Survival Strategy #15: The AR-15 for SHTF

Photo from UDMC Corporation

I. In a SHTF scenario, you need the right tools for the right job. In my family's moderately-sized collection of firearms, we only have weapons suited for short to medium range engagements. I have decided that we need a rifle that would be effective beyond 300 yards. Its time to save up for an AR-15.

I have been putting this off for years. Since my last post on this blog I had poured myself into competitive shooting and acquiring other survival essentials for my family. Before I get my first center-fire rifle, I wanted to make sure that we can live comfortably when the grid finally goes down. Hey, I gotta show Mrs. Zombie Hunter that I'm all about the skills and not just the "toys".

Im a pistolero but I'm kinda new to long range marksmanship. Sure we have two rimfire rifles, the Kel-Tec SU22 and a Marlin XT22. Both function flawlessly and have specific roles WTSHTF. I have tons of ammo for them and  hitting head-sized targets out to 100-150 yards with them is a cinch.

My wife and 8-year old daughter learned to shoot with these and we can take down thousands of Zeds from a safe distance quietly because they are suppressed.

Take a look at this photo on the right. This is a hundred yards and hitting head-sized targets wasn't so bad. We could easily land two-inch groups using both these rifles with a 1-4x on the Kel-Tec and a 4-16x on the Marlin.

However the .22lr can only do so much...

I hate to say it but we are at a huge disadvantage against HUMAN threats. Despite onerous Firearm Ownership Laws in my country, you can bet that there would be thousands of hostiles armed with the ubiquitous Elisco or Colt M16s over here when things go south.

And speaking of draconian firearm laws...

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Why so much fuss over a rifle? To my American readers, here's a few details on our laws that makes it difficult to just grab a few rifles off the shelf and call it a day.

II. Restrictive Firearm Ownership in the Philippines:

TLDR: Republic Act #10591 and its Implementing Rules & Regulations 

In my country, our laws assign you a higher bracket for each firearm you own:

Type 1 License allows a citizen to own and possess a maximum of 2 registered firearms.
Type 2 license – allows a citizen to own and possess a maximum of five (5) registered firearms
Type 3 license – allows a citizen to own and possess a maximum ten (10) registered firearms
Type 4 license – allows a citizen to own and possess a maximum of fifteen (15) registered firearms
Type 5 license – allows a citizen, who is certified gun collector, to own and possess more than fifteen (15) registered firearms.
                                                    Utter BS! Elitism!

Licensing fees range from $20 from Class 1 every two years to $320 for the Type 5 License, on top of other fees. Pretty dang hard for the regular Pedro and Juan to arm up. This really sucks! :-(

In America, you can basically own as much as you like. It is not the case over here. Count your blessings, fight for your rights!

Basically, the more you own, the more you pay for their registration every two years. So for Filipino gun owners on a smart budget like me, all purchases are deliberate. In my bracket of Type 3, I won't bump up my catergory needlessly.

III. So why an AR-15?

1. Parts and maintenance are readily available. Despite local terrorist groups using AKs, the NATO rifle is still the most popular long arm in the country.

2. I can use it for competitive shooting! We can train and become skilled with it. USPSA 3-Gun Nation events are actually running over here every month so there are many opportunities to become competent riflemen.

3. Ammunition is abundant thank goodness. I can get into reloading in the near future.

3. Its an ideal defense & survival weapon 'coz my wife and daughter can use it pretty well. They had more fun with the rifles compared to our pistols.

4. I need reach! My Shotgun, 5 pistols, air rifle, and two rimfire rifles won't cut it over 150 yards.

IV. What kind of AR-15?

• A 16 inch stainless steel barrel with a full-length handguard
• I'll put my Vortex Viper PST 1-4x on it plus back-up sights
• It will be suppressed
• Its a 3-gun rifle so it will be more expensive, but reliability & performance is what I'm after
• I want NV capability but that is a wishlist item for now since importing them to the Philippines would be very difficult... but not impossible!

V. Where am I now? 

I got ammo! Nearly 3000 rounds at a great deal and they are now squirreled away at a secret but convenient location. I can build up to a minimum of 6000 to store away and use excess for training and competition.

