​Mel Tappan’s Personal Survival Letter

Forward
by Solothurn

Personal Survival Letter was started by Mel Tappan in October of 1977. After Mel’s death on 02 November, 1980,
the newsletter was continued by his wife Nancy, until October, 1982. I believe that Nancy Tappan restarted the
newsletter some time around 1984, but I’m uncertain as to whether this was new material or a reprint of old issues.
If anyone has Personal Survival Letter issues dated after October, 1982, I’d sure like to obtain copies of them.

This edition of PS Letter is as close to the original wording as I could make it, other than correcting for grammar
and spelling. I did not have the capability to reproduce the photos and drawings. Any missing pages or articles are
the result of not having a complete set to work with, and will be added as I am able to locate them.

Thanks to JJW, JRH, and dtom29 for their assistance.

Most of the business addresses listed are no longer valid. If I was able to find current addresses and phone numbers,
these were updated.

Bear in mind that prices listed are from 1980-81.

The Chapman “gunsmithing screwdriver set” recommended in Issue No. 17 (​The Survival Gunsmith​) is a waste of
money in my experience.

The derogatory comments about glass-jar pressure canning in Issue No. 23 (​A Third Wave Approach to Food
Storage)​ are, to the best of my knowledge, incorrect.

Alvin Toffler? I wasn’t aware that anyone besides Al Gore read his books. Maybe I’m missing something.

Is anyone aware of the BATF being “terminated” by Ronald Reagan??? (Jeff Cooper Reviews: ​The Rights of Gun
Owners ​by Alan M. Gottlieb, Issue 29, page 13.)

Does anybody have any information on the Farmers’ Liberation Army or the American Agricultural Movement?
(​Economic Update​, Issue 35, page 8.)
 Personal Survival Letter # 1
Issue No. 1- October 1​st​, 1977

A Statement of Purpose
by Mel Tappan

We have conceived PS Letter as a postscript to the other survival-oriented publications. To that end, we will not
focus our efforts on trying to convince you that hard times are coming, nor will we counsel you on how to get ahead
financially by means of bizarre speculations before the crash, while addressing only peripherally the hard realities
which are likely to attend the aftermath of a world in disarray. Our purpose, instead, is to deal directly and
definitively with the several and diverse problems of staying alive posed by the probability of an extended, major
social upheaval occurring in the near future.

At best, this will not be an easy task, and doing it properly is going to require not only effort on our part, but a good
deal of understanding and, possibly, adjustment on yours. Most of us have come to expect some level of
entertainment from our media encounters, and PS Letter is not going to be very entertaining. For one thing, much of
the subject matter that we must explore -if treated honestly- is unpleasant to contemplate. For another, we must
examine many of our topics in depth if the information is to have practical value, and such details are often boring.
Finally, a number of the best experts in some of the aspects of survival are not accomplished writers, and you may
occasionally have to dig through some awkward prose to find the facts you need. We trust that you will prefer
authoritative analysis, however exasperating, to the glib capsule generalities so often encountered in survival
literature.

An additional factor which complicates our stated task is that we don't know where you are starting from in making
your survival preparations. Consequently, the first few issues of PS Letter will contain articles with both the novice
and the advanced survivalist in mind. We will rely on comments from you to determine our future editorial policy
in this regard.

Candor demands, however, that our orientation to the problems of long-term survival remain consistent with an
informed, realistic concept of future events. And ours is not a comforting view. We see neither easy nor certain
answers, but we do not intend to modify the probabilities as we see them in order to seek greater acceptance and
popularity. We cannot soften our emphasis on personal security just because some would find it less disturbing any
more than we can offer tidy solutions to such complex problems as establishing alternative self-sufficient energy
sources, merely to give the impression of thoroughness.

Anyone who attempts to allay your legitimate concerns about living through the upheaval which we face is doing
you a profound disservice. The problems are likely to be enormous and the time for you to come to terms with the
magnitude of those problems is now. You must not allow irresponsible opportunists to persuade you that following
some simple formula will insure your safety. Making inadequate preparations and then believing that your survival
is guaranteed is probably the most dangerous course you can follow.
It is impossible, of course, to be proof against every contingency, regardless of your level of planning. That
statement does not imply, however, that planning is useless. Rather, it suggests that preparations should be
consistent with the sequence of events most likely to follow from the most probable catastrophe. There are several
candidates:

MONETARY COLLAPSE: This seems the most nearly certain disaster trigger in the sense that it must inevitably
occur unless one of the other contingencies happens first. Its aftermath appears equally predictable: the production
of goods and services -including food- will cease when there is no viable means of payment. Even the so called
“essential services” of police, fire, and the military cannot be expected to continue and, without them, widespread
violence, looting, fire-storms and unrestrained lawlessness would be pervasive given the fragmentation of our
society.

As the food supplies and plunder in the cities became exhausted, looters and desperate city dwellers would
doubtless sweep the countryside in a radius of several hundred miles seeking provisions and items of value. The
period of extreme danger and violence resulting from such a massive social dislocation would probably last from
six months to a year. Probability: 95%. Timing: within 5 years.

SYSTEMS BREAKDOWN: The consequences here would be ultimately indistinguishable from those of a
monetary collapse, but they might develop more gradually. Shortages of various goods would begin to occur with
increasing frequency, then crippling strikes, rolling blackouts, bankruptcies, sporadic rioting, then generalized
violence as, one after another, the cities lose viability. Probability of continuing to completion: 80%. Timing: It has
already begun.

WAR OR NUCLEAR BLACKMAIL: Perhaps the most unpredictable factor we must consider, but certainly no
longer “unthinkable”. Conventional warfare in Europe, military involvement in the Middle East or -on the wrong
side- in Africa seem the most likely possibilities, but a confrontation between the major powers growing out of such
conflicts is not unlikely.

As the Soviet Union becomes daily better prepared to withstand a nuclear exchange and we become less able to
deliver an effective counterstrike, the probabilities of such a war -or at least nuclear blackmail- increase. The
occurrence of a major social upheaval in this country from either of the above causes would undoubtedly raise the
likelihood of Soviet military aggression to a figure well above 90%- assuming that they don’t experience a similar
breakdown first.

Takeover by the one-world conspiracy, political terrorism, famine- from several potential causes, eco-disaster, and
massive permanent weather changes could all play a role severally or in concert, and while they are less susceptible
to prediction, their effects should be taken into account in any realistic program of disaster survival, if for no other
reason than the fact that any one of them could greatly intensify the effects of more probable calamities.

What emerges from even such a cursory review of our proximate problems as this one, is the clear presumption that
if we are to have trouble at all, it will be very serious trouble indeed. Having a prepackaged food supply, moving to
the suburbs and installing a wood burning stove is not a response commensurate with the threat.

Whichever disaster overtakes us first, three factors are apparent: it will be pervasive- at least nationwide if not
worldwide, the effects will be long-lasting, and the aftermath will be marked by violence in the extreme.
On the basis of this analysis, we feel that no program of long-term survival preparedness is viable that does not at
least provide realistically for these requirements: 1) a safe place sensibly remote from areas of high population
density, 2) the means of providing security and personal defense at a reasonably high level, 3) a reliable water and
food supply capable of sustaining the health of all those who might use it for at least one year. 4) tools and other
supplies necessary for providing all other life support requirements including continuing food production, medical
aid, heating, cooking, clothing, and the like, 5) essential life support skills, 6) practical reference library. The
contents of PS Letter will reflect these primary concerns.

We invite your comments on any aspect of this publication.

Learning to Live with Terrorism, Part One

by Al J. Venter

Editor’s Note: There is no exact parallel to the kind of violence with which survivalists and retreaters may soon
have to contend as a result of a breakdown in the social order. We can, however, learn a great deal from studying
actual situations which involve at least some of the elements that we might reasonably expect to encounter under
those circumstances.

