Urban Survival Firearms - Primary Survival Handguns

UrbanSurvivalSkills.com received a question on handguns suitable for use as a primary Survival handgun. Jaime wrote….”I am in a group that is pretty squared away. We are following Rawles from survival blog (note: www.survivalblog.com) and read the book Patriots, probably several times each. Each of us in our Survival team bought M4 carbines and tactical gear in OD Green. We are now determining what uniforms to buy and most important what handgun. We have agreed that the handgun is going to be an H&K in .40 caliber S&W. My question is do you have any comments on the H&K handguns in generally, and what model would you pick as a primary handgun for a Survival Team?”

UrbanMan replies: Jaime, good for you using Rawles’ examples and guidance for Survival planning,…..equally good that you recognize that Survival is a team sport and you have organized a group. Commonality on equipment is a good idea. You didn’t ask about the uniforms, but I am inclined to comment on that. Durable field uniforms such as military fatigues in the MARPAT (US Marine pattern), Army ACU camouflage pattern and such, are a good idea, but also a good idea is to have durable clothing that you can wear and not give you the para-military look.

5.11 makes a great tactical pant in a solid color and in fact brown or tan jeans from Wrangler also are durable and will not make you standout as a para-military type group in siituations that would require blending in or not looking so "threatening". Like heading to the grocery store or other public places before there is a total collapse,..if in fact, that is what happens. Regular jeans do not have the pockets, we call them bells and whistles, like the 5.11 or the military fatigue pants have – one drawback.

As far as the H&K handgun is concerned. I prefer other brands, but if you are set on an H&K handgun I think the P2000 is the clear winner. Note the photograph above, from top to bottom: P2000SK, USP-C and P2000.

Other choices are the P2000SK which is slightly smaller in barrel length, grip length and magazine capacity....like comparing a Glock 17 to a Glock 19. The older USP-C can be more easily found in a used configuration and all are good, durable guns. I just don’t like the ergometrics on the USP-C or the bigger USP, nor the trigger on any H&K.

The USP-C and P2000 uses the same magazine whereas the P2000SK uses a shorter magazine. USP-C and P2000 magazines will work in the P2000SK, just extend out alittle further, but P2000SK magazines will not lock in an USP-C or P2000.

Another advantage of the P2000 is that the grip is adjustable through a series of different sized backstraps. Plus I like the grip ergometrics of the P2000 much better than the USP-C.

Be aware that these handguns are more expensive than other models from different makers such as the Glock series of handguns or the Smith and Wesson M&P semi-automatics. Good luck.

More Dire Collapse Predictions for 2011

I was asked the other day what I trying to accomplish with stockpiling food, buying Survival equipment and material,and all the other little things I'm doing to prepare. My answer was "I wasn't accomplishing as much as I want". Not really the answer my questioner was anticipating, so they came back with "What exactly do you think is going to happen?". My answer to that was "I hope nothing will happen, but I do not want to get caught with my pants down." I continued with explaining that I was just preparing for bad times because too many indicators of a collapse were visible and a heavy list of people that I have listened to for years, as well as many other learned people, are saying get ready.

My questioner continued with "Who are these people and what are they saying, and why haven't I heard people on television saying get ready?". I replied "You have to pay attention, but my reply is how can you NOT have heard people like Glenn Beck, Mark Levin, Gonzalo Lira, Gerald Celente and the list goes on.

In fact I heard some of Gerald Celente 2011 predictions,....you can see all of them at his web site, Trends Research

Some of what Gerald Celente predicted,..this is my recollection of what he said or alluded to, but please go to his Trends Research to view them firsthand:

Gold will go up,...way up. Over $2,000 an ounce before the year is out.

Crime will increase as there will be more desperate people. As these people lose everything they will lose it (meaning I guess their sense of morality)....wouldn't you if you couldn't feed your family?

The Government will extract through executive order or through legislation more money from the tax payers to pay for their financial obligations.

Civil Liberties will decrease, as chaos increases and another Great (Greater) Depression nears. Celente mentioned something about the Government using Predator drones over Miami and Houston. Now I know Homeland Security uses them routinely on the border, but over in-land American Cities? I hope not. I think most of us are fearful of the U.S. Government using the military in a domestic law enforcement role.

