SWITCHING ASSETS
Well, let's just start
out by saying that I'm having a hard time recalling when the
slightest action ever had so much blowback. At least in my life. If
I was playing with the Big Dogs on the global stage I'm sure they do
this every day before breakfast. By screwing up a minor project,
I've now shifted my whole balance of asset classes. I went Low Cash,
Long Silver ( and lead ). It actually shook me out of my complacent
conservative bubble for a bit. AND it gave me something to write
about, so this is all Winning.
*
As is my wont, I'll
start way back at the beginning and you get more detail than you
desire. Of course, I don't know about you, but I actually love
excess detail. It makes the story so much more enjoyable. Do you
recall the twelve minute joke by Norm MacDonald? How about the tale
of the three trip TV mounting bracket by Aesop ( HERE
)? These are enjoyable because they aren't rushed. It isn't like
you need to run over to Rawles so you can get a gun review and long
bible quote with it which takes a whole three minutes.
*
You know about the
eight zero percent milling project ( that dares not speak its name ).
I could go on longer about that, but I already did an article for
the e-mail newsletter subscribers who are worthy, so I'll just say I
screwed it up royally, even after ever so slowly putting about a
dozen patient hours into it. The walls are so thin, you screw up
your depth angle ( not level ) you'll have the retaining pins digging
up a new groove from the pressure. $200 down the Idiot Prepper hole.
*
Yes, I was a moron
assuming I couldn't mess that up, so confident I ordered two grand
worth of guns and gun accessories. Now I'm stuck with all these
makings for an arsenal and I am stuck on the Host Gun aspect of it.
Well, I will NOT, Sam I Am, pour any more money down the homemade
receivers hole. No aluminum lower jigs using routers, no pour kits (
I had judged the polymer the least likely to be screwed up, so... ).
I went and bought paperwork traced professional lowers. This all was
NOT according to plan.
*
But I'm in on two
grand, even if I didn't need an updated arsenal. I needed a low cost
Host Fun. But instead I got a new arsenal. I COULD sell the
Enfields and ammo, as they are going for collectors prices. But I
simply love them too much ( and they are a better PA gun, long term,
even if they will suffer slightly short term-and I don't mean semi
verses bolt. I mean accuracy and longer firing times ). I have the
confidence in them that is lacking in the AR. The AR is a mid range
designated marksman rifle. The Enfield is an infantryman's rifle and
will last longer under abuse ( and is more forgiving in the reloading
).
*
We don't need to cover
all that again. Yes, I know there will be so many battlefield prize
AR's that in theory the availability negates the fragility. I'm
merely speaking of my own personal preferences, and why. Plus, you
know, bayonets. Sweet pig stickers. Now, I grant you that perhaps I
NEED a new arsenal and Baby Jesus was just giving me a push ( far too
many synchronicity moments have occurred in my life to discount
outside intervention ). Perhaps I need more rapid fire ( again,
STILL a bolt action by cutting the gas bleed ), better aimed. It
cost a whopping $35 for that on the AR.
*
Screw all that red dot
crap. I'm talking low cost ( because you will be replacing them-it
is as much a consumption item as ammo or mags for you Semi Simians )
scopes, the China specials. A quick connect clamp and a disposable
scope for the AR is $35. A scope mount for the Enfield is now up to
$75 ( although I already have two, the point is ALL Enfield parts are
very pricey and mostly unavailable ), and you can't use cheap scopes
because of the recoil. I might be shooting pipsqueak rounds but at
least I won't be wasting the better rounds at distances over a
hundred yards.
*
Perhaps the AR at
first, then when the crowds thin, going back to the Enfield? I'll be
giving that some serious thought, which is sure to include more
articles on the subject. Some time. A lot of folks say, Jim, go
with the carbine during the die-off and then use the Enfield. But
they mean “semi-auto”. Me, I can't afford twenty thousand rounds
of ammo, even steel cased. And that is a minimum for spray and pray,
suppressive fire, “cover me” Ninja BS.
