, fence posts, 2x4's, axes, etc.    Let us talk about blades first. You viable options are swords, katanas, machettes. Swords are generally heavy and fairly slow. Don't think you super beastly looking Lord of the Rings replica is going to hold up to the abuse of fighting of a zombie horde. Katanas are lightweight and fast for their size. There are alot of cheap replicas out there though. Replicas are not durable. Machetes are short but tough. I personally prefer the machete. There will be a post that focuses more on blades later.
   Bows and crossbows are good because they have reusable projectiles. An arrow can be used many times but does eventually fail. Crossbows are best, followed by compound bows, and I would just leave the ole' long bow at home. Once again, the details will come in another post.
   Guns make me happy. Assault rifles, hand guns, shotguns, light machine guns, bolt action rifles, and more can be the difference in living or becoming another zombie. Nothing short of explosives can take out zombies like a gun. Your gun selection is very important though. Taking a .50 BMG sniper rifle isn't going to do you much good against a zombie horde. Neither is your kids bb gun. I will break down the pros and cons of each type of gun in a series of class specific posts.
   And we come to the random items part. I am working on a list of various items that are readily available and can be good weapons. I will even teach how to make you own weapons. There isn't much that's more fun than that.
 

WEAPONS: The AR-15

   

   The AR-15 is my chosen rifle system in a survival situation.It is fast, comfortable, and fairly reliable. Many believe that it has reliability issues but that just stems from problems with the M16 during the Vietnam ear. Besides auto stuff is never as reliable and the semi guns. AR-15 rifles, carbines, etc are finally getting to be more affordable. I love how easy it is to change upper receivers and that essentially gives you a new gun but only one upper should be carried in a survival situation. I will take my standard 5.56 upper. My rifle, technically a carbine, is a Smith & Wesson MP15X.  When choosing an AR-15 there are a few things to consider:

1. A 5.56mm chamber is preferred over the .223. You can shoot .223 and 5.56 ammo from a 5.56 barrel but you should not shoot 5.56 from a .223 barrel.
2. Chromed lined barrels and chambers improve reliability and are easier to clean.
3. Lightweight barrels are faster than heavy barrels. We are just trying to survive, not shooting in matches.
4. Don't hang a bunch a "tacticool" stuff of of the rails. I have a vertical fore grip and a flashlight and that is all it is getting.
5. Get a good sling system. 3-point is going to be best in a survival situation.
6. Most AR-15 manufacturers built quality stuff. I don't think Colt is better than DPMS, or SW is any better than CMMG, etc. There are a few companies that make supreme parts, such as Noveske and Daniele Defense, but I don't think their stuff is worth the extra cash. To save money you can build them yourself too. That will save you about $200 usually.

   It is important that you know your rifle. Read the paperwork that came with it over and over again. Also, use AR15.com. You can learn more than you will ever need to know about the AR platform at that site.

   There will be plenty of more posts about the AR-15 in the future. It is one of my favorite topics! Later I will talk about optics, accessories, ammo, and more.