Letters From the Wild

Reader: First off – thanks so much for making a resource like this available. After seeing one of your YouTube videos and then your website, I became convicted that I wasn’t doing enough to:

a.) be prepared myself

b.) more importantly, be prepared for my family

c.) also be prepared to help others

I’m working on changing all that. I’ve started on the Top 10 list you’ve provided, and digging into a DCB and BOB.

Here’s my question: in one of your vids you have a custom machine gun you demonstrate with two receivers, one of which is a .22 suppressed.

I’m very interested in that setup, and was wondering if you could point me in the direction of where you got it, how much you paid for it, etc.

From what I’ve seen, machine guns tend to be extremely expensive.

I’ve forwarded your site to a number of my friends and will be encouraging them to start digging in with this too.

One thing I really want to do this year is put together a trip where our families can go out and camp and also learn about survival, etc. I’ve not seen it yet (and I’ll keep looking), but would be very cool if you did a video on how to plan a good family camping trip to both have fun and learn about survival… or maybe a series where you show how to bring a family from knowing virtually nothing about survival to being able to make it should something happen… just an idea.

Thanks again for your site – and thanks for not being ashamed to state your associated views and witness.

Respectfully,

….

SnoMan responds: Thank you for supporting this site by sharing it. As I’ve said, when you’re prepared, it helps everyone, not just yourself. That’s why I resist policies that discourage preparedness, like hoarding laws, price gouging regulations, and prohibitions on rainwater collection. Those laws are morally indefensible and unenforceable anyway — we all have a moral obligation to provide for ourselves and our families, no matter what a bureaucrat says.

All civilian machineguns have to be registered, but no machinegun made after May 19, 1986 can be registered. That’s the result of the unconstitutional Hughes Amendment to the unconstitutional Firearm Owner’s Protection Act of 1986, which is a revision of the unconstitutional Gun Control Act of 1968. The upshot is that since 1986, the universe of machineguns available to civilians has been frozen, which in the face of steady demand causes an increase in price. In a free market, the gun you saw here should sell for no more than $2500 to $3000, which all the accessories — as it is, you probably won’t find it for less than $15,000.

There’s a number of Class III websites on the internet where you can find machineguns for sale:

• Autoweapons
• Impact Guns
• Gunbroker

Of course, the best way to find out how to get a fully automatic gun is to contact your friendly neighborhood Class III firearms dealer.

Your idea of a family camping/survival week is a good one. I encourage everyone to do something similar. It’s a good idea to get two or three or even more families together to share the experience. At first you might be pooling ignorance, but experience is a great taskmaster. You might try it with just the adults and older kids at first. Leave the tots at home until you know what you’re doing.

Reader: I stumbled upon your website, innocently enough, through the myriads of youtube.  I was wondering about FNP 45 compatibles suppressors and lo-and-behold, the SNOman.  A videos and clicks later I was summarily impressed with the depth and familiarity and simple fun with which you presented your topics.  I’m definitely sold on the paklite as a product but more so your enthusiastic review of it.  Pending my own personal playtime with the three pack I ordered they may be going down range to my brother Marines in Afghanistan.

So simply this message was to let you know I’m a fan of your work.  Outdoors, guns, gear, and providing: what every red blooded American man should know.

G-d Bless.

SnoMan responds: You’ll love the Paqlites! Now about red-blooded Americans: During the last year I’ve noticed a small increase in the share of younger men in my audience, but 55% are still 45 and older, and only 10% are 13-25. What that means is that interest in survival skills is not high enough among the most helpless (clueless?) people in our society. I’m very grateful for your interest, and if you spread it among your brother Marines, it will help everyone be a little better prepared. Bless you for your service — Semper Fi!

Reader: Hey Snoman First thanks for all you do!

I would like to ask what you think is the best all around survival/self defense rifle to be had?  Something lightweight, reliable, durable and do you think that the .308 (7.62 nato) is too much punch for this sort of weapon.  Looking for something in a WROL situation but that can also be used to drop deer sized game and below for the survival side of things.

I was thinking of an AR15 or 10 in .308 but I am concerned about over penetration at closer ranges.  I will howver have an 870 MCS for close range and an XD 9mm as the side arm.  So I am looking for the rifle now.  Any assistance or opinions would be greatly appreciated!

SnoMan responds: My favorite rifle for a self-defense and hunting combination is the AR15. I have a Colt 6940 set up as a mid-range sniper with a NightForce scope, an Atlas V8 bipod, a Magpul stock and grip, and a superb trigger. You can see it here. With this gun I could hunt any North American game to 500 yards (and a better shooter could go farther), and yet I could have it optimized for close tactical applications in about five minutes. It’s not that I think 7.62 is too much, it’s just that 5.56 is such a good crossover. Yes, I prefer 7.62 for very long range sniping, and yes, it’s stronger. But 5.56 is lighter and cheaper, so I can carry more with me, and I can practice more for the same money.

A reader sent this fascinating article about the right to resist unlawful arrest and detention.