*
Anyway, we are moving
off point here. I decided to go ahead and finish out the arsenal,
regardless. It is now, or probably never. The Democrats ( with
their arsehole buddy Orange Man in support ), are baying for gun
control. They bayed for eight years during Obammy and nothing
happened. I don't feel so lucky this time. Well, what about YOU,
punk? I can't finance this by selling the other arsenal, so what is
a confused Bison to do?
*
I don't know why this
didn't occur to me earlier. I was too focused on cash savings I
couldn't touch ( because it is unemployment insurance ). I'm putting
more savings into the arsenal, but I'm covering THAT by also placing
more in silver. When silver goes up, and it doesn't have to go up
that much, it pays for the other. I know, liquidity issues. Like
the cash doesn't have other kinds of issues. All that I'll cover
tomorrow. I probably could wrap this up now, but I feel the “silver
arbitrage” deserves a lengthy discussion.
( .Y. )
( today's related Amazon link click HERE )
Please
support Bison by buying through the Amazon links here ( or from
http://bisonprepper.com/2.html
or www.bisonbulk.blogspot.com
). Or PayPal www.paypal.me/jimd303
***
Unless you are in extreme poverty, spend a buck a month here, by the
above donation methods ( I get 4% of the Amazon sale, so you need to
buy $25 worth for me to get my $1 ) or mail me some cash/check/money
order or buy a book ( web site for free books, Amazon to pay just as
a donation vehicle ).
*** My e-mail is:
jimd303@reagan.com My
address is: James M Dakin, 181 W Bullion Rd #12, Elko NV 89801-4184
***E-Mail me if you want your name added to the weekly e-newsletter
subscriber list.
***
Pay your author-no one works for free. I’m nice enough to publish
for barely above Mere Book Money, so do your part.*** junk
land under a grand
* Lord
Bison*
my
bio & biblio* my web site is www.bisonprepper.com
*** Wal-Mart
wheat***Amazon
Author Page
* By the by, all my writing is copyrighted. For the obtuse out there
* By the by, all my writing is copyrighted. For the obtuse out there
As to gun platform to run at onset of collapse versus the choice for later on heritage Post Apoc usage. If "equally proficient" in each I, (just from my own self analysis ymmv) would roll with the ar-15 posse at start up. You need portability, increased round count at same weight, and that sexy combat feature::: parts, magazine, caliber, commonality in bufford and bubba land. Those attributes sells itself. I as a side notation plan the same, and will "fall back option" as things progress to the 308 battle sticks, and 30.06 all forms of hunting staffs. There may even be a back and forth tool usage batting line up changes as the games evolve.
ReplyDeleteStay Frosty.
Yes, I think we are on the same page with this one. I just feel like I'm cheating on my true love.
DeleteYour showing a most honorable path by giving the final kill preferential treatment to your empire armaments, it shows class. You would as well as an example give your best generals the mop up finish off mission and the looting pillaging rewards afterwards.
DeleteLogical.
Stay Frosty.
The best wenches to the best warriors! Mmmm, bosoms.
DeleteI am currently assembling the parts for my next AR build. All of the components are coming from the same companies that supplied my first AR.
DeleteThe new one will be in .308, will have a 24 inch barrel, and will resemble an old skool (1970's) M16 as far as stock and handguards go. It will not have the old A4 site, it will have Magpul flip ups, and it will have a 50X scope. My goal is to accurately and repeatedly reach out beyond 1000 yds. I expect this gun without glass to cost about $2k.
They make a scope that powerful? Please don't tell me the price-my heart is weakening with age.
DeleteI erred, it's 40X. Zoomable from 10-40.
Delete$109 to $309.
I'll probably get the upper end.
https://www.barska.com/optics/rifle-scopes.html?dir=asc&magnification_zoom=378&order=price
I have a tactical Barska 1-6X ($300) on my current AR and I'm happy with it, no complaints.
I also have a Barska 300X spotter scope that cost less than $100. It was a hideous silver color so I had my expert friend do one of his stellar camo jobs to it. I also have a pro-grade full size tripod for it and he camo'd that too. I can see the ragged edge on the bullet holes at 300 yds.
40 is still pretty darn impressive. For a scope, I guess it could be a lot more expensive.