Nowhere is there a better current model than Rhodesia, where civilians -often on isolated farms- are subject to
continuing attacks by increasing numbers of lawless but well-equipped irregulars.

The fact that so many ordinary citizens have learned to cope successfully with widespread violence at this level is in
itself reassuring. And in addition, some of the techniques which the Rhodesian homesteaders have evolved should
stimulate a broad variety of practical applications within the context of your own security preparations.

My friend Al Venter, a British journalist currently based in South Africa, is particularly well qualified to discuss
these matters, since he has had extensive first hand experience of the terrorist problems in Rhodesia over a number
of years, and his military background has given him an acute awareness of the tactical considerations involved. Al
is a well-established writer with several books and dozens of magazine pieces to his credit. His latest book,
Vorster’s Africa, Friendship and Frustration, has just been published by Ernest Stanton Publishers. I have left his
British idioms and orthography intact in order to convey the full flavor of his observations. M.T.
To the majority of people in the West, the prospect of learning to live with any form of terrorism seems about as
remote as the concept of all organized law and order disappearing overnight.

Yet, during the course of the past few years, numerous societies in various other parts of the world have had to
learn to cope with the brutality of unbridled terrorism in its most primitive form. In most instances, this kind of
anti-civilian warfare (which usually enjoys the support of one or other of the communist states and its unlimited
military backing) knows no bounds as far as malevolence is concerned. To such people, the murder of women and
children or laying a landmine to hit at a crowded bus full of visiting tourists is at least as important for the purpose
of obtaining a psychological advantage as is striking at some military target.

Prime examples of this trend were to be seen in your living room not long ago with television news coverage of the
Lebanese civil war. To a lesser extent, this strife continues to exist in parts of Southeast Asia, the Philippines,
Northern Ireland, and, as we have seen on occasion, in the heart of London, home of the Westminster democratic
tradition.

But the best example of a community learning to live successfully in the face of a terrorist threat is to be found
along the fringes of Rhodesia’s rural society. Hemmed in by a number of Marxist or quasi-socialist and declaredly
anti-White states, such as Mozambique, Zambia, and Botswana, Rhodesia’s European community has rallied
remarkably in the face of one of the most brutal guerrilla wars yet seen in “modern” Africa.

It has taken the average Rhodesian about two years to adapt himself and his family to living under the kind of
austere and somewhat confined condition imposed upon the community by this extended form of warfare. And
what is particularly interesting in our context is the way that ordinary people have learned to cope with a threat
which, were it allowed to run its ruthless course, would be terminal to all concerned.

One has only to travel among some of the farms along the eastern border region of Rhodesia –that part fringing
Mozambique- or spend the night on a remote estate in the northwest, near the Zambian border, and the message
becomes clear. In every single home there is but one prime consideration: Survival.

And then, on your way out of this region again, traveling across dirt tracks and gravel roads that are tailor-made for
landmines, you realize the full implications of the demands made by the threat of terrorism. Couple this with the
constant possibility of ambushes along roads where the bush virtually touches your vehicle as you swing around a
narrow bend, or where attacks are daily made on lonely homesteads, and even the most sanguine observer is
sobered by the full implications of the task.

Yet, the Rhodesians have managed in the past, and although there have been casualties, these have been cut to a
minimum by a series of measures intended to minimize risk. Adhere to certain principles, take few chances and, as
the Marines always say, “Stay Alert and you Stay Alive” and you quickly learn to make do in the face of some
pretty formidable odds.

This is no idle claim. The Rhodesians are coping with an incredible problem at this moment, and although terrorism
has forced some families into more equitable political climates, many more remain in the country to take their
chances where they find them.
How do they do it? More to the point, what makes any man stay in the face of danger when he can seek a measure
of safety across the frontier, or on another continent?

In the first place, a major part of the answer lies within the depths of the human psyche. The mind very quickly
adapts to what first appears to be impossible circumstances. The Rhodesians have assimilated the basic premise
that in order to survive in the face of terrorism, you must understand the terrorist, and in this these people have
become masters of their own destiny.

These factors, coupled with adequate safety measures, and even visitors to Rhodesia are very soon doing things and
going into places they never would of dreamed of seeing before.

The issue was perhaps best described by one Rhodesian who maintained that ​once the mind is conditioned to accept
the threat, the battle is half won. This man conceded that techniques associated with this kind of thinking were
equally important as far as survival is concerned. In other words, survival does not just happen; you have got to
work at it.

Pivotal to the theme of terrorist attack, inevitably, is the home. Whether in the town or in the country, though
usually the latter, the measures employed here are basic and while there might be variations applicable to other
circumstances, a solid measure of common sense is essential.

In every instance of terrorist attack, windows are usually a prime target and here there are two levels of protection;
one for light, hit-and-run attacks and another for more conventional military onslaught where rockets and grenades
might be employed to maximum effect.

In the first instance, every home facing the threat of terrorism should have all windows covered with a heavy wire
mesh. This serves two purposes: It does not allow unsolicited entry to the home and it also prevents an intruder
from lobbing a grenade or molotov cocktail into the bedroom or lounge.

More advanced protection can be gained by erecting a light brick wall as high as the window itself and about three
or four feet in front of all openings facing living quarters. This allows for dissipation of the initial blast if a rocket
or grenade device is used in the attack. This system has been found extremely effective in the Rhodesian theater of
operations.

Depending on the intensity of terrorist operations, a tall wire mesh fence surrounding the property is essential if
attacks are expected on homesteads. Throughout Southern Africa it has been found that a 10 ft. or even 12 ft. wire
mesh fence surrounding the living quarters and environs is adequate. These fences are securely erected and
supplemented by various additional measures detailed below,

The first of these is a system of electrifying a portion of the fence, not so much to inhibit anyone climbing the
fence, but rather to activate an alarm system in the home which will then allow the homeowner to take appropriate
action against the intruder.
In Rhodesia it has been found that one or two single electrical wire strands suitably insulated at the appropriate
points of contact and running the complete length of the fence -one at about three ft. height and the other at about
eight- usually does the trick. The effect, basically, is that anyone trying to climb the fence forces the fence against
the open wire and sets off the alarm. It is possible to go one step further and control the entire network from a panel
in the home. If, for example, the northern sector is activated, this will not only set off the alarm but also indicate the
appropriate area of attack thus saving valuable time in taking countermeasures.

Even more sophisticated, especially in a region where there are many wild or domestic animals which might
accidentally brush against the wire and set off the alarm, is to erect two fences, the tall one detailed here on the
inside, nearest the home, and a lower fence, about eight ft., on the outside. This provides a no-man’s-land which
can be activated in a variety of ways. It is useful to cover the ground between the two fences with reflective white
sand, so as to aid in silhouetting the intruders at night.

One farmer in the operational area has laid a series of electrical mines in his no-man’s-land which are only
activated if the inner wires are touched. Another Rhodesian laid a heavy electrical cable which connected both
fences. If the inner fence is touched, both fences immediately become live and anyone touching either is
electrocuted. The domestic 200-volts for this purpose is adequate.

Generally, it is not wise to depend entirely on electricity for all your deterrents, since power supplies can be cut.
Some farmers do, however, allow recourse to other means of counter-attack and many have installed stand-by
generators which are activated if the regular power supply is interrupted.

A favorite system in the Rhodesian and other guerrilla wars is to lay a variety of anti-personnel mines facing
outwards in a series of pre-selected spots around the home. These are activated and detonated selectively in the
event of an attack by means of switches inside the house. The favorite here remains the claymore, which anyone is
able to lay around the perimeter of the estate and which can be battery detonated.

Chosen points should be carefully planned. Imagine yourself a terrorist and look for the securest places from which
to make an attack against the homestead; a claymore is consequently laid facing that point. Bear in mind that all
connected wires and protrusions should be carefully buried or camouflaged. Also, it is not always necessary to
place a claymore on the ground, it can be strung from a tree.