Not to be left out, a couple of other people in the Fuel Industry are giving us some warnings as well:

Gasoline expert Fred Rozell predicts that 15 states -- including Alaska, Hawaii, Connecticut and Rhode Island -- will see gasoline prices top $4 a gallon by Memorial Day. "A dollar more per gallon

John Hofmeister, former president of Shell Oil and author of "Why We Hate The Oil Companies," predicts Americans will pay $5 per gallon for gasoline by 2012. Other experts say that's a long shot.

Analyst and Trader Stephen Schork said "We can see it, but we could also see a global depression, too."

You can read the entire article at Yahoo! News.

Urban Survival Planning - End of America

Yet another prominent Financial Analyst predicting a collapse.

Porter Stansberry, just over 10 years ago, founded Stansberry & Associates Investment Research. It has become one of the largest and most recognized investment research companies in the world, serving hundreds of thousands of subscribers in more than 120 countries.

You may have heard of it due to the work they did over the last several years – helping investors avoid the big disasters associated with Wall Street's collapse.

Stansberry warned investors to avoid Fannie and Freddie, Bear Stearns, Lehman Brothers and General Motors and dozens of other companies that have since collapsed. They helped their clients and newsletter subscribers find opportunities to profit from these moves by shorting stocks and buying put options. Stansberry Associates credit themselves having an unmatched record of correctly predicting the catastrophe that occurred in 2008.

Stansberry says this looming crisis is related to the financial crisis of 2008... but it is infinitely more dangerous, which could actually bring our country and our way of life to a grinding halt. He fully expects as the dollar to collapse, first discounted, then refused to be accepted then collapsing. Stansberry also expects there to be riots in the streets... arrests on an unprecedented scale... and martial law, enforced by the U.S. military as this crisis will threaten our very way of life.

The savings of millions will be wiped out. This disaster will change your business and your work. It will dramatically affect your savings accounts, investments, and retirement. It will change everything about your normal way of life: where you vacation... where you send you kids or grandkids to school... how and where you shop... the way you protect your family and home.

Watch the video below and go to the following website to read the full text of his letter advertising his newsletter which would be a god idea to receive if you want to stay on top of the economic indicators that will precede a collapse.


http://www.stansberryresearch.com/pro/1011PSIENDVD/WPSILC13/PR

Urban Survival Planning - Dental Care Planning

How many people are thinking about dental care either emergency or long term care in an environment where dentists may not be available? Do you have years worth of toothpaste, dental floss and new toothbrushes stockpiled?

I broke a tooth last week which got me thinking about unilateral dental care. Obviously prevention is key. In a post collapse world processed foods, fast foods and all the normal foods we see today laden with sugar will most likely not be available which will be actually good for our bodies and better for the health of our teeth.

I have personal hygiene kits vacuum packed in our Bug Out Bags,....soap, tooth brush, toothpaste, dental floss but am only now starting to stock more dental care items in my base station medical kits. I have a old complete set of military dental tools consisting of various picks, mirrors, dental spatulas and tooth extractors.

Survivor planners beginning a dental kit can find dental tools at the following sites:

http://www.duluthtrading.com/

http://www.surgicalsindia.com/

The Survival Group needs to plan on dental care well into a collapse, which, worst case, no routine dental care nor material and supplies will be available.

One thing you probably already stock in your medical supplies is hydrogen peroxide. And you may have had the foresight to stock baking soda in your stored long term food supplies. If so, you can make field expedient tooth paste by mixing 1 tablespoon of Baking Soda with one-quarter Tablespoon of Hydrogen peroxide. While not necessary, you could also add a drop of lemon juice or oil or cinnamon to add flavor.

Some other dental supplies and material you should think abut adding to your survival kit are dental cement and adhesives.

Dentemp One Step Dental Cement is available at Walgreens or Wal-Mart . Lost crowns as can either reapplied, once cleaned, or replaced using dental cement. Same for lost fillings. These will not be permanent but can last awhile if you are careful then re-done.

It may be necessary to pull a tooth - hence the necessary tooth extractors in your dental kit. You would probably be doing this without anesthesia. I got fortunate to pull a man's bottom molar without anesthesia (in Africa) and he actually thanked me for it. Maybe this is an excuse to stock some decent whiskey. Use your own judgment.

A couple of other possible problems are infections or abscesses occurring in the gum line. Competent medical treatment using anti-biotics is the preferred course of action, but if you don't have any other recourse, warm salt water (1 Teaspoon of salt in 6 ounces of water) will help and ease the pain, and may help to draw the infection or pus out of the gum tissue.

So, get any needed dental care done now and start planning and preparing for dental care and treatment in a degraded environment.