Packing

“I know how good a gun feels. It makes you bright-eyed and bushy-tailed, three meters tall and covered with hair. You’re ready for anything and kind of hoping you’ll find it. Which is exactly what is dangerous about it – because you aren’t anything of the sort. You are a feeble, hairless embryo, remarkably easy to kill.
- Tunnel in the Sky by Robert A Heinlein

The protagonist in Heinlein’s novel is wondering about what sort of gun would be best for a survival test, and his advisor convinces him not take one. I’m not going to say you shouldn’t carry a weapon, but I do want to talk about the role firearms should play in your preparations.

First, let’s be honest. Guns are cool. Carrying a gun makes you feel cool. Further, it makes you feel powerful and in control, whereas in reality you are not. It does have its uses, and to be without a firearm in a major crisis that involves a serious breakdown of civic authority will likely make you a victim.

Unfortunately, a disproportionately large amount of writing, money and effort have gone into the firearms aspect of prepping. What gun to buy, how many, marksmanship, small unit tactics and endless thinking about scenarios (or fantasies) of how they might be used take up far too much time and effort. Far too little time is spent on how and when not to use them and what might be the disadvantages of using firearms.

The first disadvantage is illustrated by the quote at the start of the article. Guns make you feel confident, safe and secure, when in reality you are nothing of the sort. It doesn’t matter if you are carrying the ultimate battle rifle and plenty of ammunition if someone shoots you between the eyes with a single shot bolt action .22 as you saunter down a trail armed to the teeth. A rifle won’t save you if you step in someone’s well made punji pit, or take cover behind a rock that has a black powder nail bomb waiting for you.

The second disadvantage is that once you pull the trigger, you have announced your presence to anyone within a mile or two at the very least. In my opinion, one of the highest priorities after a major collapse would be keeping a low profile and that includes strict noise discipline. The report of a rifle is pretty much unmistakable for what it is, and is going to give anyone that wants it a rough bearing to your location.

Some might argue that a firearm is necessary for gathering food. In response, I’d argue that hunting with a rifle is a remarkably inefficient way to harvest wild game. You are far better off using traps and snares which multiply your effort for little expenditure of energy, and will not startle other game in the area. Even larger game such as deer can be taken with appropriate traps.

If you must hunt, consider using a bow. Although some types of bows require a fairly large investment of time to master, crossbows are easy to use and configured much like a rifle. All bows are almost silent in use (compared to a gun), and often as deadly in hunting.

Let’s look at some of the things that go along with guns and prepping. One is marksmanship, which I have no argument with, other than you also need to practice with things like bows and slingshots, in my opinion.

Another thing is the heavy emphasis put on small unit tactics and training. I;ve lost count of the videos I’ve seen with camo-clad guys sneaking about the bush in the best imitation infantry style. While training to work and fight as a team is good, too much time and effort go into it, and very little on camouflage, evasion, noise discipline and so on. You know, the things that keep you from being noticed and keep you out of the firefight rather than being in the position of having to win one.

Again, I’m not saying guns are bad. I believe that they are essential tools to have in the event of a major collapse. I just believe they should be the last option you go to, rather than the first. Once you start shooting, someone is going to get hurt, and that someone might be you, or someone close to you. So avoiding confrontation through other methods is far preferable than a shootout at the O.K. Corral.

It’s just common sense.

"And Elisha said unto him, Take bow and arrows..."

Elisha I'm not, but I’ve previously written and posted a couple of articles on primitive weapons. The first article concentrated on pretty basic stuff like throwing sticks and such, the second on a more advanced ones, like the sling. This third one is about bows, which are likely at the top of the heap in non-gunpowder weapons.

There are several good arguments for including some sort of bow in your planning. The first of which is that the bow is likely the most lethal of the non-firearm weapons. Using modern arrows tipped with razor-edged broad-heads traveling at a couple of hundred feet per second, you can count on penetration and killing damage if you hit the target properly.

The second reason to choose a bow is range. Generally, you can place an accurate shot out to 40 or 50 yards without an unreasonable amount of practice, and an expert bowman might take a shot on a large target like an elk out to 70 yards, but as accurate arrow placement is critical in dropping big game, shorter is usually better. Still, the bow outranges everything else except firearms.

Another reason to consider bows is the question of maintenance and ammunition re-supply. Generally, arrows can be recovered and reused without the need for additional equipment and supplies, unlike firearms. They are simple to maintain, and what parts you need are cheap and easily replaced by most people. This may not be strictly true in the case of some compound bows that require ‘tuning’. Still, the likelihood of you being able to maintain and repair your bow are far higher in my opinion than your chances of being able to maintain firearms and a supply of ammunition over the long term.

Of course, even the most careful archer will lose or break arrows and strings or even the bow itself. The advantage the archer has is that with again a not unreasonable amount of practice and skill, he can manufacture ammunition, parts, or the whole weapon! Other advantages of bows include the near silence of operation and the low carrying weight of the weapon and ammunition.

That said, taking a bow to a gun fight is usually bad news for the bowman. Despite their occasional use by special forces and guerillas, the likely defensive use for bows is limited to the occasional silent ambush. The more proper role for the bow in survival is as a supplement to firearms. As mentioned previously, ammunition will eventually run out if things are bad enough for long enough, and having a bow and some skill in its use will push the day when you fire your last bullet further into the future.

There are three broad classes of bows to choose from. The first of these is the compound bow (see picture above). Using a system of eccentric pulleys, the compound bow allows for a ‘let-off’ of a certain proportion of the bow’s draw weight, making it easier to wield a more powerful bow with less effort. They tend to shoot arrows in a flat, fast trajectory, and are a popular choice.




The second type of bow is the ‘simple’ bow, either re-curved or longbow style (A re-curve is pictured here). Simpler in construction, they require more skill to use, but generally are lighter than a compound bow and easier to maintain. Essentially having only two components (the stave and the bowstring), they are deceptively simple in structure. This type of bow is also the ‘easiest’ to manufacture from available materials.

If I was choosing between these two types my choice would be the traditional bow over the compound, but I’ve shot and enjoyed both.



A third type of bow you might want to consider is the crossbow. The crossbow has two main advantages. The first is that the draw weight is far higher than with the other two bows, giving the bolts (not arrows!) a lot more kinetic energy upon release. The second is that it most often has a rifle style stock and trigger, and is sighted much like a rifle, so the transition from rifle to crossbow may be easier for some people. It also retains most of the simplicity of the traditional bow, and both crossbow and the ammunition for it can also be built from scratch.

The downside is that due to its high draw weight, the crossbow is more difficult to reset, which leads to a slower rate of fire. It also tends to weigh more than traditional bows, and that combined with the difficulty of cocking it may make the crossbow a less than ideal choice for people of smaller stature. Additionally, it can be somewwhat more complicated mechanically, although this depends on the maker.

Finally a word about the ammunition for bows, whether arrows or crossbow bolts. There are many different types available. There is of course the traditional razor edged broad-head, which will do fearful damage to any living thing hit solidly. Additionally, there are ‘blunts’ for hunting birds or other small game, as well as arrows designed for fishing, complete with attached fishing line. These tips are usually interchangeable, and make the bow a very useful and versatile weapon.

So there you have it. Bows don’t replace firearms, but they are an incredibly efficient and economical addition to any survival ‘battery’. So give some thought, and see if you can’t get in touch with your inner Robin Hood…



Originaly posted December 03, 2010 @ MPN