If there are children in the home, adequate safeguards should be met to avoid accidental detonation. One advantage
here is that children are remarkably quick to learn of the threat and the deterrent, especially where lives are at stake.
Do not underestimate their potential.

In Rhodesia, a new form of protective mine has recently appeared. Known as the Adams Grenade, this little device
is basically a 360-degree Claymore and might be put to adequate advantage in open ground across which a group of
terrorists might approach the periphery of the property.

(To be continued in the next issue of PS Letter)

 Mini-14 Flash Hider and Front Sight

The more I use my Ruger Mini-14, the better I like it, but it has –in the unaltered factory version- three rather
annoying flaws. The front sight is a miserable affair, the piece is a bit muzzle light for perfect balance, and it
projects an 18” ball of fire from the muzzle with military ball. Fortunately, all of these shortcomings can be
remedied by the addition of a new flash hider/front sight assembly manufactured by Choate Machine Tool Co., Box
218, Bald Knob, AR 72010, Telephone (501) 724-3138.

There are several companies now providing muzzle devices for the Mini-l4, but most of them are flimsy, poorly
made and finished, or else they are designed to retain the original Ruger front sight. Like everything else I have
seen from Choate, their design is superior and the workmanship is flawless. They incorporate a GI M-14 front sight
into the assembly and still manage to undersell the competition. ($21.95 + .90 UPS).

Three designs are presently available: a prong style similar to the one on the AR-180; a cage type, like that on the
AR-15 (M-16), and a new night firing device which is so new that I have not yet had the opportunity of seeing one.
Of the two styles I have tested, I find the prong style slightly more effective but, being open in front it has a
tendency to snag on brush and such.

I suspect that the new style may be the best of all and if you have questions about which to buy, call Garth Choate
on the phone and take his recommendation. Besides being a magician with machine tools and a design genius, he is
one of us –a survivalist- and you can rely on both his probity and discretion.

If you should ever have to use your Mini-14 seriously, you should install one of Choate’s flash hider/front sight
assemblies. No other modification will add so much utility for so little cost.

Bill’s Food Box

By Bill Pier

Editor’s Note: Bill Pier is, in my opinion, the leading authority on food storage in the country today. He has helped
to set up a major food storage canner, and his own company, SI, is the largest mail order firm dealing exclusively
in survival foods and

equipment; but more important than such professional credentials is the practical, encyclopedic knowledge Bill has
gained from nine years experience in the field. His level of enthusiasm is almost frightening and the amount of
ongoing, daily experimentation in which he engages is prodigious. Unlike many vendors of food storage programs
who have never even tasted dehydrated groceries, Bill does not offer products he has not personally tested– usually
quite extensively.
I expect the monthly issues of this column to provide, collectively, the most detailed and authoritative study of
storable foods in print. PS Letter subscribers may also seek personal consultation by telephone with Bill on
matters of food storage, free of charge or obligation. Bill may be reached at (213) 530-5641 in Los Angeles
Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, or Saturday during business hours. M.T.

Food storage is one of the most important factors in your entire program of survival preparation. If you are not
convinced that your stock of food will someday be vital in saving your life, then you need to reconsider why you
are subscribing to this letter. A number of variables must be considered before you can intelligently make workable
plans. Not only must you decide the size of your storage program but also its make-up. Each family is different and
personal likes and dislikes as well as other circumstances should be examined before the first can of food is
purchased.

It is amazing to me how many people make major purchases of food storage without any more knowledge or
expertise than reading someone’s catalog or price sheet. Over the last nine years, I doubt if 50 of my customers
have come in and asked me to help them plan carefully their storage program. This means that over 98% of those
who have bought from SI have done it on their own. To me this is madness since we offer free consultation to our
customers. When someone does come to me for consultation, here are the basic steps that we go through to create
the right program to meet their individual needs.

The Major Decisions

There are three major decisions that must be made before a comprehensive plan can be determined. First, what
type of crisis do you foresee and how long do you expect it to last. Second, how long is there to prepare; and third,
how much can you reasonably spend on this portion of your overall preparedness program.

In deciding the scope of the crisis it should be understood that if you are prepared for a major man-made
disturbance of long duration, you are also covered for most short-term man-made as well as most short term and
long term natural disasters. It is interesting to see how many of our customers feel that a very short-term supply
will solve their problems. They are content to have a one-week to one-month supply to see them through. I feel
strongly that this approach is unrealistic for reasons that I will explore in future columns.

Correctly assessing lead-time is important because it determines how quickly you may accumulate your supply- not
only food, but other survival gear to protect your life as well.

Of course we know that once the problem is evident to the general public, it will be too late to start preparing. I feel
that President Carter has thrown a wild card into the orderly system of world relations as well as the United States
economy. This means that at any time with little warning we could see an enormous blunder that could quickly
precipitate a widespread emergency. It is matters like this that can upset even the most organized preparation
timetable.

Another phenomenon that I have observed is that people make available money in direct proportion to how
important they feel preparation is, I do not believe that money is a true limiting factor in survival preparation;
however, people obviously make it so. Therefore the food budget will determine not truly how long it will take to
accumulate the supply, but also what is stored.
This is a good point to talk about the cost of a food storage program. If that program is to provide adequate calories,
protein, variety, and be balanced, years of experience have shown that it is going to cost between $900 and $1500
per person for one year. The difference in costs is determined by the amount of freeze-dried real meats that are
added to the basic supply. Many people feel that these prices are greatly out of line until it is pointed out how much
they spend each week on groceries for their families now. Why should you expect the same quality of food you eat
everyday to be cheaper after it has been processed and packaged for long-term storage?

Differing Circumstances

Once these three parameters are set, we can start looking at the individual circumstances that must be taken into
consideration. Size of family, age of children, where they are living, dietary problems, likes and dislikes, and other
factors are examined to set the final guidelines for a practical personal food program.

Obviously, the needs of a family living on a self-sufficient farm are much different than those of a family residing
in a city such as Los Angeles. A case in point is that when we were going over Mel’s storage program, we were
able to take into account the fact that he lived on a ranch that could provide many of the vegetables, meats, eggs,
and other items during a long-term crisis.

It should be pointed out that he did prepare for the chance that he would be pinned down in his farm house for a
long period of time and that his livestock and garden would be out of reach or destroyed. On the other hand, when
we designed the supply for his father and mother, the fact that they lived in a small town in Texas and did not have
a controllable source of outside food was an important factor in the choices.

Dietary problems must be carefully examined as well as allergies. Due to drying methods, most air-dried fruits and
vegetables have a residue of sulfur compounds on their surface. Therefore someone who is allergic to sulfur or has
respiratory problems that are compounded by sulfur could actually die from eating such foods. Families with small
children would want to have an adequate supply of milk and soft foods on hand over and above the adult rations.

Likes and dislikes are important factors, especially where long term use of stored items is concerned. There is an
old wives tale that people will eat anything when they are hungry enough. History has not shown this to be true in
many cases. During the great potato famines in Ireland, people would eat grass or starve rather than eat the wheat
that was sent ​to t​ hem by the United States. The people most affected by dietary changes are the very young and the
old.

The Actual Program

Now that we have the length of time we want to prepare for, we know how much we can spend, and we have
considered special circumstances, we can get to work on the actual storage program.

Calorie count should be in the range of 2200 to 2500 calories per day per person. This is a working program that
will allow you to carry on at or above the level you are used to. Remember that during an emergency you will
probably work more, definitely think and worry more, and therefore will need a higher level of calories than you
may presently require for good health.
Protein should be provided at a minimum of 60 grams per day per person. The matter of how much protein may be
assimilable from various sources is highly complex and will require an entire column at a later time. Suffice it to
say here that most programs can be designed to provide 70 to ​85 g​ rams of protein per day and this allows for some
inefficient protein in the diet.