DeleteIt's downright alarming what I've seen other people claim they've spent on rifle scopes. Where in the hell are they getting that kind of disposable income? It's not unusual for people to believe they have to spend as much on the glass as they did the gun. I'm not a member of the mindless herd and never have been. It's my way or the highway.
DeleteFollowing. Regarding the milling out issues I think it is not for everyone to basicly take on a new craft skill as there are many learning and equipment costs for such a narrow one use endevour.
ReplyDeleteI can be crafty reloading, truck repairs, home stuff etc. But I have to balance my time and finances. Better to "buy up" an assurance of quality control and no outlays of your time or start up monies for a one trick pony hobby. Perhaps a feeler reach out into one's community or thru gun shops, shooting ranges, veteran's cliques to find a project mentor or facility and equipment usage sharing for "the project" or other related issues and can be in kind trade dealings. Worth an attempt and is a network builder that is also needed. It is a solid plot course that only had head winds and speed bumps encountered. Easy fix, and then onward.
Stay Frosty.
I think most of the fault lies in the extra low quality drill press. As I was warned about here by minions. Yes, please feel free to mock and deride me. I still think it was worth the gamble. The other units are returned to Midway for credit. The press will be given away-if nothing else, to the thrift store.
Delete7:47's comment sounds like I could have wrote it. I have considered the 80% many times but my station in life is such that potentially wasting that much money on a probable failure is not something I want to take on. I would never even consider the poly thing, and the metal one, I believe, is a little beyond my pay grade. Maybe not, as I have a decent drill press and vise.
DeleteAnyway, regarding the press you are going to give to the thrift store. Do you mean the vise for the drill press? Why give it away? It can be used for other things besides milling plastic lowers. Every time I give or throw something away 3 days later I find a use for it. Keep it for a year or 2 and if you have no use then give it away.
No, not the vise. I can use that working on the darn AR's. Just the drill press, which I haven't needed for my entire life ( yes, I'm getting the thing you place the rifle in, which itself goes in the vise ).
Delete“Yes, I was a moron assuming I couldn't mess that up, so confident I ordered two grand worth of guns and gun accessories.”
ReplyDeleteSorry to hear that it didn’t work out for you. I think we’re one in the same when it comes to this sort of thing. We both have mechanical abilities on some level, but if something becomes complicated beyond the norm, we lose control of the situation. I learned the hard way with my motorized bike, and it ended up costing quite a bit more, than had I just went with a 26” bike with the friction drive to begin with.
‘Well, what about YOU, punk? I can't finance this by selling the other arsenal, so what is a confused Bison to do?”
Here are my thoughts. Semi-auto’s are out, due to previously stated arguments. Bolt actions, if they need be fired on a semi rapid level, are difficult to do so with (Yes, I know some of you studs can work the bolt, and fire rapidly, as well as accurately, but most cannot). And Enfields. What do those suckers weigh? 65lbs? :D You have a .357 pistol already, and don’t plan on ever shooting past 100 yards anyways? There you go. Get a Winchester or a Marlin lever action chambered for .357 magnum. They make a Lee loader for that caliber, and rounds will be cheap to reload. The gun is also light and compact. Forget about field durability, and the ability to fire after being dropped in the mud. You’ve already admitted that don’t plan on ever leaving downtown proper. Oh, I forgot; your bayonet fetish :D Get one of these:
https://www.budk.com/M48-Kommando-Talon-Survival-Spear-25867
Free shipping right now. That or duct tape a nail spike to the end of the Winchester :D
Just my $.02.
"65 pounds?" LOL. Now that is funny, I don't care who you are.
DeleteSon I do believe you got a bit of Kardashian syndrome going on...not to worry though with all your preps the good news is you will like as not live two weeks longer then me. The bad news? It'll rain every freaking day.
ReplyDeleteWho knows, in your future travels you may just happen upon a lower just laying around, which isn't documented in your name. Then you just trade the recently store bought one to a licensed gun broker.
ReplyDeleteSpreading out your arsenal is never a bad thing. Like you, I personally despise the whole AR platform especially in .223. But they do have a niche where if ya got it , one day you may have the need to momentarily...mind you, only momentarily spray and pray.
So far as the Enfield, Son you live out in big country and long ranges come into play at times. Y'all need both. Likely the 30 cal later long term.
