Weapons - Army XM25 to debut

No hiding place from new U.S. Army rifles that use radio-controlled smart bullets. Weapon hailed as a game-changer that can fire up and over barriers and down into trenches. Soldiers will start using them in Afghanistan later this month

The U.S. army is to begin using a futuristic rifle that fires radio-controlled 'smart' bullets in Afghanistan for the first time, it has emerged. The XM25 rifle uses bullets that be programmed to explode when they have traveled a set distance, allowing enemies to be targeted no matter where they are hiding. The rifle also has a range of 2,300 feet making it possible to hit target which are well out of the reach of conventional rifles. The XM25 is being developed specially for the U.S. army and will be deployed with troops from later this month, it was revealed today.

The XM25 Counter Defilade Target Engagement System has a range of roughly 2,300 feet - and is to be deployed in Afghanistan this month.

The rifle's gun sight uses a laser rangefinder to determine the exact distance to the obstruction, after which the soldier can add or subtract up to 3 meters from that distance to enable the bullets to clear the barrier and explode above or beside the target. Soldiers will be able to use them to target snipers hidden in trenches rather than calling in air strikes.

The 25-millimetre round contains a chip that receives a radio signal from the gun sight as to the precise distance to the target. Lt. Col. Christopher Lehner, project manager for the system, described the weapon as a ‘game-changer’ that other nations will try and copy.

He expects the Army to buy 12,500 of the XM25 rifles this year, enough for every member of the infantry and special forces. Lehner told Fox News: ‘With this weapon system, we take away cover from [enemy targets] forever. ‘Tactics are going to have to be rewritten. The only thing we can see [enemies] being able to do is run away.’

Experts say the rifle means that enemy troops will no longer be safe if they take cover. The XM25 appears perfect weapon for street-to-street fighting that troops in Afghanistan have to engage in, with enemy fighters hiding behind walls and only breaking cover to fire occasionally.

The weapon's laser finder would work out how far away the enemy was and then the U.S. soldier would add one meter using a button near the trigger. When fired, the explosive round would carry exactly one meter past the wall and explode with the force of a hand grenade above the Taliban fighter.

The army's project manager for new weapons, Douglas Tamilio, said: ''This is the first leap-ahead technology for troops that we've been able to develop and deploy.' A patent granted to the bullet's maker, Alliant Techsystems, reveals that the chip can calculate how far it has traveled.
Mr. Tamilio said: 'You could shoot a Javelin missile, and it would cost £ 43,000 (British Pounds). These rounds will end up costing £ 15.50 apiece. They're relatively cheap. Lehner added: ‘This is a game-changer. The enemy has learned to get cover, for hundreds if not thousands of years.
‘Well, they can't do that anymore. We're taking that cover from them and there's only two outcomes: We're going to get you behind that cover or force you to flee.’ The rifle will initially use high-explosive rounds, but its makers say that it might later use versions with smaller explosive charges that aim to stun rather than kill.

Urban Survival - Radiation Detection and Symptoms

Of the many collapse scenarios that we plan for, possibly the hardest would be the nuclear blast and radiation threat from either a nuclear missile strike by another country or devices smuggled into this country either at port of entry or into a major city in the interior.

Obviously the best possible course of action is to situated in a location well outside of the major target areas and away from prevailing winds which would drive the radiation fallout.

There are other nuclear events that would necessitate some level of preparedness and protection. These may include: nuclear power plant accidents; nuclear weapons accidents; international incidents involving radioactive materials; lost (orphan) radiation sources and devices; and, accidents involving satellites containing radioactive material.

The amount of radiation exposure is usually expressed in a unit called millirem (mrem). In the United States , the average person is exposed to an effective dose equivalent of approximately 360 mrem (whole-body exposure) per year from all sources, however the medical community often expresses exposure in terms of Gray (Gy). One Gy equals 100 roentgens.

The dose calculator is based on the American Nuclear Society's brochure, "Personal Radiation Dose Chart". These values used in the calculator are general averages and do not provide precise individual dose calculations.

There are two basic types of radiation: ionizing and non-ionizing. Non-ionizing radiation comes in the form of radio waves, solar light, microwaves and radar. This kind of radiation usually does not cause tissue damage. Ionizing radiation is radiation that produces immediate chemical effects on human tissue and sickness.

The bigger the exposure dose, the faster the symptoms of radiation sickness will come upon you. Use the following symptoms and timelines to determine level of dose. Severe and Very severe exposure almost always means death. Moderate exposure may also mean death if competent medical treatment is not immediately received.

Nausea and vomiting

Mild exposure – within 6 hours
Moderate exposure – within 2 hours
Severe exposure – within 1 hour
Very severe exposure - within 10 minutes

Diarrhea

Moderate exposure – within 8 hours
Severe exposure – within 3 hours
Very severe exposure - within 60 minutes

Headache

Moderate exposure – within 24 hours
Severe exposure – within 4 hours
Very severe exposure - within 2 hours

Fever

Moderate exposure – within 3 hours
Severe exposure – within 1 hour
Very severe exposure - within 1 hour

Dizziness, Weakness and Hair Loss

Severe exposure – within 1 week
Very severe exposure - Immediate

Radiation detection. Most of us do not have radiation detection equipment simply because it is too expensive. However, there is a small device called a “RADsticker” which is a miniature radiation detector that is inexpensive and easy to use to monitor personal exposure or exposure to an area.

Available from the World Net Daily Superstore, the RADSticker is a peel & stick, postage stamp sized, instant color developing dosimeter, is always ready and with you 24/7, stuck onto the back your drivers license or anything you keep close, for any future radiation emergency.

The RADsticker is a non-electrical, reliable, rugged and useful for determining radiation exposure and if medical treatment required in a major radiological incident, such as a nuclear or dirty bomb explosion, nuclear power plant accident or mishandled radiation sources.

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.