Variety is important in designing a supply. Since you are in a stress position anyway, you do not need to add to it
by having a one-theme eating program. This is just one of the main objections to a basic program that includes just
wheat, powdered milk, honey, and salt. Everything basically looks, feels, and tastes the same. One thing that we
have found through experience, is that a family that plans their own program without professional help usually has
a very limited variety of foods stored.

Balance, like variety, is usually lacking in a self-planned program. The human body needs a balance of foods to
survive properly. We so overeat in our everyday lives that we normally manage to get everything we need into our
systems. However, under emergency conditions where food is limited, it is important that a program be planned to
meet the body’s needs. This would include such items as meat protein with essential amino acids, fats and oils,
sugar sources, and other requirements not found or not found in sufficient quantities in most basic plans.

Over the years the following programs have been developed as a good guideline for food storage. First, have a
three-month supply of basic canned goods. These are products that you use every day. Do not go out and buy
specials just because they are cheap. T

his will allow you to get through a short-term emergency without opening your large cans of dehydrated foods. The
three months’ supply is small enough so that you should never have any spoilage due to aging, especially if you
rotate the cans and use them on a first in, first out basis.

Second, have a good nine-month to one-year supply of air-dried and freeze-dried dehydrated foods. This is where a
knowledgeable person can be of the greatest help. The factors mentioned before will largely determine the makeup
of this part of your program. Third have a year’s supply of the basic four. That is, wheat, powdered milk, honey or
sugar, and salt. This will allow you to cover unforeseen guests and extended crises.

Packaged Programs

I plan to devote a full article in the near future to the field of pre-packaged programs. Therefore let me say only that
this is not the way I would choose to go when planning for my family. I have found that most packaged programs
are low in calorie count, protein, and almost always lacking in the areas of fats and oils, as well as sugar sources.
Therefore, I do not feel that pre-packaged programs are for the serious survivalist, including those I designed for SI.
 How to Evaluate What You Already Have

Since ​you ​are presumably serious about survival, you probably already have a stock of food. To evaluate just where
you stand, I would suggest you take a complete inventory of your stock and send it to me for evaluation. I will be
happy to look your list over and recommend standard additions to balance or improve your supply. An even better
way would be for you to call or come in to SI for personal help. This is not a gimmick to get you to buy, but a
service that I am willing to give to PS Letter subscribers at no cost. You can then take the list to any supplier of
your choice to have it filled.

For the purpose of a basic guide only, let me share what I would look for in a good supply, tempered by the fact that
I would not know anything special about the person who had it. Fruits: A minimum of 15 pounds of air-dried or
freeze dried. Wheat or flour: A minimum of 120 lb. Other Grains: minimum of 25 lb. Powdered Eggs: minimum of
9 lb. Hard beans: minimum of 25 lb. assorted. Vegetables: minimum of 60 lb. of mixed vegetables- not just peas
and potatoes please. Fats and oils: minimum of 6 lb. powdered butter or margarine, 6 lb. powdered shortening, 1 ½
gallons of liquid salad oil. Sugar sources: minimum 90 lb. of honey or sugar.

Real Meats: minimum of 120 servings of freeze-dried real meats. Plain TVP can be used as part of the program, but
not for the complete requirement. Add to that a variety of drinks and other adjuncts totaling about 30 lb., and you
will have a good basic supply for the mythical average man for one year.

Most of the topics I have touched on here require a great deal of further comment and I will attempt to give them
the full consideration they deserve in future columns. The entire subject of human nourishment begins, however,
with water, and that will be our concern next month.

Editor’s Note: If you would like further information on choosing and developing a food storage program for your
family, send a SASE to PS Letter for an extensive annotated booklist. B.P.

“KIDDIE SPIES proposed by Carter Administration ‘thinkers’. They would use children to report on whether their
neighbors are conserving energy.”

PS Letter Comments: We seem to recall another government leader using children in a similar fashion just a few
years ago. They were so effective in reporting on their elders that they were rewarded with belt knives and
armbands. NICHT WAHR?

We highly recommend the excellent weekly coverage of significant news from a broad variety of sources provided
by the Daily News Digest. We have made arrangements with the publishers to provide a free sample copy to any
PS Letter subscriber who requests one from them.
Editor’s Note: Early on, when Personal Survival Letter was still in the initial planning stages, I did not intend to
include an ongoing column on arms selection, since I felt that my book Survival Guns already covered the subject
adequately- and probably in far greater detail than some desired.

Further, there is a good deal more to realistic survival planning than simply choosing and learning how to use a
balanced battery of firearms for defense and foraging, and I didn’t want this newsletter to be regarded as either
inordinately reactionary or merely another gun buff’s periodical. It seemed at the time that some occasional
product reviews and Jeff Cooper’s series on practical shooting would provide enough coverage in this important
but sensitive and controversial area of concern.

None of the other survival publications -to the best of my knowledge- has been willing to deal with the subject in a
serious, forthright, or informed manner at all.

As you can see, I have changed my mind. PS Letter is knowingly opening itself to the charge of providing
unbalanced coverage -in both senses of that word- to the problems of personal security and survival weaponry.

Bill and I feel that we have no choice, however, if we are to provide you with the best, most complete, and most
authoritative source of survival information available; not only because others in the field apparently either lack
the expertise or feel that the subject is too hot to handle, but also because of recent developments in the arms field
itself.

Since Survival Guns was published in 1976, a spate of new products have been introduced which appear on the
surface to be valuable additions to a survival battery. Indeed, the ignorant and unscrupulous have often touted
them as such, when in fact several of them have serious defects which make them wholly unsuitable for our
purposes- and, possibly, even dangerous. Also, several items that I recommended in my book have become
virtually impossible to obtain, and yet their role is so critical in nature that substitutes must be found. Finally, both
my mail and my private consultations reflect a new urgency with regard to the entire subject of personal security.
For these reasons, and also to counterbalance the misinformation or the lack of information supplied in other
survival publications, we have decided to include this Survival Guns Update to provide detailed coverage –both
positive and negative- of the latest offerings in the area of personal weaponry.

Instead of following the continuity of my book, I plan to select the subject matter for this column based upon the
topics of most pressing interest to you, as they are reflected in my mail. Although I cannot offer to make personal
replies, your collective suggestions will determine both the contents of the column and the amount of detail
provided, so if you have questions, I would appreciate hearing from you.
Incidentally, if you are planning to buy a stainless steel .45, a pocket-sized .45, a big bore revolver, a bolt action
sporter, or “exploding” handgun ammunition, it may prove wise to wait until you read our coverage of those items
here. You will probably save some money and, possibly, avoid some unnecessary hazards.

Sturmgewehre, Part One

In recent months I have received more queries about selecting a basic defensive rifle than any other subject. This
fact is partly accounted for because several of the arms I recommended in ​Survival Guns ​are no longer available in
this country, or are available only on a limited, collector basis.

More important, I think, this high level of interest in Sturmgewehre reflects a consensus among those who have
given thoughtful consideration to the requirement of long-term survival: the probable conditions which will emerge
out of the holocaust we face require, as an irreducible minimum, serious defensive arms- not just the family deer
rifle or plinker. Fortunately, there are some excellent choices more or less readily available. (I qualify this statement
regarding availability because virtually any assault rifle you select, with the possible exception of the Ruger
Mini-14 or the Colt AR-15, will probably have to be ordered for you. These are not the kinds of items that the local
hardware or sporting goods stores readily display on their shelves.)

There is a distinct and, I believe, unfortunate trend among the world’s armies to abandon heavy caliber personal
infantry weapons in favor of high-velocity small caliber arms capable of more easily controlled bursts of fully
automatic fire. Their thinking seems to be that the ammunition is lighter- which it certainly needs to be,
considering the quantity required to keep a burst-fire rifle or SMG fed. Whatever the military considerations, they
should have little bearing upon your choice of a survival rifle, except insofar as they affect the availability of
suitable models or the popularity -and hence, distribution- of ammunition.

