Conquest is not in our principles. It is inconsistent with our government.
-Thomas Jefferson
Friday, August 29, 2008
Thursday, August 28, 2008
Quote of the Day
"The voice of the majority is no proof of justice"
-Johann Christoph Friedrich von Schiller
-Johann Christoph Friedrich von Schiller
Wednesday, August 27, 2008
Tuesday, August 26, 2008
Bowhunting 101
There are 3 types of longbows and 2 types of crossbows. Longbows first. 1)the compound bow. This is a bow that is the most popular right now. It has a high draw weight (adjustable) and a high percentage letoff (up to 80%). The compound bow is the most effective longbow at taking game today. They are also the most expensive and very complicated to repair. In fact they can only be repaired by a trained bowsmith. They require accessories such as stabilizers, bowsights, string silencers etc. In fact you can exceeed $1,000.00 in setting up a good compound bow. That is a lot of money for a budget minded survivalist. On the plus side it is a great tool for putting dinner on the table. 2)the recurve bow. The recurve bow is the next type for effectiveness. It can have a high draw weight (non adjustable) but no letoff. It requires little maintinence and few accessories. All you need is quiver, arrows and shooting glove. 3)the longbow or straight bow. This is similar to the old english longbow. It also like the recurve can have a high draw weight with no letoff.
All these bows require practice, practice, practice to be their most effective. More practice is required for the recurve and longbow. They also require a higher degree of strength in the arms and back. The compound bow because of letoff allows you to hold the drawn bow longer. Effectiveness is a good clean kill. You do not want to be tracking gutshot game or watch the deer you just shot run off with an arrow sticking out of its hindquarters. You as the hunter owe it to the game to be able to dispatch them quickly and cleanly. Several hours a week should be dedicated to practice. If you can't practice year round you should at least practice 3 times a week 1 month prior to the season. You should try to use a 3-d deer target as this leads you to be used to shooting at deer sized and shaped game. This lessens the chance of "buck fever".
Crossbows are the most effective. They require the least amount of practice. They are the best choice for someone who has some physical impairment that does not allow them to be able to draw a bow. They still have to be able to cock the crossbow but their are tools that aid this. There are many states that do not allow the use of crossbows due to their easyness to use. You can sight in your crossbow and not pick it up for a year and still be effective. Many bowhunters deride anyone that uses a crossbow as cheating. In a survival situation this is not an issue. There are two types of crossbows. Recurves and compound. Recurves are basically a stick and string while the compound are like the compound longbows. They have cams and cables that give them increased power over the recurve type. Compound crossbows are more popular than recurve crossbows. They have more power but are also more complicated.
Arrows or bolts, for crossbows, are now made in diferent materials. The old standard is wood. You can still find wood arrows. You can even make your own in a pinch. You should only use wood arrows in recurves and longbows. Never use wood arrows in a compound. The stresses involved could cause the arrow to shatter. That is a bad thing. The other materials are carbon and aluminum. Aluminum has been the standard for years. Carbon is taking that place lately. Aluminum won't shatter but it can bend and break. Carbon is stronger but you can still break it. Aluminum and carbon arrows are straighter and stronger than wood. You can use them in any type of bow. I would only use aluminum and carbon in crossbows. I would never use wood in any crossbow due to the power of the weapon. All this being said if you intend on useing a compound bow or crossbow in a survival situation you had better stock up on arrows and bolts. Generally they are reuseable but you have to account on lost game with the arrow still in it, breakage after the shot, and just plain old missing and loosing an arrow. If you are going with a recurve or longbow you should still stock up on arrows but like I said you could make your own in a pinch. That gives traditional archery equipment the edge in a long term survival situation.
Broadheads, arrowhead or points. All arrowpoints (broadheads) are made out of steel or some other metal that holds an edge. You will need to stock up on these also, loose an arrow loose the point. Like arrows you can make your own broadheads in a pinch for traditional equipment. Not for modern (compound) bows though. The native Americans for years made then out of stone, mainly flint. Later they aquired steel points from traders or turned settlers wagon wheel rims and cast iron cookware into points. The minimum is two blades for hunting but I would reccomend at least three blades.
Archery equipment is the best way to put meat on the table especially in a survival situation. It is quiet and the projectiles are reuseable. Bowhunting provides good exercise and lets you get close to nature. It teaches you stealth and woodsmanship. It is another world to put an arrow into an animal at 20yds. instead of through a riflescope at 200yds.