The .223 for around locally to start things rolling. Plus suitable for the NOLA to utilize.
Tribe comes into play here. Get to know someone with the skills to teach you that which ya wanna know. Shit I'll bet Elko has several gun guru's living right around you that love to help other gun buddies out. Every small town out west has that going for it. Is there a local N.G. Armory in Elko ? If so , I'll bet there are quite a few AR fan boys there too.
The gun store had five stripped lowers in stock. Oh yeah, there's FanBoys around here!
Delete"So far as the Enfield, Son you live out in big country and long ranges come into play at times."
Delete================
Ever hear about "Identifying your target?"
Shoot somebody at long distance and you'll most likely get killed or caged. And rightly so. Besides, what if the person you shoot is your brother coming back from a raid? At 1000 yds it's hard to tell. Lastly, at 1000 yds you are not under a threat yet. Not even 300 yds.
I'd think there would be protocol for returning scouts, etc. Point taken-I think we all assume it is a given to ID your target, though. I'm not concerned with range as much as power at shorter distance.
DeleteWhen getting dinner, ranges out west commonly are out to three hundred yards and beyond. Optics are a given at those ranges, both for sighting and identification.
DeleteThough most encounters will happen under a hundred yards and even a .303 has a shit ton more umph than 5.56.
Course Jim says he can't hit shit over a hundred yards anywho lol, so I guess it don't matter for him.
I've always thought the same on long distance warfare. It is murder and mostly unjustified
100 yards-minute of pie plate
Delete200 yards-minute of torso
300 yards-minute of buffalo
"The Enfield..will last longer under abuse ( and is more forgiving in the reloading )."
ReplyDeleteYou should be so lucky to outlive your ammo supply. Remember, we're talking the Apocalypse, right?
Sell the Enfield & buy an AR. Get on with things.
"I just feel like I'm cheating on my true love.".....True LOVE!! Bwaha ha ha.
Ditch that WWII model and getcha a new piece of hot mess that needs generous amounts of lube....you know what I talking about.
Do need us minions to do a GoFundMe campaign for 20K rounds of the finest, first run Lake City production in 5.56?
I prefer older models-biologic and mechanical. What can I say? Even if newer-ish is better-ish, it is also more complicated. Such as the 120 year old model single speed pedal brake bike compared to the new geared model you don't need to break a sweat on. The newer bike might be "better" but it is less "bulletproof". It performs at the cost of simplicity.
DeleteI hated the m16 in the army. I like the commie bitches. I've collected 2 ak's and 2 sks's all from estate sales, no paperwork, for under a grand. To me they are more reliable and hit harder. No need for super long range shooters in the woods.
ReplyDeleteI prefer the commies versions myself. But I've always been a Big & Slow fan over high velocity. Not saying it is better-hell, I'm near spending twice on alternates to 9mm or .223. That sure ain't Frugal Better. But if we had or druthers we'd all be in a better way to welcome Spicy Times. What does Pastor Joe say? Where you're at with what you've got.
Delete"Do the best you can with what you've got where you are" I believe is the correct full quote.
DeleteI'm bemused with all the talk and effort to have a "paperless" gun.
ReplyDeleteSeriously, as if the average person will get caught up in the Technicolor Panavision version of, "Night of the Gun Raids" or "The Persecution of the Poodle Shooter People".
Every swinging Richard must think he's some secret squirrel operator from classified section of old SOF magazine ("my hands are lethal weapons" or "I can kill you with my ancient arts MaiFukYo Shaolin stare).
You think .Gov is going to take ENTIRE LEO (local,state,federal) along with EVERY guy with a combat arms MOS and stage raids?
That's bat shit crazy thinking. If folks are so worried raids are eminent maybe you should to be dropping off some "night letters" right damn now, not playing around with AR lowers.
Why don't we analyse .gov response to recent prohibition of 10+ round mags in Conneticut(?). How many magazines turned in? How many raids in CT?...crickets.
How about this..use a credit card to buy your guns/ammo (every sale scares .gov!). Drive to range and blast away 200, 300 rounds from your AR and 75 rounds from your 9mm. Complain loudly (so range master snitch can hear) there is no 1000 yard range close by to try out your latest 7mm mag "hot load" for your dope book... Yep, that ought to make boogie man fill his boots with piss.
