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Showing posts with label home defense. Show all posts
Showing posts with label home defense. Show all posts

Thursday, January 19, 2017

Defending Yourself with Make Shift Weapons


 

Poor Man Survival

Self Reliance tools for independent minded people…


ISSN 2161-5543

A Digest of Urban Survival Resources

 

Be polite, be professional, but have a plan to kill everybody you meet.” –General James “Mad Dog” Mattis
 
 

Defending Yourself with Make Shift Weapons

The difference between walking away and becoming tomorrow's newspaper headline is how well you are prepared to protect yourself in a bad situation…

While rare, violence often strikes when you least expect it. To counter violent attacks, you need to be fast and furious. Hand-to-hand combatives are a great tool to have up your sleeve to quickly dispatch an attacker, but you should always be looking for force multipliers—tools that make your counterattacks even more painful, damaging, and effective.

Having some sort of defensive weapon—be it a firearm, knife, or spray—as part of your EDC is never a bad idea, but sometimes you don’t have one on you (like when you’re in an area that prohibits weapons), your attacker has taken or knocked your weapon away, or you’re in a position that makes drawing your weapon hard to do.

Thankfully, you’re constantly surrounded by potential weapons that can be quickly accessed to counter violent attacks. To find and employ them, you just need to hone the most important weapon in your arsenal—your mind.

In the right hands, seemingly innocuous, everyday items can be turned into lethal weapons. Such a transformation just requires violating those objects’ Aristotelian telos—the end for which they were made. If your life is on the line, I don’t think old Aristotle would mind.

Below we offer 12 suggestions of everyday objects that can be turned into improvised weapons. Use this as a jumping off point to think of how other objects could save your life in a pinch. When you’re out and about in public, practice scanning your environment and considering what might be used as a weapon if needed. Think of it as creating mental models for your OODA Loop so you can win the fight if/when it comes your way.

Pot of Coffee
 
There’s nothing like the smell of coffee brewing when you first wake up in the morning. And if you’re ever attacked while pouring your cup of joe, you can take comfort in the fact that you’re not just holding something wonderfully fragrant, but a great weapon as well.

Smash the pot into your attacker’s face. The blunt force will stun him, the shards of glass will embed in his kisser, and the scalding hot coffee will make him wish he stayed home that morning.

Coffee Mug


Fire Extinguisher


Fire extinguishers cannot only save your life in a fire, but in a violent attack as well. Spray the assailant in the face to temporarily distract him and disrupt his OODA Loop. While he’s figuring out what’s going on, forcefully bludgeon him in the head with the extinguisher’s canister.

A Pen


In the right hands, the pen can indeed be mightier than the sword. A stainless steel pen like this Zebra number can be used to stab an assailant. Hold it with an overhand grip and aim for vulnerable parts of the body like the face and throat. If you really want to up your writing-implement-as-weapon game, get a true tactical pen like this Smith & Wesson.

Keys


Your keys can start your car or let you into your house. They can also savagely maim a violent attacker. Hold the keys in your hand so their points are coming out between the fingers of your fist. Proceed to punch your attacker in vulnerable parts of the body like the face and throat.

Locking Carabiner
 

Carabineers are an important tool for mountain climbers and have become a go-to key holder for action-oriented gents. They can also serve as field-expedient knuckledusters in a pinch. If you want to use a carabiner as an improvised weapon, make sure it’s big enough to fit around your fist and has a locking collar (to prevent it from snapping open while you punch a mo’ fo’). While aluminum carabineers should be able to withstand the impact, for added strength, use a steel one.

Wristwatch

For a variation on the above, turn your metal wristwatch into a quick-n-dirty knucklebuster by holding the bracelet inside your fist, and positioning its face across your middle knuckles. James Bond uses his Rolex Oyster Perpetual in this way to knock out a bad guy in On Her Majesty’s Secret Service. Keep in mind that the impact of this move will likely break your timepiece. Bond was able to write off the destruction of his watch to his expense account. You won’t. Of course, losing your wristwatch will be a small price to pay if it saves your life.

Aluminum Water Bottle


An aluminum water bottle helps you stay hydrated while avoiding all those testosterone-lowering xenoestrogens found in plastic bottles. It can also be used to inflict blunt force trauma on a violent attacker. Ideally, you want the bottle to have some liquid in it in order to give your makeshift club more heft and weight. Bash your assailant’s head and face with it.

If you’ve got some time and if your bottle has a key ring, put your belt through the ring and tie it off. You’ve got yourself a medieval flail.

Belt


Just as you should remember that your belt should match the color of your shoes, you should also remember that it can be used as a weapon in a pinch.