All these bows require practice, practice, practice to be their most effective. More practice is required for the recurve and longbow. They also require a higher degree of strength in the arms and back. The compound bow because of letoff allows you to hold the drawn bow longer. Effectiveness is a good clean kill. You do not want to be tracking gutshot game or watch the deer you just shot run off with an arrow sticking out of its hindquarters. You as the hunter owe it to the game to be able to dispatch them quickly and cleanly. Several hours a week should be dedicated to practice. If you can't practice year round you should at least practice 3 times a week 1 month prior to the season. You should try to use a 3-d deer target as this leads you to be used to shooting at deer sized and shaped game. This lessens the chance of "buck fever".
Crossbows are the most effective. They require the least amount of practice. They are the best choice for someone who has some physical impairment that does not allow them to be able to draw a bow. They still have to be able to cock the crossbow but their are tools that aid this. There are many states that do not allow the use of crossbows due to their easyness to use. You can sight in your crossbow and not pick it up for a year and still be effective. Many bowhunters deride anyone that uses a crossbow as cheating. In a survival situation this is not an issue. There are two types of crossbows. Recurves and compound. Recurves are basically a stick and string while the compound are like the compound longbows. They have cams and cables that give them increased power over the recurve type. Compound crossbows are more popular than recurve crossbows. They have more power but are also more complicated.
Arrows or bolts, for crossbows, are now made in diferent materials. The old standard is wood. You can still find wood arrows. You can even make your own in a pinch. You should only use wood arrows in recurves and longbows. Never use wood arrows in a compound. The stresses involved could cause the arrow to shatter. That is a bad thing. The other materials are carbon and aluminum. Aluminum has been the standard for years. Carbon is taking that place lately. Aluminum won't shatter but it can bend and break. Carbon is stronger but you can still break it. Aluminum and carbon arrows are straighter and stronger than wood. You can use them in any type of bow. I would only use aluminum and carbon in crossbows. I would never use wood in any crossbow due to the power of the weapon. All this being said if you intend on useing a compound bow or crossbow in a survival situation you had better stock up on arrows and bolts. Generally they are reuseable but you have to account on lost game with the arrow still in it, breakage after the shot, and just plain old missing and loosing an arrow. If you are going with a recurve or longbow you should still stock up on arrows but like I said you could make your own in a pinch. That gives traditional archery equipment the edge in a long term survival situation.
Broadheads, arrowhead or points. All arrowpoints (broadheads) are made out of steel or some other metal that holds an edge. You will need to stock up on these also, loose an arrow loose the point. Like arrows you can make your own broadheads in a pinch for traditional equipment. Not for modern (compound) bows though. The native Americans for years made then out of stone, mainly flint. Later they aquired steel points from traders or turned settlers wagon wheel rims and cast iron cookware into points. The minimum is two blades for hunting but I would reccomend at least three blades.
Archery equipment is the best way to put meat on the table especially in a survival situation. It is quiet and the projectiles are reuseable. Bowhunting provides good exercise and lets you get close to nature. It teaches you stealth and woodsmanship. It is another world to put an arrow into an animal at 20yds. instead of through a riflescope at 200yds.
Wednesday, August 20, 2008
A Lesson To Be Learned!
My grandparents went through the depression. I don't think they ever had a credit card. They would never buy anything on credit. They saved every penny and when they had to buy a car or other big ticket item they paid cash.
http://www.jacksonsun.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080817/NEWS01/808170313
http://www.jacksonsun.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080817/NEWS01/808170313
The New Cold War
The old Chinese proverb: "may you live in interesting times"
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/russia-seizes-us-vehicles-902432.html
http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0%2C7340%2CL-3583460%2C00.html
http://www.ynetnews.com/Ext/Comp/ArticleLayout/CdaArticlePrintPreview/1%2C2506%2CL-3584499%2C00.html
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/russia-seizes-us-vehicles-902432.html
http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0%2C7340%2CL-3583460%2C00.html
http://www.ynetnews.com/Ext/Comp/ArticleLayout/CdaArticlePrintPreview/1%2C2506%2CL-3584499%2C00.html
Monday, August 11, 2008
Why Are We Messing With These People?
We (the US) keep sticking our noses in our peoples business. Have we become and international busybody.
http://warnewsupdates.blogspot.com/2008/08/american-soldiercitizen-captured-in.html
http://warnewsupdates.blogspot.com/2008/08/american-soldiercitizen-captured-in.html
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