Equipment and Material Questions from Survivalists

I routinely receive singular questions from readers so it has been my practice to save them up, the ones I don't answer via e-mail, and post them with my comments.

1. "Have you seen or tasted Survival Tabs? Are you stocking Survival Tabs as part of your food supply or Bug Out bag?"

UrbanMan's reply: Short answer is no. I haven't seen Survival Tabs since we tested them circa 1984. Great idea, to carry 15 days of survival food in a plastic tub that will fit into a one quart canteen carrier - they even come with a plastic bag so you can transfer the survival tabs into the bag and use the plastic tub as a water canteen, BUT the key point here is that they taste like crap. Again, no, I do not have any Survival Tabs, nor will I be buying any. I have soup mixes, granola bars, nuts, and small food packets for my Bug Out bags.

2. "I did not see you list bandage scissors in your medical kit recommendations. The primary use for bandage scissors is to cut the clothes, such as pants, off of patients to address the wounds and injuries. Do you advocate using a seat belt cutter instead of scissors?"

UrbanMan's reply: I'm not going to go back and check, but every kit I have has either the common bandage scissor, surgical scissors and/or a multi-tool with scissors. Scissors of many types belong in the preppers stocks. From first aids needs, to harvesting vegetables to dressing game - scissors are valuable. The latest and greatest medical scissors will be shortly offered from Leatherman, the creator of the original Multi-tool. Their new product is called the Leatherman Raptor. I got my hands on one a few months ago and this is gem with the standard shears and includes a glass breaker, strap and ring cutter and even a wrench for oxygen tanks. I will be buying at least two of these when they are offered hopefully in May 2013.


3. "I do not have a flint and steel fire starter. I don't see the need if one has boxes of lighters, regular and storm matches."

UrbanMan's reply: Fair enough. I will continue to keep my several magnesium flint and steel fire starters. I also have boxes of matches, cases of MRE's with matvches in the accessory pack, bags of Bic lighters and even a couple fancy storm lighters with can be replaced with fuel. Magnesium starts last a long, long time. My way is to use them wherever I can, saving the lighters and matches. My boxes of regular and stick matches are mainly for barter, but I have enough Bic lighters to trade one where and there if/when the collapse hits and commodities barter replace precious metals to a large extent as we transition to a straight barter soceity. Consider PACE planning, that is Primary, Alternate, Contingency and Emergency measures in all aspects of your collapse survival plan, from material and food supplies, to firearms, to route planning and Bug Out plans and yes even to fire starting. So come on get yourself a megnesium fire starter - you'll enjoy starting fires feeling like Grizzly Adams!

Foods that will be Gone When SHTF

UrbanSurvivalSkills received a comment from Horsyguy: "There is a new advertisement about 37 foods that will sell out when SHTF, but they don't list them or give them and want you to buy books? I think the site was 123foodsurvivalplan.com ? Does anyone know what they are or have read the books? Are they legit books worth reading? thanks."

Horsyguy, I have seen many different lists of the foods that are supposed to run out or be first off the shelves and unavailable during a dynamic collapse of when SHTF is apparent. Safe to say all foods will be gone. The advertisement may be 37 foods that will go first, but after two days o not eating, I think a can of Lima Beans, expired for three years would look good.

Here is an example of 37 items that will go quick, taking the obvious Food items, bottled water, guns, ammunition and fuel for vehicles off the table:

1. Water Filters/Purifiers/Pumps.
2. Generators (even though the fuel will run out - people will buy them.
3. Firewood, depending upon the time of year.
4. Candles,
5. Flashlights and Batteries,
6. Dog Food,
7. Butane Lighters and matches
8. Coleman/camping fuel to include propane and butane bottles.
9. Water containers (get more than one and in different sizes)
10. Propane Heaters and all accessories that go with it (extra propane, heads, etc)
11. Some clothing items, starting with coats, gloves, socks and footwear
12. Hand Tools
13. Lumber
14. Aluminum Foil
15. Feminine Hygiene/Haircare/Skin products.
16. Gasoline containers
17. Toilet paper, paper towels, hygiene items
18. Work gloves, Work boots, Work Clothes
19. Seeds (non-hybrid or hybrid - some people don't know the difference)
20. First Aid Kits and all medical materials
21. Large and small Plastic Containers
22. Canning mateials, jars and lids
23. Camping/Cast iron cookware
24. Duct Tape
25. Garbage cans (metal and plastic)
26. Rope and twine
27. Laundry Detergent (dry and liquid)
28. Backpacks
29. Garden tools & supplies
30. Bleach
31. Knives, axes, sharpening stones
32. Bicycles and spare parts/tires
33. Camping material such as Sleeping Bags
34. Books on Survival, gardening, raising animals, etc.
35. Hardware such as nails, screws, bolts, etc.
36. Cigarettes
37. Wine/Beer/Liquor

Let me know if I forgot something.

Urban Survival Preparation - Firearms and Food suggestions for a Reader

UrbanSurvivalSkills.com received a comment on the post Urban Survival Planning - Lessons Learned from Katrina,…." Anonymous said…. Urban, I have started a Survival Group with my friends. Most of us have handguns and a few rifles, but have agreed to spend $1000 each on a standard rifle and $250 each on some long storage food. Can you give us some ideas on what we should be looking at for a standard gun and even food?”

Urbanman replies: On the standard rifle issue. Standardization is good for commonality of ammunition, magazines, parts and training. There is something to be said for having a wide range of calibers to ensure ammunition can be found and/or bartered for, but I would prefer to stock enough from the get go, otherwise you could be at someone’s mercy.

I suspect that the $1000 agreed upon per person was to include all required accessories including load bearing kit, extra mags, cleaning kits, etc. If that is the case, a $1000 threshold makes it difficult to purchase AR type rifles for all including the necessary magazines. However, I’m going to assume that you all can save enough money for the next couple of months to purchase these and the $1000 is going only for a rifle nothing more. In that case the hands down winner would be an AR type rifle in the .223 Remington (also known as the 5.56x45mm) cartridge. I’m sure you can find various manufacturers’ copies of the M-4 carbine for under $1000. If your local gunshop cannot get them for that price, check of Gun Broker who can ship them to your gun shop and they should handle that the required transaction for a nominal fee, probably around $25 per gun.

I also saw where Cheaper than Dirt is offering various M-4 type clones for around $830 which would leave some room for purchasing some kit.

Ruger Mini-14’s are a good rifle. The sights are not as good as the AR types, but still serviceable. They take different magazines than the AR type of rifle but still shoot the .223 Remington and are reliable. These probably run around $650 or so.

As far as long duration food stocks, that would mean dehydrated food for maximum duration. I would stay away from one person buying dehydrated vegetables and the other buying dehydrated fruit. Each person’s purchased stocks should complete and standalone in case one or more of the Urban Survival Group members does not make it to the rendezvous.

If I was going to put only $250 into foods stocks then I would buy inclined to spend most of it on #10 cans of dehydrated food (meat, fruits and vegetables) and the rest on rice, beans, and bullion to store in vacuumed packed bags or better yet, sealed Mylar bags with oxygen absorbers.

I hope you all realize that guns and food are great, two of your essentials needs, but preparation across the board needs to be conducted such as procurement of a wide variety of Survival Gear, Equipment and Material and set up of Bug Out Bags. You should consider purchasing some previous metals such as Gold and Silver. Silver rounds or bullion is still fairly cheap and can be purchased in small amounts as you budget allows. I think procuring Silver for Survival and an insurance currency for barter is important.

Other than the above, I can't give you some specific recommendations unless I know what Urban Survival assets (Gear, Equipment, Material and Firearms) that you already have on hand. Good luck buddy.