I have also selected the company to build my rifle: United Defense Manufacturing Corporation (UDMC). Why them? They are a relatively new firearm manufacturer but their high-quality rifles were selected by a Southeast Asian country as their army's next-generation rifle.

They use premium parts and Bergara barrels. UDMC rifles have won international matches. And here's a huge plus: their factory located really near my home! I am in good hands. 

My original plan was a budget rifle like the Smith & Wesson M&P 15 Sport for the fantastic price and reliability. Other choices were from Noveske and Colt. My dad has a few M16A1s from the Vietnam era and maybe a Colt M4 or two, but I did not want to subtract from his collection.

Later on I'll get another one for my wife and daughter. For now I want a premium-grade one that could stand the rigors of competition.

I'm pretty excited to finally visit their store and make the down payment hopefully in August. They said they can build it in less than two months including customization. Stay tuned for that!

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Its good to be blogging again. I've got new topics to cover as well as the survival gear I mentioned earlier.

Family life and my career in Risk Management has been all good in the past two years since my last blog entry. I hope all of you guys are doing well and have made more progress in survival preparation.

I was originally going to make just a small journal entry when I started this 3 hours ago, but hey. I love this. I can't do anything half-arsed. Photo on the right shows you how I feel right about now...



Stay vigilant!

TROPICAL STORM HAGUPIT (Typhoon Ruby)

                                            A super typhoon... In December?!


I'm not big on the whole climate change thing, but this is pretty darn WEIRD.

When it hits us it will be called Typhoon Ruby. Its expected to make landfall in the Philippines this Thursday, December 4, 2014 and its gonna be a really strong one too with winds reaching up to 155MPH. That is a storm category 4 out of 5. If Yolanda was a lesson, we could expect another disaster in the making.

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Lessons From the Past

In my part of the world, our storm season is supposed to be between June to August. That was when I was little, about 25 years ago it stayed in that schedule. In the last 10 years I've noticed that we started having typhoons as early as April, which is supposed to be summertime.

And then it creeps past August, and we'd get the odd storm like Super Typhoon Haiyan (Yolanda) in November.

Its pretty weird to get a calamity of this magnitude at this part of the year. There was a time when Haiyan was called a ONE IN FIFTY YEARS thing. 

Typhoon Ondoy (Ketsana) was the other big one, the FloodApocalypse. It paralyzed central Luzon and much of Metro Manila with a month's worth of rain dumped in a matter of a single week. People were forced out of their homes with water rising above two storeys in some places, unfortunately these were also residential areas.

Maybe there is something to this climate cha-cha thingamabob.

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Preparedness Levels

Whatever it is, I've got a month's worth of food at home. We have filtration systems to last forever. I'm not worried about my family. I live well above sea level. Noah would approve.

We're not in danger of flying debris because my home is made of concrete. Trouble? You know I'm ready for that too.

Its everybody else living in the lowlands that I'm worried about. Or those who live on our eastern seaboard like in Leyte. Darn it, I sure hope nobody gets hurt this time around! Or at least as few as possible.  :-(

I know I'm not the only one who's prepared. I'm even happy to report that we have serious preppers in Leyte and other Haiyan-affected areas because they are the TRUE survivors. Armed with solar power, wind turbines, water filtration, supplies, and neighborly coordination, they can pull through another big one. I just wish it didn't have to come again so soon.

I've spend the day sending out severe weather alerts to our office staff, clients, and family. I'm in the risk management profession, its what I do.

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After this mess, we'll go into high-gear again to help out whoever was affected in true Pinoy fashion. Helping our neighbors is what we're famous for. Its called Bayanihan.

You can't fight force majeure but you could plan for it and roll with the punches. Lets hunker down and stay safe this week.





Stay vigilant!

BREAKING NEWS: .22 TCM Glock Conversion kits Coming Soon! (I'm 90% sure)

I remember Martin Tuason (President of Armscor) saying something on his Facebook account a few weeks ago about releasing a product that would be considered by some to be "heretical". He's a cool guy, always giving really exciting teasers on their upcoming projects. 