First, you can use a belt the same way parents used to employ it on their kids back in the day—for whoopins. But unlike its use in dishing out old fashioned corporal punishment, you’re not going to hold back on your attacker. Give him the ass whoopin’ of a lifetime. Make sure he gets the buckle end of the belt. Aim for the face. The advantage of using a belt as an improvised bludgeon is not only the significant damage it can inflict, but the distance it allows you to put between you and your attacker.

The second way you can use a belt as a weapon is as a force multiplier when strangling an assailant.

Hornet Spray

 
We got this improvised weapon idea while interviewing Navy SEAL Clint Emerson. Hornet spray is pepper spray on steroids. The former can usually shoot up to 20 feet and provides a much more directed stream than you find with the latter. What’s more, the chemical used in hornet spray is much more potent than pepper spray and can potentially permanently blind an attacker.

Keep in mind, that due to the possible maiming effects of hornet spray, one should only use it in life-threatening situations (like during a home invasion). Using hornet spray as an everyday self-defense tool is illegal in most jurisdictions.  [We keep a can by every door in our house].

Flashlight


Every man should not only carry a flashlight, but know how to use it in a tactical scenario. Not only can it help you find stuff in the dark and act as a deterrent to would-be attackers, it can also be used as a weapon. Maglite Heavy Duty D Cell flashlights make for a great makeshift billy club, and many specialized tactical flashlights end with a serrated or toothed bezel that can be used as an improvised striking device during an attack. After you’ve shined the bright light of a high-powered flashlight in your attacker’s eyes and disoriented him, strike his face with the toothed bezel as hard as you can. The motion should be like forcefully stamping him with a giant rubber stamp.  

Smartphone


Today’s smartphones have been designed to take a beating; consequently, they can used to give a beating.

Tightly grasp your smartphone in your hand and slam the edge and corners of it into vulnerable parts of the body like the eyes, nose, and neck.

You could also put your phone in a sock or other piece of clothing to make an improvised sap—a weighted impact weapon.

Whether you’re at home, the office, or out on the town, everyday objects that could be turned into weapons are all around you. Should you find yourself facing a violent threat, be ready to grab something and win the fight.

 Source: Thanks to the Art of Manliness

Yours for a productive 2017,

Bruce ‘the Poor Man’

 

Critical Home Defense/Personal Defense, Arm Up System+BONUSES
 
 

PM’s Guide to Home Defense Package…UPDATED

   It is a crazy world out there with plenty of violence and everyone knows you that under most circumstances, police usually arrive after the fact.  Your rights to defend yourself are often under attack, even for non-lethal self-defense tools especially in states in like California.

It is amazing that someone should need ‘permission’ from the state to defend themselves, but as I said, we live in crazy times.

This package includes the acclaimed softbound book The Arm Up System – Defense Without Regulation, which covers:

  • Making your own firearms [legally]
  • Understanding firearm laws
  • Buying/Transferring a firearm without a background check
  • Blackpowder firearms
  • Gun trusts and more


BONUS items include:

#1  CD ROM:  Home Defense Guide– Self Defense Basics, Everyday Carry, Best Self Defense Guns, Disguised Weapons, Ammo Basics, Secrets of Street Self Defense, Booby Traps, Long Term Survival Strategies, Survival Strategies and other invaluable PDF files which could save your life.


 #2  DVD – Basic Pistol Shooting Guide


#3 – CD ROM Special Bonus Reports…

 What To Do if the Dollar Collapses, Unintended Consequences, Final Days of the Dollar Secrets and More.

#4 Alive After Crisis - a comprehensive guide for emergency planning and crisis survival - a printed manual also included with this survival package.

#5  From the NRA [used]  DVD-Personal Defense Network: the Empowered Citizen Vol. 1 Critical Home Defense…Planning for Unknown Visitors, Home Alone, Pump Shotguns for Home Defense…more. 

Media Mail Shipping Included


 

Additional Resources

The Anatomy of a Breakdown

The Prepper’s Blueprint: The Step-By-Step Guide To Help You Through Any Disaster

Contact! A Tactical Manual for Post Collapse Survival

DIY-Homemade wood stove


 


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Tuesday, July 12, 2016

Not Living in Fear During the 'Summer of Chaos' - How to Protect Yourself


 

Poor Man Survival

Self Reliance tools for independent minded people…


ISSN 2161-5543

A Digest of Urban Survival Resources

“Any intelligent fool can make things bigger, more complex, and more violent. It takes a touch of genius — and a lot of courage to move in the opposite direction.”
―
Ernst F. Schumacher

 

More Violence and Mayhem-the Summer of Chaos

How to Protect Yourself

 


Black Lives Matter leader [agitator] Deray McKesson had two of his email accounts hacked recently … [They] showed that they are planning to create massive unrest during this election period in something they call the “Summer of Chaos”.  He was arrested a few days ago.

