Camping & Survival

Resilience and Building the Survivor Mindset

By Suzanne Wiley   August 4, 2013

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As someone with a survivalist mindset, you believe you have all the gear you need to survive an emergency or disaster. Not only have you stockpiled food and plenty of water, but also you have cached ammunition and mapped out a strategic route to get out of town. However, there might be one thing missing from your bug-out-bag—a positive survivalist mindset. Having the correct mindset when it comes to surviving a disaster could be the difference between life and death.

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Camping & Survival

You May be More Prepared than You Think

By Suzanne Wiley   July 31, 2013

Don’t consider yourself a prepper? You might just be more prepared than you think. Quite a while ago in CheaperThanDirt.com’s Survival and Preparedness forum, we started a topic about everyday items that could possibly save your life. I suspect surprise from readers by Survivalist Bear Grylls’ suggestions of typical items found in a women’s purse that could come in handy during an emergency. The following list includes some common items women carry in their purses, including a few extra odds and ends from my own purse that will come in handy during an emergency.

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Firearms

Choices: AK-47, AK-74… or AK-12?

By CTD Blogger   July 26, 2013

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I was in the market for an AK (Avtomat Kalashnikova). The primary reason was that it was one platform that is noticeably absent in my safes; a hole that needs to be plugged. This led to an extensive investigation of AK offerings and a choice between the AK-47 and AK-74. “Besides honey, this isn’t just for fun, this is work.” That was the basic gist of the conversation when my wife caught me browsing sales fliers for new AKs.

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Firearms

A First Shotgun

By CTD Blogger   July 25, 2013

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It’s hard enough today to get kids away from the Xbox, the iPad, the computer, or even the lowly television set. The last thing you want to do is to discourage them further by making their shooting or hunting an unpleasant experience. I am fortunate in that I have a large number of friends and acquaintances whose children also shoot. I will never forget the first shotgun I ever fired. It was a Beretta Companion, a single shot 20 gauge that folded entirely in half and weighed next to nothing. That gun kicked like a mule!

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Concealed Carry

Holsters for Women. Stop Telling Me My Choices Suck!

By Suzanne Wiley   July 24, 2013

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I generally avoid ranting on any of my blog posts. However, being an internet blogger means I get to break the rules a little bit. So, I’m going to go ahead and skate on thin ice here, break the rules and write about something that has been chapping my hide lately. In the past few weeks I have been reading some men’s opinions on the proper way for women to conceal a gun. Yes, I know that most of our favorite outfits do not lend well to conceal carry and many of us are not willing to sacrifice beauty over only function. It is what it is. Get over!

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Gear, Parts and Accessories

Another Line of Defense

By Lisa Metheny   July 22, 2013

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A trip to the local grocery store or gas station has become a survival test in some areas of the country. Sadly, we live in a deteriorating society in which you must keep your defenses up or at the very least have your inner Chuck Norris on speed dial for a quick retrieval if necessary.

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Ammunition

Loading, Me, and the AR-15

By Bob Campbell   July 19, 2013

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Handloading for America’s service rifle is not that difficult. After all, we have successfully loaded good, accurate ammunition for the Garand and the M14 for generations. But the AR is a bit trickier while remaining the same. We have to carefully consider powder selection, which M1 shooters appreciate, but there is also that sticky problem of bullet twist. However, neither is a problem if we have done our research.

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