Monday, June 15, 2015

storm rifle 1


STORM RIFLE

Let’s talk a little about the history of the assault carbine, as I think such a misunderstanding over them persists despite my best efforts to kick the crap out of your brain over them ( this should be the job of Black Cat Dude, but he hasn’t posted since February, evidently selfishly deciding a real paying job and a satisfying personal life is far more important than writing for free on the Internet, the bastard ).  It all pretty much started with the Gatling gun.  There had been the introduction of the lever action prior, and that was important, but that was just another breech loader, albeit an important advancement with its self contained cartridge.  The Gatling was a machinegun in prototype.  Gatling himself was a pretty good tinkerer, and the breakthrough innovation was from an agricultural implement, but more than anything else, he was a salesman.  And he oversold the crap out of his gun.  Just as any elixir of unreported ingredients could theoretically cure everything from cancer to shingles, his gun could replace whole companies of men and cause world peace to break out.  The Russians were the first true believers, and wasted little time incorporating them into its units, but almost nobody else bought the promise or the hype.  The Brits did try them out a time or two, but while sometimes they worked to good effect, other times they jammed much too easily.  The Gatling was an idea ahead of its time, and while there was money to be made for its inventor, the utility was too limited.  The idea was sound, the ability to utilize it had not yet arrived.

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That happened when the Maxim gun arrived.  This was the first true machinegun, as it fired automatically from the energy of its own previous detonations.  The Gatling was a manual crank.  With the Maxim, machineguns came to rule the battlefield.  Not that anyone paid any attention for nearly two decades ( some military officers did try to noodle out tactics, but were ignored as much as aircrafts proponents would be later ).  Right after the turn of last century ( I think 1904, but I could be off a year or two ), Japan and Russia went to war.  The naval engagement got all the historical hype, but this was the first time massive machinegun deployment between two conventional armies was seen and the whole world soundly rejected what they saw.  The Japanese sent their infantry armed with bayoneted rifles against emplaced machineguns and got slaughtered.  Okay, our bad, say the officers, let’s try something a little different.  Not.  They just kept pushing wave after wave of bodies into the guns.  Eventually, after about 40,000 deaths, they won the battle.  But not because their tactics were sound.  It was because the Russians had been cut off and couldn’t be re-supplied.  In effect, the Japanese used bodies as pincushions until the enemies ammunition ran out.  But it wasn’t just a bunch of primitive Ornamentals failing to grasp White Folk military tactics.  All of the majors had military advisors on hand at the battle to observe and report.  And either none of them grasped the significance, or the few that did were ignored by their chain of command.  Ten years later, the Brits and French sent wave after wave of spearmen into massed German machinegun fire ( obviously, the Germans got the idea.  They were also the ones who figured out how to circumvent the limitations of trench warfare, without tanks.  But I get ahead of myself ).

Continued next article

END
 
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21 comments:

  1. I'm currently reading your frugal living book James (I've read it before since I am a follower) and am liking the idea of a carless existence. I am also thinking of getting land near your area. My only concern with the biking option is that you would probably have to live as close to such a large town as did you, in order for it to be practical. I suppose I have concerns about being in such close proximity to all of that population?

    What would you say is a good compromise? Perhaps 10 miles or so outside of town and a motorcycle? Motorcycles are cheap and easy to maintain, but they don't call them “donor cycles” for nothing, so they're not very desirable in many ways.

    I'm recently unemployed, so the ideal situation of having many acres as a large buffer has passed me on by. I do see that your land guy has a few cheap parcels for around $1600 though. I think it's probably in the same neighbourhood where you used to live, since it's 5 miles from downtown Elko.

    I am wondering though how private such a small plot of land that is so close to Elko could be? Are those off grid desert plots generally high in population density?