The leaked documents show that George Soros-embraced Black Lives Matter wants to create so much chaos that martial law will be instituted and the elections cancelled. Chaos is the goal in order to destabilize the populace.

Jesse Benn of the Huffington Post penned an article “Violent resistance matters.  Riots can lead to major change,” he wrote.  For the radical left, the election year seems to be a race war and the attack/murder of Dallas police this past week could be just the beginning.

Violent crime rates have jumped in some major cities such as Baltimore and Chicago [an area where strict anti-gun laws have prove ineffective] by as much as 50% over the past year.  Homicides increased 17% in the 56 biggest US cities in 2015 and rose by another 9% in the first quarter of 2016.

Sanctuary Cities, where local officials shelter illegal aliens, many with violent criminal records [Kate’s Law], efforts which would have deported criminal illegals, as promoted by Bill O’Reilly and most Republicans, was stopped by Democrats.

Meanwhile, President Obama’s answer to all violence is the same – stricter gun laws.  Obviously, that has never stopped the gun violence in Chicago, the city with the toughest gun laws in the nation, but this is the left’s answer to everything [or they blame it on Trump].

Meanwhile, gun and ammo sales continue to surge under President Obama’s second term.  A mistake people often make is believing they should buy the most expensive gun on the market…a high end assault weapon is not always the answer.  Instead, the best choice is the one you are most comfortable with.  I tell most folks they should own a shotgun and a revolver such as .38 or .357 [less chance of jamming, both good for home defense].

They are good defensive weapons and good while on the move and the ammunition is reasonably priced and can deliver a decent punch without a huge recoil.  Whichever one you choose, you must practice at a range, preferably with someone who knows what they are doing in order to get comfortable with the feel, the kick and the SOUND!

If you choose a semi-automatic be aware they tend to be easier to fire but they are more complicated than a revolver for some users and can jam or misfire and must be cleared manually [revolvers have fewer moving parts, greatly reducing the chance of a malfunction, but generally hold fewer rounds].  Some folks do make use of extra cylinders which they can pre-load and swap out but also keep in mind revolvers have a slower rate firing due to long double-action trigger pulls.  The hammer is cocked and released with each pull of the trigger.
 
 

The following 5 firearms are the best to keep your family alive in the event of a home invasion.

Mossberg 500/590

A long standing consensus within the firearms community is that the venerable 12 gauge pump action shotgun is the best weapon for home defense. It’s reliable, devastating at close range when loaded with buckshot or slugs, and sometimes the sound of the pump racking alone will be enough to scare an intruder away. Plus, shotguns and their ammunition are relatively inexpensive, allowing you to practice on the shooting range without breaking the bank.

For smaller statured people, a 20 gauge shotgun still offers devastating power with significantly less recoil (just make sure that the actual weight of the shotgun hasn’t been reduced, or the recoil between the two will be comparable).

When it comes to specific pump shotguns, the Mossberg 500/590 and the Remington 870 are easily the two most popular, and for good reason. Both are rugged, economical, have a proven track record, and can boast of a nearly limitless number of accessories to customize your weapon. Both will serve you equally well when it comes to home defense.

But between the two, an important factor tilts the balance in the Mossberg’s favor: the controls are more natural. Whereas the safety on the 870 is located on the rear of the trigger guard, the Mossberg’s naturally ambidextrous safety is located on the rear of the trigger guard. The slide release (required to be pressed to rack the pump when a round is not in the chamber) on the Mossberg is located behind the trigger guard and is much easier to reach than the 870, where the slide release is found in front of the guard.

Glock 17/19

Any quality mid to full size 9mm duty pistol will work well for you for home defense: they carry a lot of rounds, have less than moderate recoil, and are cheap to train with due to the availability and low cost of 9mm ammo. Don’t think we’re limiting you to Glock. Beretta, HK, Kahr, Ruger, Smith & Wesson, Springfield, Taurus, and Walther all make quality pistols in this department that will serve you well. [Personally, I don’t care for Glocks as I’ve owned two, both of which jammed frequently…our military, however, has switched to this as their sidearm of choice from what understand].

AR-15

An increasing number of break-ins and home invasions are sharing one thing in common: there are multiple intruders. If you have two or three or more people with bad intentions breaking into your house or property, you’ll want more than a shotgun or a handgun: you’ll want a semi automatic rifle.