They've also got their ears close to the ground and must have heard the clamor on the internet.

It makes a lot of sense. Follow my train of thought: 

Armscor is the largest 1911 manufacturer in the world... 

...aggressively promoting the .22 TCM cartridge... 

... how do you make your bullet more popular? 

...Glocks are the most popular 9mm platform...

A .22 TCM Conversion kit for Glocks! It makes perfect sense!

My hunch looks like its on the money because there was talk earlier today about a conversion kit for the Glock 17 to chamber the ammo being released really soon.

What does this mean? We could see the .22 TCM become more widely used since the only way at present was to purchase the TCM pistol and bolt-action rifle. 

Now the other half of the pistol community worldwide would have the chance to give this a shot. I mean "half of the world's police force" can't go wrong (if you believe the marketing).

This is quite a bold move since the company is putting the bullet in the hands of folks using a a brand known as its nemesis and the subject of fanboy wars across the internet.


We're all familiar with the whole 1911 VS Glock and .45 VS 9mm debate. My head is spinning, and old Gaston G. should be shaking his as well.

In the end, this strategy will go a long way in ensuring the longevity of the caliber.

Moving Forward
Now that its poised to reach even greater popularity, I'm really looking forward to is more real-world studies on this caliber. I've been clamoring for that since it was launched more than two years ago. Ballistic performance, penetration tests vs armor, drywall, car doors, frozen turkeys, zombie heads, FBI gel, hair gel... Lets have it!

Only then would we know how it stands as a defensive round compared to the 9mm, .45, .40, .380, .25, .22 and more.

Can someone call up Pocket Guns & Gear, Box o' Truth, Brassfetcher, Hickok45 or the Poboyspecial to do the science? Thanks!


UPDATE: Bruce F. of Pocket Guns & Gear has made some really cool tests on the cartridge. :-)

Stay vigilant!

2014 Defense Sporting & Arms Show (DSAS) Photos

I've been going to the gun show for 8 years now and I've seen a few changes in the last 2 years. Due to the drastic changes to the IRR governing the new firearms laws, many of the small players have closed shop. The big players from the Association of Firearms and Ammunitions Dealers of the Philippines, Inc. (AFAD) are hanging on despite the lowest sales figures the industry has ever seen. It has mostly to do with the new permit all firearm owners must obtain before purchasing new firearms or renewing their permits, the much-maligned LTOP or License to Own and Possess a Firearm.

The sale of Airguns (pcp, airsoft, and CO2) have also increased in popularity. Two years ago, before the IRR issue I purchased my Gamo Silent Stalker IGT. Willi Hahn Enterprises and P.B. Dionisio were the only companies selling airguns at the time.

Last year's gun show had the lowest number of attendees ever recorded. The large venue at the SMX Convention Center didn't help since I believe it is harder to get to compared to the SM Megamall despite ample parking space.

This year saw a much larger attendance. A major contributor was the all in one processing booth for LTOP applications within the Gun Show. Lots of people showed up in the hopes of completing their requirements instead of visiting Camp Crame which has very limited parking space and separate buildings for the various requirements such as the Neurological Exam, Drug Test, Directorate of Intelligence Clearance, etc.

Well, I sure hope that things improve in the following months. It is my dearest wish that this blog entry for 2014's gun show would merely be a short period that we would look back on and thank our stars that things got much better soon afterward.

 Check out the ammo prices... Divide the Peso value by the exchange rate of 44.5 as of this date.

Here's something. Optics and anything firearm related are really expensive over here. Usually they cost up to 3x the prices in the USA. Import taxes and a little price fixing are the culprit. So take a look at this Aimpoint PRO.

It costs $808 over here. Count your blessings my American readers.

 The bolt-action TCM Rifle makes its debut... Below is the match-grade MIG 22 .22lr

 I actually started stocking up on .22 and .25 cal  ammo for my new PCP rifle project...

 FX Airguns cost an arm and a leg but are not classified as firearms. No need for an LTOP. 

 High-powered flashlights are becoming more popular thanks to the prepper movement.

A fine carry pistol from Metroarms

 The "American Classic" made by the famous gunsmiths of Danao, Cebu.