So what you're saying is we shouldn't assume worst case scenario. How much fun is that? Seriously, your argument is rational and balanced. But I don't think we are dealing with mentally balanced opponents. These people think they can wish upon a star and create a new gender. Zimbabwe/Uganda dictator levels of coocoo for cocoa puffs.
Delete7mm? .50bmg has the serious hit, specially with APIT so that the oil catches fire. Crew served, so you know it's actually a weapon. Kidding.. m80 ball that can be scrounged from Uncle will be fine.
DeleteNext year when you try to enroll your child into 3rd grade you will be required to sign a federal form stating that you have no firearms in your possession in order to cut down the chance that the child could bring the firearm to school. If you don't sign the form the child will not be admitted and if you lie on the form and get caught you will do 10 years in the fed pen.
DeleteThen the following year you'll get the same thing from your vehicle insurer to cut down on road rage. Then you'll get one from your health care provider, etc., etc.
Under such conditions you might be surprised how many people will willingly turn over their guns. No raids necessary.
A gov't that provides everything can also take everything.
I assume these are all hypothetical, at least right now? I agree, folks can be short sighted on some things. But then, how much can you fight when the pressure is constant?
DeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteThe good news is that takes so long the apocalypse is here before they make a dent.
DeleteDear Demented,
DeleteLet's see I've been driving 40 years. Been pulled over 3 times. Each about a decade apart.
So at the rate of once every 13 yrs we can expect all gun owners (90MM? WAG) to have guns confiscated by warrant carrying cops in about the time frame of when Sun burns out???
Good gravy. This is why we're screwed. People on "our" side can't even think.
God forgive me, but I think WRSA commenter "Tfat" just might be right on the needed cull of 300MM Americans.
If all the cops we have now can cycle through all drivers every 13 years, that means in 13 years all the guns are confiscated. If I was as rude as you just were, I'd accuse you of not thinking, as well. Please endeavor to check too hateful of attitudes. I can see a discussion becoming heated. No excuse not to try to remain civil. I can get a bit rude in the article, as I'm not targeting any one reader. I enjoy our banter, so please relax.
DeleteI'm not going to say "I told you so." even though I did.
ReplyDeleteRule of life: Buy once, cry once.
Your lack of confidence in the AR platform is rooted in 2 things:
1. Lack of experience.
2. Extreme cheapness.
Not, extreme frugalness. Cheapness. There's a diff.
Yes Francis, you get exactly what you pay for, maybe a little less.
Someone could give you a $5k AR poodle shooter and you'd still piss and moan, know why? Because you won't familiarize yourself with it extensively. For reasons I dare not even consider you are, and stay, convinced that old assed surplus junk guns are the bomb and that the mostly false idea of spray and pray will make you it's victim.
Notice if you will all of that stuff is made up bullshit, made up by you. You have no real world experience to back any of it up and you most likely never will.
Here is my only, and last suggestion, on the AR subject.
1. Assemble a decent quality machine that will cost around $2000. 2. Buy 2000 rds of brass ammo for it, and cleaning gear.
3. Spend 6 months quality time using that machine and researching all things pertaining to it. Push that machine hard. Try to break it.
Then, if you are not convinced to get rid of all that surplus junk purchased through mythology I'll buy all that AR stuff from you.
For the life of me I have never understood how you can take the coming collapse as serious as you seem but put the safety of your life in the rule of severely inefficient junk.
Enfields and bayonets? Seriously? What, are you stuck in the 19th century and can't get free?
Seriously Jim, think long and hard about this if the safety of your life is important. I have old guns and they're fun to shoot now and then. But I make no illusions here. Fun is not serious. When it comes to tools to save my life I have spent the money to get the right equipment and the time to gain the experience to render confidence so that I will see this thing through to the other side. This is frugal thinking as I see it.
Spray and pray?
This is more a comment on your lack of confidence in yourself than anything factual about the equipment. Experience breeds confidence and confidence leads to success.