Only two calibers warrant serious considerations: the 7.62x51 NATO (.308 Win.) and the 5.56x45mm. (.223 Rem.),
because they are both US military rounds and their widespread availability in this country is, thereby, virtually
insured. The former standard US martial cartridge, the .30/06, would also be a viable choice except that it is
handicapped because no truly modern assault rifle is chambered for it. The WWII Garand is too long and too heavy
to be optimal for survival use, and it lacks the capacity and quick reloadability provided by detachable box
magazines.

A more complete discussion of caliber selection can be found in ​Survival Guns, ​if you need it. Suffice it to say here
that although both the 7.62 and the 5.56 would be valuable in a survival battery, the heavier round is by far the
more useful, if a choice must be made between the two. It will penetrate body armor and chance barriers, such as
automobiles, more readily and its effective range is more than twice that of the 5.56.
Despite the military trend toward lighter arms and ammunition, noted earlier, a number of 7.62x51 assault rifles are
currently in service among nations of the non-Communist world: the US M-14 and AR-10, the Belgian FN-FAL
(used by some 80 nations), the Spanish CETME, the Swiss SIG 510 series, the Italian BM-59, the German G3, and
the Japanese Howa Type 64 (intended for reduced charge ammunition).

In ​Survival Guns,​ I recommend the BM-59, the SIG-AMT, the FN-FAL, and, with some reservations, the CETME.
In the United States, presently, however, genuine BM-59’s are so rare and expensive that they can only be
considered collector’s items- and the ersatz versions are not worth having; FN-FAL’s are at least as scarce, the
SIG’s I have seen that are currently being imported cost in the neighborhood of $1000 and they lack the accuracy,
quality, and sturdiness of the good AMT’s. The basic CETME design has, fortunately, been greatly refined by
Heckler & Koch (adopted by the West German Army as the G3), and their civilian version of this improved
rifle-now designated the HK-91- is widely available in the US at a comparatively reasonable price.

Although there are two other possible choices currently available that might be more desirable in highly specialized
circumstances, I am inclined to recommend the HK-91 as the best selection for inclusion in most long-term survival
batteries, and that for several reasons.

First, it is without question the most reliable semi-automatic rifle, in its functioning, that I have ever evaluated.
None of three test rifles has once failed to fire or feed, despite a mixed bag of commercial, military, and handloaded
ammunition- some intentionally dirty and some of unknown but obviously unpampered origins. One of the three
has been subjected to more than 1800 rounds of rapid fire with this fodder without being cleaned.

Jeff Cooper commented to me recently that his experience with the HK-91 had been similar to my own, regarding
functional reliability. Having had the opportunity to observe a substantial number of his beginning students using
the rifle during training courses at GUNSITE Ranch, Jeff also pointed out the ease with which relatively untrained
marksmen could hit reasonably small targets at unknown distances with the 91.

Accuracy of the HK is exceptional for a weapon of its type, particularly in view of the fact that it is constructed
largely of stamped metal parts and space-age plastics in modular units designed for easy takedown. With U.S.
military match ammunition, the worst of the guns I have fired will shoot into 2.5 MOA with iron sights, and the
best will shade a minute, using the Zeiss Diavari scope in its quick-detachable mount, supplied by the factory. And
that shooting was not done with a match grade rifle or an altered trigger pull.

For a rifle firing this cartridge, felt recoil from the HK-91 is unexpectedly light. I found that I could control it with
acceptable accuracy even in rapid fire while holding it with only one hand at arm’s length. The 91 is a bit heavy for
performing that stunt indefinitely and, in fact, some small-statured folk may find it somewhat tiring to fire in a
conventional offhand position, but no adult should have any difficulty with the level of recoil.

One factor which leads me to recommend the HK so highly for survival use is the wide range of practical
accessories available for it. Perhaps the most important of these is an extremely well made -if somewhat expensive-
.22LR conversion unit. The chief value of this device is its utility as a trainer, although it is certainly reliable and
accurate enough for small game hunting and other uses as well.
Even if you reload, 7.62 ammunition is not inexpensive and it makes so much noise that one often has difficulty
finding a suitable location for target practice. (Combat shooting with an assault rifle is not an activity ordinarily
promoted by most commercial ranges.) The conversion unit helps to ameliorate both problems while still allowing
realistic practice and familiarization firing, since the weight, functioning, appearance, and trigger pull are unaltered
when the conversion is installed. Takedown and installation of the rimfire device is virtually foolproof and it can
be accomplished without tools in less than one minute. (You must remember to cock the piece before disassembly,
however, or you will regret it.)

Bipods are a worthwhile addition to any defensive rifle, as well as to many sporters, and a good folding model is
available for the HK-91. If you buy the rifle, buy the bipod.

A “Polygon” barrel is offered on the HK-91 as an extra cost option. Instead of conventional cut grooves and lands,
the interior of this barrel contains spiral flats. It is claimed that this design offers increased accuracy, velocity, and
ease of cleaning.

My own experience with the polygon has been so slight that I can neither confirm nor deny those claims
definitively, but careful shooting from the bench indicates that any such increases in either accuracy or velocity are
so slight as to be inconsequential in practical use.

I would suggest, therefore, that you order the less expensive conventional barrel and put money you save into
additional spare magazines. Unless you have at least five you can hardly realize the full potential of the 91’s
firepower.

Standard plastic, wood, and collapsible shoulder stocks may be had for the 91 and they interchange quickly and
easily. I recommend purchasing both the plastic and the collapsible steel. If you can afford only one, the plastic is
probably the better choice unless you expect to use the rifle extensively in cramped quarters -as in an automobile-
or you must conceal it in a confined space. It offers a better and more comfortable hold offhand.

The 91 does have some drawbacks. The iron sights are not conveniently adjustable without a special HK tool which
is apparently rather difficult to come by judging from the fact that I have requested one from the importer
intermittently over a period of six months without success. There are no cheaply available surplus parts in this
country, and although the rifle itself is quite reasonably priced compared to its competitors, accessories and spare
parts are rather expensive. (With the exception of the sight-adjusting tool noted above, however, both accessories
and parts seem to be in good supply.)

Overall weight is objectionable to some, although it is not out of line with that of comparable weapons, and the
delayed blowback system which partly accounts for the rifle’s reliability and light recoil does score fired cases
slightly. (Not enough to prevent their being reloaded several times, however.)
Given its performance, reliability, ease of maintenance, parts and accessory availability, as well as quality control, I
would have to rate the HK-91 among the top two or three defensive rifles for survival use, regardless of price.
Considering the fact that it sells for about $350, or ½ to ¼ the price of its nearest competitors, it is my current first
choice.

If you decide to buy an HK, your local dealer will probably not have one in stock. He may not even know a source
from which to order it, and almost certainly he will not have a catalog;

Therefore I suggest that you contact Mr. Dominic Napolitano at the headquarters of the importer (Heckler & Koch,
933 N. Kenmore St., Suite 218, Arlington, VA 22201, (703) 525-3182) for literature and the location of your
nearest supplier. Any Federal Firearms Licensee may order the rifle directly from the above address.

Next month we will examine the civilian version of the M-14, Springfield Armory’s M1-A and a novel, low-cost
conversion of the Garand.

Notes for Non-Shooters

By Jeff Cooper

Editor’s Note: Much of the information that will be presented in future issues of this column is based on the
internationally famous practical shooting course offered at Jeff Cooper’s GUNSITE Ranch in Arizona, and Jeff has
agreed to reveal here, for the first time in print, many of the unique techniques and tips which he has developed
from a lifetime of studying and teaching practical weaponscraft.

In their entirety, these columns will provide complete, step-by-step instructions so that anyone who has the motor
ability to drive an automobile and enough desire to practice these lessons on his own, can learn to shoot.