Shotguns have too low of a capacity for these kinds of situations, and a pistol means you may be outgunned if the intruders are armed with handguns and/or knives themselves. A semi-automatic carbine, such as an AR-15 in 5.56x45mm NATO, gives you greater capacity, longer range, and more velocity than a handgun.

Other good semi-auto carbines are out there, like AK-47s, Ruger Mini-14s and IWI Tavor’s to name a few, but the AR-15 has the advantage of more common parts and accessories. Plus, if you’re on a budget, several affordable yet quality ARs have hit the marketplace from companies like Ruger and Smith & Wesson. [this is the one Democrats demonize as ‘military gun, unsuitable for civilian use.’]

Ruger GP100/Smith & Wesson 686

Revolvers lack the capacity of a semi-auto pistol, and reloading times are also longer. Those are disadvantages you need to take into account. But a certain number of advantages still make the classic .357 double action revolver with a 4-inch barrel a more than relevant home defense choice today.

Revolvers are inherently simpler, and some would say more reliable, than semi-auto pistols. This means that if you have any family members who are relatively inexperienced with firearms or who don’t like the slightly increased complexity of a semi-automatic, the revolver is a better choice when it comes to handguns.

The .357 Magnum round itself is a very powerful round that has gained a reputation for being a one shot man stopper, and is sure to stop an invader. We recommend a full size duty revolver, such as the Ruger GP100 or the Smith & Wesson 686, since they absorb the recoil better than a snubnose revolver will and hold six rather than five rounds.

Another benefit to .357 Magnum revolvers is the fact that they can also chamber .38 Specials, which are cheaper to shoot for training purposes and offer less recoil for smaller statured people.

The GP100 is less expensive and more durable than the 686, being designed to shoot an unlimited number of .357 Magnum rounds thanks to its beefier frame and cylinder. The 686, while more expensive, has a nicer finish, an undeniably smoother trigger/hammer pull, and some models hold seven rather than six rounds. It’s up to you to decide what fits your preferences more, but when it comes to overall quality you’re not going to get any better than Ruger or Smith & Wesson.

Taurus Judge/Smith & Wesson Governor

The idea of a “shotgun pistol” has intrigued the imaginations of people for many years, but Taurus was the first company to convert that idea into a realistic home defense option with the introduction of their popular and economical Judge revolver, chambered in .410 Bore and .45 Long Colt. Smith & Wesson followed suit with the later release of their Governor model (take note, this is the only time Smith & Wesson has followed Taurus’ tracks, not the other way around).

.410 buckshot certainly doesn’t have the power of 12 or even 20 gauge, but one thing is for certain: an intruder is going to know they’ve been hit if they’re shot by one. .45 LC hollow points, while undeniably expensive, would arguably deliver even more knockdown power than the .410s.

The advantage to the Governor is that it holds one more round than the Judge and can also chamber .45 ACP with moon clips, boosting its versatility. On the other hand, the Judge arguably has a more ergonomic grip and can be had for a significantly lower price. For home defense, both will get the job done.
 
 

Learning More – Avoiding Prosecution

If you’re new to gun ownership or want to brush up on your skills, you should find a local range and/or instructor or contact the National Rifle Association.

Every state differs on its laws regarding concealed carry or what is legal in terms of defending yourself against intruders.  California makes it nearly impossible to own any kind of weapon while MI has improved but still does not recognize CCW permits from other states.  [When I contacted the State Police in MI asking them how to transfer my CCW from another state, they told me it was $100 and an FBI back ground check…I had already gone through that in my previous state so I asked “Do you use a different FBI?”   They wouldn’t budge.  The state which issued my CCW only charged $25 and in AZ where I had lived only required a clean criminal background and an AZ drivers permit.  I believe a few other states such as TX are the same but it is best to always check.

NRA.org   877-NRA-2000

Yours for better living,

Bruce ‘the Poor Man’

 


Arm Up System-Defense Without Regulation
PM’s Guide to Home Defense


It is a crazy world out there with plenty of violence and everyone knows you that under most circumstances, police usually arrive after the fact. Your rights to defend yourself are often under attack, even for non-lethal self-defense tools…Includes book and 3 bonus CD ROMS

http://www.bonanza.com/listings/Guide-to-Home-Defense-Arm-Up-System-Defense-W-out-Regulation-Bonuses/370808566

 
{Note:  We also offer a Three Set CD-ROM-only version at a lesser price for those with limited budgets]

 


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Additional Resources

137 Survival Gear Supplies List
For Military and Civilian Survival Kits

Read more at:


Living in Fear. Not Living in Fear

 

 


The Anatomy of a Breakdown

The Prepper’s Blueprint: The Step-By-Step Guide To Help You Through Any Disaster

Prepper’s Home Defense: Security Strategies to Protect Your Family by Any Means Necessary

Contact! A Tactical Manual for Post Collapse Survival

20 Very Cool Especially Useful DIY Survival Hacks From DIY Ready: Looking for some cool DIY projects that can help you when SHTF? Wants to learn a new skill in the process? These 20 Diy Projects For Survival will have you prepared for anything and then some.WATCH THE VIDEO NOW
 
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Tuesday, April 8, 2014

DIY Homemade Tear Gas & Weapons from our Readers


Poor Man Survival

Self Reliance tools for independent minded people…


 

ISSN 2161-5543

 


'Praemonitus, Praemunitus' -- 'Forewarned is Forearmed'

 

 
Unusual survival resources and DIY Weapons from the Poor Man archives…

 

   One of our readers suggested including a pencil sharpener in your bug-out bag to sharpen sticks with.  Sounds dumb to me unless it is chop sticks you need to sharpen.  I prefer a variety of knives and a machete which can be used for many, many tasks.

 

Others have told me they take old metal files and convert them into knives.  Not a bad idea but time consuming, even with a bench grinder.

 

As I’ve mentioned in several posts over the years, the main idea behind home and personal security is to keep a low profile.  Refrain from driving that new Porsche or Mercedes and don’t brag to others how well prepared you are or about how many guns you have (that was the primary reason why I turned down the ‘opportunity’ to appear on NatGeo TV’s Extreme Preppers.

 

Since we plan to be completely off-grid by summers’ end this year, I’m already concerned about disguising our solar and wind turbine system.  If the SHTF, the bad guys will look for self sufficient homes to rob.

 

As a kid we made a ton of smoke bombs using sugar and salt peter…lots of fun but some of my neighbors were not as amused and called the fire department on us once.

 

I know some of you are concerned about the possibility of accidentally setting off your smoke alarm or igniting the mixture during preparation. There is safer way to make a smoke bomb. It uses the same ingredients and produces a comparable amount of smoke, but it takes a bit longer to make. Here's how to make the safer smoke bomb:

 


Smoke Bomb Ingredients

  • potassium nitrate or saltpeter (if you can't find it at a garden store I see Skylighter sells it online)
  • sugar (sucrose)
  • water
  • fuse
  • paper or plastic cups
  • plastic spoon
  • waxed paper

Construct the Smoke Bombs

  1. In a paper or plastic cup, mix 3 parts potassium nitrate with 2 parts sugar (e.g., 3 tablespoons potassium nitrate and 2 tablespoons sugar).
  2. Using your plastic spoon, stir in just enough water to make a thick paste. Continue stirring until the ingredients are evenly mixed.
  3. Set lumps of the mixture (~1 tablespoon each or a little less) onto the waxed paper. Insert a fuse into each lump.
  4. Allow the smoke bombs to set up for 1-2 days. The drying time will depend on temperature and humidity. Warmer and drier is faster; cooler and damper will take longer. Keep the smoke bombs away from excessive heat or flame. The smoke bombs will be like clay when they are ready, not hard and solid.
  5. Set a completed smoke bomb outdoors on a fireproof surface and light it.

  Find an easy DIY recipe here:


 

 

Another reader told me about making your own slingbow which can be used to hunt small game.  I have several high grade sling shots and spare slings but this looks useful as well.  Hell, I often feel like David going against Goliath anyway!  Find a short how-to here at the SHTF site…


 

 

Antique life hacks…

Lighting a match in the wind, creating a water filter & more…Both are great camping/wilderness/post-apocalyptic skills to have.


 

 

How To Make Tear Gas In Your Basement

The method of making tear gas is so simple that anyone can do it. The two things to remember are care and caution. You will need a certain amount of equipment but, you can find them in any hobby shop, or home chemical supplier. If you don’t already own a gas mask, go out and get one. They are sold at any Army-Navy stores for under 10 bucks…


 

 


Anything Can Be A Weapon If You Need It To Be »
If someone breaks into your home while you’re there, your window of opportunity for reacting effectively to protect yourself and your family will probably be very small. You have to make every second count in this situation, and you will be able to accomplish this only if you are fully prepared. More »

 

 

Our Home Defense Kit offers more useful resources than any other I’ve run across including a Big Book of Homemade weapons, How to Protect Your Perimeter, DIY Black Powder and a lot more.  It is our best selling kit.


 

 

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