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    1. I haven't been to that specific area for some time, but I understand you'd have three to five neighbors ( on 1 acre each ). Not ideal, I understand. I would consider a moped rather than a cycle. No insurance and far less gas ( perhaps one day much more important ). I don't think a moped would be any more dangerous than a bicycle. A motorcycle, perhaps more because of its speed? Just don't buy a Chinese moped, I've heard terrible things quality wise. I do think 15 miles out of town is much better than five, but of course you must consider immediate finances. Tough call, any way you do it. Thanks for reading the book-tell all your friends. Good luck, feel free to ask any and all follow up questions.

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    2. Thanks for the input James, and the advice on the Moped. Here in CA they require both a license and insurance. Though I'm pretty sure that there was a time that they did not, as I recall an older friend in the 70's having one, and I think that in those days an auto permit or license would suffice? I hear you on the Chinese models, yet I shudder to think of what any other country of origin would run price wise?

      I'm a regular follower, and bought the book for convenience/support, and had read it before in blog form. I've suggested your site to others before, and admittedly, I have a limited circle of acquaintances; less now after my recent unemployment. But it seems to be a message that no one today really wants to hear? Even my brother that shares similar views, believes that it is possible to restore our civilisation to its previous strengths by electing the “right people” into office.

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    3. Anonymous, a small displacement motorcycle say 250 cc will get you about 80 mpg. 15 miles is easy at even 50 mph. Insurance will run $10-$20 a month depending on style. maybe 15 miles out is cheaper with less neighbors. There is one guy out there with great hair but I heard he was staying in town lately. LOL You need to have some starter capital and shelter. Jim has some great wisdom though.Best of luck with you decision.

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    4. A Japanese moped is $2k, verses a Chinese $700. If you are mechanically inclined, and can work on those engines/their electrical, Chinese is doable. If not...In Nevada, you just need a regular car drivers license for a moped. No insurance. I can't believe CA requires that crap. Glad I got out 25 years ago. Thanks for passing the word. That's cool.

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    5. Oregon has even more stages of 2-wheel machine licensing and rider registration and insurance requirements. There seems to be one loophole left: electric bicycle requires no machine license, no driver license, and no insurance to use the public roadway. Electric bikes with 1KW motors and big battery packs can move FAST and relatively silent while using bike paths as well as roads. They also have no weight or capacity limit, just a pedal requirement, even if it is impossible for the rider to actually ride the bike using pedals only.

      There may also be a "Motor-assisted Bicycle" designation with a 49cc 3hp 35mph max rating also requiring human-power pedals. But the little 2-strokes are usually heavy and more of a PITA than having a good gearset and strong legs. Putt-putt's are also loud.

      As usual, the loophole in the law is mostly unused by anyone who actually NEEDS it due to technical and financial limitations of really good electric bikes costing MORE than a new street/dirt Honda 250R with battery-free fuel injection (MSRP ~$3999). SE Asia is full of these motorbikes, so there is no way they cost four grand there.

      The American way is 4300 pounds of rubber/glass/steel rolling me down the road to get a quart of milk. Pretty safe and comfy though, huh?

      pdxr13

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    6. Thanks gentleman, the input is much appreciated! I post here regularly, just not under my own name usually.

      I like the idea of the 250cc nightshift, since there are no limitations as to where you can ride one. So if the car goes down, it could serve as full time transportation if need be. It would be an older model bike that I could maintain myself. I prefer to stay away from machines that incorporate too much in the way of electronics in order to keep them going. I suppose the moped also has its advantages as well as its limitations, but is a consideration. The biggest drawback to me would be the 35mph speed limitation.

      My Jeep Cherokee has sat for several years now. But It's fortunate for me, in that when I had money, I rebuilt the engine and replaced the clutch. I'll probably use the Jeep, and get a cheap motorcycle as a back up, preferably a 250cc or larger, since they meet the federal highway minimum standard. But I could get by with a moped if I had to, and if I never had to travel beyond the nearest town, the moped would work.

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    7. Or find a smaller town that you can be both closer to and have bigger acreage near- that's what I did. It is harder to find year round full time employment in towns like this one though, but part time and seasonal happen with some frequency. I know one gal is working three jobs, 1 full time, 1 part time, and 1 seasonal part time. She has a nice-ish car, health insurance, and a busy life but is well known in town because of it. None of the jobs pays much over minimum wage.