Like all good teachers, Jeff believes in beginning at the beginning. Further, his writing is deceptively concise and a
great deal is implied to the alert reader with every word, so if this introductory article on gun safety seems too easy
for some of you who are already shooters, I suggest that you read it a second time, carefully. Over the years I have
encountered quite a few advanced marksmen who were in considerable need of the advice contained here, but their
bad habits were too deeply ingrained for them to notice. Survival often means not perishing from the deceit of
one’s own ego. M.T.
Anyone who wishes to integrate weaponry into his survival plans must realize that weapons do not operate
themselves. One is no more armed because he owns a gun than one is a musician because he owns a piano.
Firearms are easier to use effectively than musical instruments, but their use must still be learned. Naturally there is
great disparity between the skill necessary to win a well-contested shooting match and that needed simply to make a
firearm do what you want it to do, but a degree of skill is still essential.

The piece is both useless and dangerous in unskilled hands.

Firearms are not dangerous in themselves, but a human being who does not understand them can be fearfully so if
he picks one up. Safe handling may not be the absolutely first consideration in weaponscraft (if you want to avoid
all danger of firearm accident just never touch one) but it is certainly a good place to begin. The NRA conducts
firearms safety classes throughout the US and anyone who is starting his weaponry education from scratch is well
advised to attend one. Actually, all that is needed, however, is absolute adherence to three rules:

1. All guns are always loaded. Always. Never assume that one is not. Never.

2. Never let the muzzle point at anything you are not willing to destroy. Never assume that a piece is safe because
it is “unloaded”. See No. 1 above. And place only guarded trust in safety catches. They can fail. (This rule No. 2
is so dreadfully abused on target ranges that one often wonders about the viability of the human race. After decades
of work with small arms I have developed an obsession about it.)

3. Be sure of your target, as well as what is behind it. Never shoot at a sound, or a shadow, or a silhouette, or
anything you cannot positively identify- not even a presumably hostile gunflash.

The beginner must memorize these three rules, and then implant them in his psyche to the extent that only by a
painful effort of will can he force himself to violate them. Only then will he be safe with firearms.

The next step in weaponry is gun mechanics and gun handling. Firearms are simple mechanisms, nothing like as
complicated as typewriters, televisions, or gasoline engines. They are quite easy to understand and operate. A
majority may be simply disassembled and reassembled again without tools, and the owner should take the small
trouble to learn how to operate, clean, and adjust his weapons before he undertakes to shoot them.

This is especially true of the non-recreational shooter, for the hobbyist needs no encouragement. ​It is vital that any
“non-combatants” who have access to firearms (wives, children, elderly people) be exposed to periodic
re-familiarization with them.​ One who does not shoot at all from one year to the next can forget how guns operate.

It is hard for those of us who were exposed to formal training in marksmanship from early childhood to realize that
there are millions of citizens who know nothing at all about shooting. I have always assumed that before a boy
leaves home his father makes sure that he has been taught the essential skills of life, from proper personal hygiene
to driving a car.
Marksmanship is certainly one of those skills, but it does not appear on everyone’s list. Astonishingly, a
considerable number of people who actually earn their daily bread photographing and writing about guns are only
vaguely aware of the principles of good shooting, if one can believe what he sees in the periodicals. The elements
of marksmanship as taught by the US Director of Civilian Marksmanship in a happier time half a century ago, were
these:

1. Sighting and aiming

2. Firing positions
3. Trigger control
4. Rapid fire (operation of the piece under time pressure).

All four subjects were taught, learned, re-taught, and tested before the first firing session on the range. The use of
the shooting sling was emphasized, as was instantaneous, reflexive bolt operation, and speed loading. Few people
now use or understand the loop sling, which is a decided aid to deliberate marksmanship in any position in which
the support elbow is rested.

In future issues of this letter we will go into the principles of marksmanship in sufficient depth to enable the reader
to train himself, at least up to a minimal skill level. From that point onward progress will depend upon desire.
Shooting is good fun and those who acquire a taste for it will usually be the ones who will become expert
marksmen.

There are many recreational shooters who are very poor shoots, but I have never known a really good shot that did
not shoot for fun. However, you can certainly learn to handle a firearm well enough to defend yourself without
taking up sport shooting as a hobby.

The practical person must realize that practical shooting is grounded upon the three equivalent elements of
accuracy, power, and speed. Naturally we shoot to hit, and a miss is no good at all, but a hit that does not put the
target down is often worse.

And even a heavy, precisely placed hit is useless if it lands too late, or is not delivered at all because the target is no
longer there or has struck first. So we work first for accuracy, usually with a .22. Then we select a weapon that
disposes of enough power to do what we need done. Then we learn to use that weapon with precision, within
steadily decreasing time allowances.

Within certain obvious limitations, a good shot can hit anything he can see, given enough time. Using proper
training techniques that time may be radically

reduced. ​This is the big difference between a sporting target shooter and a practical marksman: The former strives
for the absolute ultimate in precision, while the latter learns to hit what he has to before it is too late.

The survival situation calls for a practical shot. Practical marksmanship is not too difficult to learn, but it does
require positive effort. Do not buy a gun unless you really do intend to learn to use it.

(Next Installment​: The Principles of Rifle Sighting)

 Red Alert!
The anti-gun crowd is back with a vengeance- this time with rumored strong support from within the Carter
administration. I have just received the following memorandum from Jeff Cooper; it is eloquently self-explanatory.

The Bell is Tolling

In H.R. 8128 (*Bingham’s Confiscation Act) we face the greatest threat to the principles of the Founding Fathers
since the enactment of the Income Tax Amendment. If Bingham’s will is done, you will be jailed for five years for
failure to surrender your private property -your pistol- to the state.

What will you do if this infamous proposal becomes law? Think about that. “These are the times that try men's
souls.” The men who founded this country -the last best hope of earth- faced this same somber question: “Do I have
the courage to do my duty?” We face it again, now.

In the name of The Constitution we must rush to fend this thing off. God grant that we succeed! But we may fail.
What then? Jefferson told us that the tree of liberty must be watered with the blood of heroes. We may just owe
another libation. Steel yourself.

*Bingham, (D), New York, comes to us with very curious credentials. Details are available. Other insidious
hoplophobes who co-sponsored this monstrosity are Badilla (NY), Beilenson ​(C​A)​ , ​Edwards (CA), Fauntroy (DC),
Harrington (MA.), Holtzman (NY), Mitchell (MD), Rangel (NY), Rosenthal (NY), Roybal (CA), Stark (CA), Van
Deerlin (CA), Wasman (CA), Won Pat (Guam). Let us hope that they may be forgiven, on the grounds that they
knew not what they did.

PS Letter recommends that you take whatever action you deem advisable regarding the above information, without
delay. We expect anti-gun action to proceed rapidly now on several fronts, from scarce supplies of some arms to
ammunition and reloading component shortages. M.T.

The Survival Syndrome

by Bill Pier

A survivalist is a prophet of doom, a warmonger, and, to some, a hoarder. He is someone who is almost
un-American, a fiscal hypochondriac, and, possibly, a gun nut. He does not go on a vacation so that he can buy a
food supply. He buys silver instead of a color TV, and he moves to the country before it is time to retire. All in all,
he is regarded by most of his unsympathetic friends as a lunatic, dangerous to himself, his family and the country.
Over the years, this is the way that the hard-core survivalist has become known by those who do not see anything
but sunny skies and peaceful waters. As a survivalist myself, I hope that the majority is right and I am wrong. I
cannot think of anything I would rather do than see my food storage eaten in celebration of better times and all my
ammunition used on hunting and target practice.

But I do not feel that there is even one chance in a million that this will be so. Therefore, I prepare so that I stand a
chance of keeping my family and myself alive. And I write about survival so that others may also benefit from my
years of preparation.