 Spike Speigel's pistol...

 Stronghand is the top seller of Dillon Precision reloaders in the country.

 

 A top-level Standard/Limited Division pistol would cost $7,820 from Grayman, Inc. by top-shot Mary Grace Tan. Buy once, cry once!

There were a good number of women at the show. Many were actually inquiring about the right pistol for them. A lot were interested in home defense and carry.

I hope this continues to be the trend, its always refreshing to see potential female shooters in our sport.

A lot of male firearm owners in the Philippines try their best to get their wives into the sport. You'll also see them at the range practicing with children. With the proper training and attitude, having competently armed mothers, sisters, and daughters would make the world a safer place!

 Pretty ammo

I take a lot of photos of handguns that I find appealing. I don't really find myself attracted to this pistol however I have not come across the Kimber Solo in past shows. Its small, has a polymer frame, and is in 9mm. I wonder how it compares to the SIG P938?

Well, my dream pocket pistol is still the SIG P238...

 This Walther .22 is pretty nice, its got a built-in laser. Great for training young shooters.

 Now check out the Armscor TCM 22 G10. This full size pistol has all the bells and whistles you'll need. I love the lines and feel of this pistol. Interesting that the logo is now smaller and on the right side of the slide. I personally don't mind the logo in the middle of the slide.

This is an STI OFF DUTY. They make the lower-end STI pistols in the Philippines, and they're known for high quality products.

A Tanfoglio that Armscor is selling...

 An interesting 12 Gauge Shotgun that uses box magazines by Shooters Arms Manufacturing. Looks promising, I wonder if there are tests done on this shotgun...

I heard that PARA will be purchased by Remington sometime soon. In this display cabinet you'll see that there are PARA and REMINGTON pistols sitting together. That would be the end of a significant era for me. PARA-Ordnance from Canada made the double-stack 1911 popular.

Its so popular, many Armscor owners a few years ago used to remove the Armscor logo on their slides and put "P16.40" to make their pistols "look better". Typical colonial mentality. Thank goodness their attitudes have changed!

I've owned a P16.40 since 1997 and its ran flawlessly. I've run it dirty for up to 1000 rounds without cleaning nor headache. It was my first competition pistol and I'll never sell it. 

An Open Division race gun from True Weight, Inc. Perhaps it was built by master gunsmith Jay Pecson.

 The famous KSG Shotgun from Kel-Tec Php 89,000 / 44.5 (USD exchange rate) = $2k

Defensive Armament Resource Corp. (DARC) is the official importer of Kel-Tec products.

 I had a lot of fun meeting old friends from the various shops and didn't realize that I skipped lunch! I got there at 11AM and finished at 3:30PM.

After getting a fair amount of loot in the form of ammunition, cleaning supplies, a Fenix flashlight, and more pellet ammo, I rewarded myself with a delightful bowl of noodles from a nearby Chinese restaurant. Yum!



Stay vigilant!

Ebolapocalypse? Nope.

“I must not fear. Fear is the mind-killer. Fear is the little-death that brings total obliteration. I will face my fear. I will permit it to pass over me and through me. And when it has gone past I will turn the inner eye to see its path. Where the fear has gone there will be nothing. Only I will remain.”    

- Bene-Gesserit Litany Against Fear

from Frank Herbert's DUNE

Friends, I have a few things to clairfy: 

The darn Ebola virus is not airborne.
It is not being spread by the CDC
It is not a UN-backed conspiracy to depopulate the Earth
And it is definitely NOT an alien thing.

<sigh> Come on guys.

A zombie apocalypse can also take form when brain-dead people buy into the panic that the media feeds us on the news. Save your ammo for the walking dead, or those who go nuts and loot people's homes just cause they didn't get ready when TSHTF.

Ignorance is deadlier than the virus itself. Preparation is better than panic. The same preparations we are making for the invasion of dead walkers applies to this contagion. 

Sorry, I'm dealing with a shocking increase of friends and relatives who have been watching too much garbage on TV.

And yeah, I've missed blogging and the gang over here. I've been up to stuff lately so a few reviews are coming up later this month.



Stay vigilant!