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    8. @pdxr13; I actually drove through western Oregon last fall for my job, prior to the lay off. I drove through I-5 all the way up to portland. Most of what I saw was very nice, and I was particularly fond of the little town of “Myrtle Creek”. When I went online and priced it though, I received a bit of a shock. It's not that the land is all that unreasonable price wise, but it's definitely out of my price range.

      But I'm glad that you brought up the 2 cycle bicycle motor conversion, since I had forgotten all about that option. That's an option to consider for sure, and it doesn't cost all that much either. Though I can't actually vouch for the quality of the motors, and would venture to guess that they are of Chinese manufacture?

      @Grey; appreciate the tips. Unfortunately, as mentioned above, funds are severely limited. I don't think that I would ever feel comfortable spending more than about $5k on a parcel, and I don't even want to spend that much. As of now, Jim's haunts are sounding pretty good as far as the price of land, as well as jobs. I don't need much of a job, but I do need a little something. I'm getting a late start on all of this, and in addition to the land, still have to get housing set up, and preps in place. And all of this before the bottom drops out.

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    9. Go east young man!
      Seriously, the prairie and desert are the places for your sort of budget the I-5 corridor is yuppie scum west stronghold.
      For $3k cash you can get a parcel of desert easily enough.
      My 40acres cost me @<$8k in a state auction- the minimum bid because NO one else bid on it--- it is on a county road, has clear line of sight to cell phone towers (at least from the top of some of its hills) seasonal water, and power lines running though part of it. I had to fence it off from the neighbor’s property (over 4000 acres). The fence cost me about another $1,500 in costs but paid incrementally as I could afford it / needed it. Oddly enough parcels smaller than @ 20 acres seem to go up in price per acre pretty quickly almost everywhere in the western USA. So it is a tradeoff.
      Current taxes, for the land unimproved, are about $200/year. Even if improving the land causes a 1000% increase it will still be no more than 4 months’ rent.
      But we also live where there are no building codes/enforcement for private dwellings so hiding the extent of improvements shouldn’t be too hard- if we had to pay for permits/planning it could get expensive quick. Be SURE you find out what code enforcement and HOA rules are before you buy any piece of land. Some parts of NV will allow owner built with only a single permit declaiming all responsibility on the government’s part. On the other hand, some HOAs will only allow a McMansion built by a contractor who happens to be the brother in-law to the association’s president...
      MT and WY are the best I researched for statewide building codes but many other states are good in some counties and sucky in others
      Make certain you have a 4 wheel drive vehicle to haul building supplies to your parcel though. If it isn't already you will want to fence off your parcel to some extent, at least marking the corners with a 'T' pole- they only run a few bucks each usually.
      You will want to see your land over a period of at least a year (at least weekly visits) before building anything permanent to figure out which way the sun, wind, rain, and local animals come to your land, before you build. You could park a trailer or tent there for that year. Me? the wife insists on four solid walls, a laptop computer and source of heat that keeps water liquid so we rent a house in town while building (costing nearly a third of our take home pay) so we visit almost every weekend during the spring, summer, and fall.
      Winter showed us that at least part of the winter we need a snow plow for the 4x4.
      Spring showed us we need to clear the brush well back from where we transit and poison the bugs even further (ticks are a LITERAL pain).
      Summer showed us that 2x4's could be moved by just wind power.
      Fall showed us that putting clear no hunting signs up was barely sufficient and hunters - even old coots (from back east?) who should know better - don't have the best gun safety practices (loading a shotgun pointed in the general direction of our vehicle).

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    10. Thanks Grey! Yes, most of CA and Western Oregon have a very similar political atmosphere. Small towns in CA have residents that are pretty small government; the further away from the bay area the more so. But it does little good, since the metropolitan areas determine the tide for the entire state. And I definitely wish to avoid such areas, being a hardcore libertarian myself.