There are, to my mind, four areas of preparedness that must be covered. First comes the psychological preparation.
By this I do not mean just the motivation to prepare because a crisis may happen in the future. To me it is more than
that, it is the full-time thought that something is going to happen the next second, minute, or day. It is what Jeff
Cooper calls awareness, the feeling of something coming down before you can actually see it or hear it. It comes
from fine tuning the survival instinct that is buried in our distant past.

Second comes the material build-up. The acquiring of food, weapons, a retreat, radio equipment, and all the other
things you need to make it in a hostile, non-service world on your own. This takes much planning, shopping, and
some money. It is the area of greatest waste and often an actual negative asset to your survival. Sometimes we
begin feeling that since we have bought all that we need, we are safe. It is the same problem that we have in parents
that say, “I do not know where we went wrong, we bought our children everything they ever wanted.”

Third comes survival skills. I do not mean knowing how to shoot a perfect round in combat competition or knowing
how to live in the woods with just a penknife. These are, of course, part of the whole, but I am speaking of more
basic ideas of how to use your dehydrated food supply so that your family will eat it, how to gather wheat for
planting, and how to repair a broken pump.

The days of crisis, if they reach the magnitude that we see, will mean the basic break-up of society as we know it -
the kind of society where your wants and needs are largely taken care of by others and all you have to do is worry
about getting together enough money to pay the tab. You must, therefore, learn to do it yourself.

Fourth is the area of developing sources of information. This is the ability to see over the horizon and read the
instruments that forecast coming storms. It includes becoming aware of news sources and information sources
outside the scope of the liberal press.

Taking this newsletter is one of those sources, but remember, we may not be able to warn you quickly enough. By
being ahead of the problem on your own you can be better prepared for the storm when it breaks. You can be in the
right place, with the right tools, and above all you will be aware of what is coming.

These are one survivalist’s goals, and I have yet one more: to see that PS Letter helps you to reach yours. I hope to
provide you with the blunt truth about what is in store, what needs to be done, how you can do it, where you can
best survive, which products are good and which are a waste of money, where to put your best efforts, and, in
general, how to be more than a survival enthusiast so that you may become a survivor.
 Product Review: CCI Stinger Ammunition
CCI, a division of Omark Industries (Lewiston, ID 83501, Telephone: (208) 746-2351) has recently developed a
new, high performance .22LR cartridge, dubbed the “Stinger”. Utilizing a slightly longer than normal case and a
new double-base powder, the “Stinger” is loaded to the same overall length as a conventional .22LR and it is
intended for use in any well-maintained firearm chambered for the standard long rifle round, but it has considerable
more power.

We will report on this new cartridge subsequently in greater detail, but our initial firing tests are so favorable that
we are issuing this interim review so that you may begin to stock up without delay as soon as the first supplies are
on your dealers' shelves.

Ammunition companies have a way of toning down hot loads once they have been on the market for awhile. All it
will take is a few careless plinkers attempting to fire the round through mud plugged barrels or in defective arms
and the hoplophobes will be blaming the manufacturer for marketing “hot-loaded dumdums” to unsuspecting
innocents.

Our preliminary tests of the new ammunition indicate chamber pressures to be in the range of 20,000 to 23,000
copper units of pressure- well within the safety limits for the .22 LR established by the industry. Although the
sound level is somewhat greater, there is no noticeable increase in felt recoil, and every gun we have tested -with
one exception- has performed flawlessly with “Stingers”. That exception is the Llama .22 auto pistol.

Upon examination of my own test pistol, and subsequently several others of the same model, I discovered that the
chamber dimensions are not SAAMI standard. I telephoned the CCI factory and learned that they have had other
reports of case splitting problems similar to mine when “Stingers” are used in the Llama.

Top quality auto pistols such as the Walther PP and PPK, however, seem to function even better with the new
ammo than with conventional rounds, and none of the revolvers or rifles yet tested has exhibited any abnormal
firing behavior.

In most of our tests so far, accuracy has been on a par with ordinary .22LR high-speed hollow points- 2” to 2 ½”
groups from rifles at 50 yards. In only one case was accuracy notably worse with the “Stingers”. A Remington
Nylon 66 which normally produces 2 5/8” 50-yard groups with Remington high speed hollow points would not
shoot tighter than 3” with the CCI’s. On the other hand, two Anschutz bolt actions, a Marlin 39A, a Marlin 39M,
and two Ruger 10/22’s all shot more accurately with the “Stingers”.

Whatever the accuracy differential in your own gun, it is likely to be inconsequential so far as the intended purpose
of the new CCI ammunition is concerned, but the additional power is not.

For pest control and small game hunting, “Stingers” are vastly superior to any other rimfire ammunition, short of
the rimfire magnums, and yet their cost is very little more than ordinary hollow points from the premium makers.
We have not yet had the opportunity to conduct definitive penetration tests, but the factory assures me that there is
no problem in this area despite a slightly lighter than normal bullet. I place more than usual store in this
representation because the performance of the “Stingers” in other respects has exceeded factory claims.
Chronograph tests, for example, in my rifle have averaged well in excess of 1700 fps.

In my opinion, the CCI “Stingers” represent such a significant step forward that they should be included in any
serious survival program. In some circumstances, where shots can be limited to 125 yards or less, their inclusion
might allow the elimination of a .22 centerfire pest control rifle from the basic survival battery. I make that
statement guardedly since, to date, I have shot only a few rounds at game, but if the eight and one half pound jack
rabbit I hit at 110 measured yards is a fair sample, the “Stinger” bids to prove quite deadly. The jack was struck in
the neck and virtually decapitated.

I have obtained 5000 rounds of “Stingers” for testing, and after I have fired them all and considered the results I
will give you a more detailed report in these pages. In the meantime, however, I plan to start accumulating a supply
for storage and I suggest that you do the same. M.T.

Several news items relating to the present extreme vulnerability of the major US banks should be carefully
considered. The first is excerpted front the front page of the ​Wall Street Journal​ for 9/1/77.

...Why are the bankers so concerned? In the past four years they have lent a lot of money to Peru to finance
development projects of Peru’s military leaders- probably in the neighborhood of $2.5 billion. Now Peru’s
economy is on the rocks, and they wonder whether they will have to pour in more loans to keep the country afloat
so that it can continue to pay its debts.

“The implications are scary”, says one banker who worries that Peru’s defiance of the IMF could set a pattern of
resistance for other poor countries that run into trouble. The Peru case could even become a rallying point for the
demands by some Third world countries that all debt of the poorest countries be canceled to inaugurate a new
international economic order.

Commercial bank lending to the poorer countries has soared in recent years, reaching levels that have already
generated fears about these nations’ ability to repay their debts on schedule. In fact, the bankers have already had to
refinance the debts of countries as diverse as Zaire and Argentina. And no quick end to such financial strains is in
sight. Turkey, for example, is currently in deep economic trouble and bankers say scheduled debt payments are
coming through slowly.
Item number two is from the Lynch International Investment Survey, 8/29/77 (120 Broadway NYC 10005, $100)
by way of the ​Daily News Digest​, 9/7/77 (Research Publications, Box 27496, Phoenix, AZ, 85061. $90.)

The Lynch International Investment Survey says the less developed countries are threatening to stop payment on
their
overseas debts of close to $190 billion, unless the industrialized nations establish a fund to be used for the
stabilization of raw materials which they export. Lynch believes this debt could reach $250 billion by the end of
next year and that this situation may be the scenario for very serious trouble ahead

L.T Patterson, author of the ​L.T. Patterson Strategy Letter​, August, 1977 (Box 37432, Cincinnati, OH 45237, $75)
comments that the Carter administration giveaway of the Panama Canal is also directly connected to the interests of
the major banks. He says, “solvency of the Rockefeller banks could hang in the balance as bank loans to Panama
remain unpaid and have little chance of repayment without the new Canal treaty ratification…” Paterson also
points out that although Carter is seeking only Senate ratification, the Constitution requires action from both
Congressional bodies when control of US property or territory is to be relinquished.