Until either of us enter actual combat, we cannot say how we will react to the stress. It isn't about experience with a firearm, but with combat. It is about brain chemicals. The AR uses a much more modern round. Tolerances are tighter. I can use an older weapon and the ammunition can be more forgiving, in so far as homegrown/salvaged/improvised. I don't pull ideas out of my ass-I use a more holistic approach over-analyzing many probables. And, again, less money to the arsenal frees up money for other areas. Food. Water. Shelter. A more balanced prepper budget. The bayonet means I have a secondary back-up weapon to a sidearm. Frees up a lot of funds for other uses. Is it as effective, as long as there is ammo? No. Is it effective longer term? More so. Everything is a trade-off. You don't trade-off but go Uber Perfect. This is just personalty differences. Can either of us help ourselves?
DeleteCombat my ass. You just don't go out and get combat experience so throwing that stuff is weak all the way around.
DeleteI've been to a couple tactical and close combat courses and it is alarming how much the average person does not know. Especially the so called "expert" gun owners.
Gross motor skills for example. Trying to rack that Enfield while under duress will be much harder than you can imagine. All of a sudden your muscles work against you, or don't work at all. Loading rounds in the top, or bottom, will have you dumping them all over the ground. Those things are tedious to do when stressed out.
With the AR you slam a whole mag in that flared opening mag well, slap the oversize release on the side and you're back in business. Gross motor skills only.
I can site hundreds of other examples, that you currently do not know and never will unless you do something to change that, that will get you killed quickly.
Remember how the drill instructors climbed your ass in basic? I'm talking that kind of stress and much, much worse. By professional trainers. Even the most expert shooter fucks it all up. That's why you go through it over and over and over so that it is rote to muscle memory.
Continuous use = experience = confidence = success
There really is no other way.
No trying to slam, just wanting to be helpful, insightful.
I'll shut my ass now.
I do laud you for trying to do the 80% poly.
Muscle memory drills are needed, and yes, another weak spot of mine. It would cost me nothing to get going on that-and I thank you for the reminder. However, I'm not talking about that. The average survivalist is NOT going through stressful training to learn to control his fire using semi-auto. The average guy is going to spray and pray. Even the two simplest drills to even come close-sprints to firing stations under timing, or even just paintball or similar that drives home some lessons, the average guy isn't going to do ( which are much cheaper than paying a pro ). And that doesn't even come close to the stress of combat. Will that training even suffice? By eliminating the ability to spray and pray, with your firearms mechanism a limiting factor, then all the muscle memory drills better approach the combat skills needed. Plus, as I've talked about, the firearm itself directs the mental response. In untrained hands-99% of us-semi-auto ONLY fulfills its original tactical purpose of suppressive fire. Which is only viable in an Industrial Age logistics system. You are approaching this from Perfection, I'm looking at it from Sad Reality. Thank you for a rational, polite response-and I know you are just trying to help. As we all are. This crap is getting too serious for much more dinking around, and every little bit hopefully increases our odds. And PS-not saying Airsoft or paintball is a great substitution. Just that you can practice movement, concealment and it is great showing you how fast you can run out of ammo with a semi.
Delete“And that doesn't even come close to the stress of combat. Will that training even suffice?”
DeleteI get the point that you’re making Jim, but everyone seems to want to fight you on that. In fact, that’s the main reason that the military went from the selective semi/fully automatic on the M-16, to the semi/tri-burst mode, at least for most of the troops (Apparently the special forces still get full auto’s).
And yes, all the training in world will not make up for actual real life combat experience. A excellent parable to this is martial arts training. Martial arts (At least as it is taught in the US) is no substitute for actual street combat. Just ask the millions of karate black belts out there that have been utterly trounced in a street encounter, up against a thug that never took a karate lesson in his life (Sorry folks, but in real life, it’s nothing like a Steven Seagal or Chuck Norris movie).
https://duckduckgo.com/?q=M-16+not+fully+auto+anymore&t=lm&atb=v1-1&ia=web
The reason I'm fought on the point is the insane Man Love with semi-auto's. Not to mention a denial of how bad things will get. And I understand that. To some degree, I share in the same affliction, now reduced for wishing a peaceful death in my sleep before the apocalypse. At least in my weaker moments.
Delete