      There are many places that I would have loved to consider further east, but I was sort have caught off guard after this latest job loss. And for a variety of reasons, I'm limited in my employment options, and am trying to compromise on an area that provides the closest affordable land that allows for as much personal freeedom as possible. So far, it seems that Nevada is it. Low property taxes will be an issue as well, since I can't count on being in the workforce too much longer, and don't have a good retirement to fall back on. For housing, I'm going to go with the cheapest that I can afford that will insulate me from the elements. Perhaps a trailer to start, then earth sheltered?

      I'm a single guy, so I don't have a woman to contend with as far as living choices go. I'd actually like to find someone once I'm settled, but I fear that such a lifestyle is not for any woman that I would wish to be with. And I'd probably rather have no woman, than someone like that macho broad Sue in that Alaskan reality show, life below zero.

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    11. Be careful on taxes here-a trailer and an underground hovel will be cheap, but conventional structures ratchet up the tax bill.

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    12. "Be careful on taxes here-a trailer and an underground hovel will be cheap, but conventional structures ratchet up the tax bill."

      Do you happen to know if this applies for a building that is below the size requirement of needing a permit James? I know that even in the PRK, my shed on my current property (can't use this land as a post collapse retreat for a variety of reasons) is not considered a taxable structure, since it falls under the size requirement that would require a permit. The county websites for Humboldt and Elko counties are worthless. The links don't work, and emails don't get answered.

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    13. I'm going second hand here, but I think ANY permenate improvement is taxable. Coworker had taxes increase after a metal fence post to keep out neighbors horses was installed. I think underground and under 200 sq ft is exempt from permit, but I would not think untaxed. But I can't say for sure. The crap was too thick to wade through so I went with what someone else told me. I don't know if I haven't been taxed for it being underground or it being undetected. I know that doesn't help much, or maybe it does. Undetected is good anyway, yes?

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    14. Thanks James. When the time comes I will have to research it in detail, since I really want to keep my taxes to an absolute minimum. Assume that over time, that the county will jack them up anyways. Yes, undetected is definitely best. That was going to be a follow up question, whether your underground hovel was undetected by the county, and I'll assume that it was unless you say otherwise. Earth sheltered is a great way to go, especially in places like Nevada where trees that provide shade in summer, and fuel in winter are a rarity. The pioneers were on to something there. It only makes sense in such areas, along with solar, whether it be active or passive.

      Just finished your book frugal living. First Kindle book for me. Seems like some of the kindle books (not yours) are kind of expensive considering that they're in E format? Feel free to suggest any of your other books that are along the same theme as the frugal living book.


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    15. Check out my "homesteading for $3k" at lulu.com It is free. A lot of K-books are foul and disgusting, reflecting greed and desperation with their insane prices. My rule of thumb is paper always, if reference. K books for entertainment ( a lot of non-fiction is educational but not critical, although I limit ALL non-fiction in Kindle just on principle ). The One Second After book guy, Forsieth or whatever, wants over $12 for the sequal, in Kindle! I understand his publisher is getting most of it, but I'd be too embarrassed, myself.

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    16. Sorry, let me add this: Kindle takes only 25% if your book is higher than $2.98, but 67% if it is that or below. This is why a lot of books start at that $3 mark.

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    17. "Check out my "homesteading for $3k" at lulu.com It is free."

      Read that one before Jim, but it's been a while. I'll read it again as a refresher.

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  2. Anon should dig through the back issues at bisonpreper.blogspot.com with special interest to some of the near-genuis commentaries. Not pdxr13, of course, he's an idiot for staying in high-density high-tax Freakville for the good raspberries and mild weather.

    pdxr13

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    1. Let's hope all those Californicators stay there for the mild weather. Let all the millions of corpses re-fertilize the denuded soil there rather than here. Vegas, too.

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    2. Let's call it a million and a half peeps in the whole Willamette Valley, with about half a million in Portland metro. Official number is 1.13M, but we know how accurate Census and Unemployment numbers are.

      Valleys are a great place to recycle the pre-fertilizer folks, preparing the land for the wandering desert people to "discover".

      The future of affordable Portland housing is on 6 wheels.

      pdxr13

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