“If such a bold arrogant act is allowed to succeed, the openness with which the law is flaunted should serve as a red
flag that civil liberties and basic freedoms may be extremely short lived!” These items, together with an
explanation of the Saudi’s involvement in the IMF and an alleged covert agreement between the US Government
and the Saudi Arabian Government guaranteeing them our “full political, military, and economic might to assist the
Saudi government- in any way that might prove necessary in light of developing circumstances” are so important to
survivalists that I have made arrangements with Mr. Patterson to supply a free copy of this report to any PS Letter
subscriber who requests one. Ask for Letter No. 1000-B.

PS Letter Comments: It is no secret that the largest US banks have been in trouble for some time. Just how serious
that trouble is relates largely to their staggering loans to foreign governments, many of which are bankrupt.
Currently, I am less worried about one or more of these giant banks failing (even though only one bank failure of
that magnitude could trigger a panic) than I am about the lengths to which our present government will go to
maintain their appearance of solvency. Another no-win war or a declaration of a state of national emergency are
distinct possibilities. Neither bodes well for non-liquid investments, domestic currency- or our Constitutionally
guaranteed individual civil liberties. M.T.

The following two news items are from ​Daily News Digest​ (Box 27496, Phoenix, AZ 85061, $90):

CYCLICAL FUTURE: Some of the people engaged in cycle research see potential economic and social upheavals
in the near future. Some feel the forces in motion are already irreversible. There are two major areas of concern.
The first involves the economy. Preliminary long-term cyclical analysis indicates there is a good probability that
we have at the most, 5 or 6 years before severe worldwide economic recession sets in.

The second area of potential catastrophe is the possibility of major international war, also indicated by long-term
cycle studies, with a probable occurrence in the early 1980’s. (​Cycles​, published by Foundation for Study of
Cycles, 124 S. Highland Ave., Pittsburgh, PA 15206 $20, Feb/Mar 77 issue, p. 46)
DIGEST NOTE: In our years of following this and related publications, this is the first time we have encountered
so blunt a prediction of coming troubles. Typically, Cycles sets no time limit on anything. This is all the more
disturbing because it agrees with conclusions we at the Digest have reached from other sources.

FEDERAL RESERVE GLOOMY: The Federal Reserve Board is worried about the possibility of a severe economic
slowdown and is uncertain about the monetary policy that it should be pursuing over the next few months. That, at
least, is what some economists, such as Gert von Linde of Donaldson, Lufkin, and Jenrette Securities Corp., have
concluded from a weekend of reading the minutes of the July meeting of the Fed’s Open Market Committee. The
OMC is the monetary policy making arm of the Fed. The minutes were released 8/26. (Business Week, 9/12/77, p.
27)

Sony CFR 320 Multi-Band Receiver

There is an increasing interest in short wave listening among serious survivalists, and for good reason. As we near
the crisis period, the domestic news sources seem to become less and less reliable bellwethers. (Read through the
New York Times back issues for a month or so before the 1929 crash if you want to see a shockingly graphic
example of this phenomenon.) In fact, I suspect that having a suitable receiver for listening to international
shortwave news broadcasts now may prove to be at least important to your survival as any of the several vital uses
to which such equipment may later be put at your retreat.

The subject is sufficiently important that we will devote a full-length article to it in the near future, but I have had
so many requests to recommend the best available portable receiver that I am including this brief review of Sony’s
new CRF 320 for those who want to begin a regular program of monitoring without delay.

Except for VHF and UHF, band coverage of the Sony is virtually complete, including standard broadcast AM, FM,
Long-Wave (for aircraft weather in the US and some standard broadcasts in Europe and elsewhere), together with
continuous shortwave tuning from 1.6 to 30 MHz.

That range includes the international broadcast frequencies and the Amateur or Ham as well as Citizens’ Bands.
Sensitivity is better than I have experienced with any other portable and it is on a par with the very best professional
monitors. The built-in antennae is especially effective since it is tunable and capable of being electronically
shortened or lengthened for optimum reception regardless of the wave length being received.

A built-in beat frequency oscillator allows the decoding of single side-band and CW (Morse Code) signals, and a
bandwidth narrowing circuit allows certain types of interference to be eliminated by attenuating both sides of the
tuned frequency. Even a noise blanker switch is included to retard impulse type noise, such as that caused by
automobile engines.
Power may be supplied from several sources including standard 117-V AC household current, 12-volt automobile
and boat batteries, or eight D-cell flashlight batteries. (A ninth D-cell is required to operate the very accurate quartz
clock and timer which can be set to the exact second with a timer signal and then used to turn the radio on or off at
pre-selected intervals.)

Perhaps the most valuable single feature of the Sony –and the one which sets it apart from all of its competitors- is
its extremely precise and simple shortwave tuning. The CRF 320 is capable of being tuned to within 1-KHz on the
short wave bands, and this exceptional accuracy is because of synthesized crystal control and LED frequency
readout. If you want exactly 27.155 MHz you simply turn the knob until 27155 appears in the window above it,
illuminated in large red numbers almost half an inch tall.

No other portable that I know of has this feature, and it is an important one for survivalists to consider. Not only
does it make finding hard to catch stations easier now (such as Kuwait, Radio South Africa, Israel), but being able
to pre-select an exact frequency and wait for a very brief transmission on it could be extremely important during an
emergency.

Separate antennas for shortwave, AM, and FM are integral, as are RF gain controls, tuning and battery condition
meters, interstation muting and AFC for FM, standard headphone and mini-earphone jacks, input and output jacks
for recording and playback, separate base and treble controls, and even cushion impact arms which extend forward
to protect the face of the receiver should it ever fall over forward. An earphone, AC power cord, and detachable
metal protective cover are all supplied as standard equipment.

The Sony CRF 320 is a piece of professional quality equipment in every way and it is particularly well suited to
survival use. My only substantive criticism is that I wish it included coverage of the 2-meter FM band and the US
weather service; however there are inexpensive compact receivers and scanners which do both that should also be a
part of your equipment.

This Sony is very expensive (about $1800 retail, $1140 wholesale) and it obviously will not suit every survivalist’s
budget. It is, however, the best portable available, and you should examine one, if for no other reason than to
determine the relative merits of other, more affordable portables and to decide how much you are willing to
compromise in selecting a multi-band portable for your own preparedness program.

Whatever shortwave receiving equipment you choose, be sure to get a copy of the WORLD RADIO & TV
HANDBOOK at same time- or for that matter, before you buy the radio. This directory –published annually- is
absolutely indispensable for serious SWL.

It lists, among other things, the times (in GMT) and frequencies which all of the international shortwave
broadcasters use, and it will even tell you something of the content of the programs (news, music, mailbag, etc.) as
well as the languages employed and the part of the world to which broadcasts are being beamed at any given time.
If your local radio shop, Ham shack, or bookstore cannot supply you, write to: Billboard Publications, One Astor
Plaza, New York, NY 10036. The ISBN is 0-8230-5903-0 and the price is about $12.50 plus postage.
For literature on the CRF 320, contact: Sony Corporation of America, Executive Offices, 9 West 57​th St., New
York, NY 10019. Telephone: (2120 371-5800. M.T.

Editor’s Note: Just before going to press, I received notice that a companion model to the CRF 320 is soon to be
announced, designated the 330-K. It will be identical to the 320 except that it will incorporate a cassette tape
recorder and an additional FM band covering the audio portion of the television channels. Price has not yet been
announced, but it’s a safe bet that it will be higher than the 320. For survival use the added feature seems
superfluous. M.T.

The High Standard Model 10-B auto-loading riot gun is no longer in production and factory supplies are exhausted.
As readers of ​Survival Guns know, this one of the most efficient home defense weapons ever conceived. If you
want one, act quickly. Those on dealers’ shelves now are disappearing rapidly and the factory is uncertain whether
they will reschedule this model for production next year at their new facility.