Mr. Rawles,
This a reply to the reply to "A Combat Gear Primer" by WildcatActual.  While it is true that a direct hit from a high-powered rifle such as a Russian Dragunov firing a 7.62x54R will not/should not penetrate military grade body armor I would like to add to the comment of "These are but two examples of the fallacy that blunt force trauma from a bullet hit will incapacitate an individual wearing body armor":

I have a personal experience in this.  I was in Mosul, Iraq in 2006.  Our unit was tasked to clear and old cement factory in the city.  This cement factory was a sniper's dream, and the insurgents made good use of it for that very purpose.  Several guys had been hit in and around this area from sniper fire.  Our unit had received a "tip" that the same sniper who had, just days before, killed another US soldier was back at the factory.  Our unit rolled in there ready to take this guy down once and for all.  We thought we had a pretty good idea where he was shooting from.  We set up a perimeter inside and dismounted the Strykers.  The weapons team advanced on one of those tower looking rock crusher things and our 6, the Medic and myself took up a covering position at the back rear of the vicinity.

The weapons squad was no more than a few seconds into there bounding when I was thrown face-forward into the dirt.  It felt like someone had had come up behind me and kicked me as hard as possible in the back. I could barely breath, I had no idea I had just been shot in the back.  The next thing I knew someone was dragging me to the other side of the vehicle.  My whole body hurt, but yes, I was able to regain my composure and get back up to my knees after a minute or so, but just barely.  Was I "out of the fight"?  No.  Was I as as combat effective as I was a few minutes ago?  No way! To make long story short, we still did not catch the sniper and I had one cracked rib and a nasty bruise in the shape of a SAPI plate on my back.  One more round to the same area and I would have been done.  

Finally, I know the exact video the reader is referencing about the soldier who is shot and gets right back up, and I have some further information on this as well.  The soldier in the video was shot with a Tabuk-S Assault Rifle, which is basically an AK-47 with a long, heavy RPK type barrel.  This is not really a Sniper Rifle per se but an SDM weapon that fires a 7.62x39 AK-47 round which does not have the punch of a full-power 7.62x54r round.  So is it possible that a person wearing modern body armor can be taken down with a single hit?  Lets just say I am glad I was dragged to cover because at that point I didn't even know my name let alone able to get there on my own. - Van  D.  

Greetings Mr Rawles,
"G.I. Jim" recently opined in follow-up to "A Combat Gear Primer" that while effective in stopping bullets, modern body armor will not protect you from blunt force. While true in a general sense, Jim's comment that blunt force will incapacitate someone is simply untrue. The documented history is clear on this but two individuals immediately come to mind:

1.) Richard Davis, the founder of Second Chance Body Armor, who routinely had himself shot with a .44 Magnum at contact distance to prove the value of his product. He was never incapacitated in any way.

2.) Fast forward to the recent war in Iraq and the widely-shown video of an American medic shot by an Islamist sniper. The soldier is hit, falls, but instantly gets up with his weapon shouldered and seeks cover. This lucky young man was never out of the fight.

These are but two examples of the fallacy that blunt force trauma from a bullet hit will incapacitate an individual wearing body armor. - WildcatActual

Dear James:
There is a nasty trend to require a government permit to possess body armor.  This is very disturbing because the right to protect yourself is the most basic of human rights - the right to life.  It is  a slap in the face to deny law-abiding people protection that is [in itself] purely passive and harmless.

Australia has "led the way" in telling citizens that they need state  permission to protect themselves - armor is illegal to import without permission, and illegal to own "without authorization" in several Australian states.

Now this evil idea has caught on with Canadian politicians - in 2009 the province of British Columbia made it illegal to possess body armor without a permit.  To get a permit you must "prove a reasonable need".

Exceptions are made for law enforcement, licensed security workers and  "Individuals who possess a valid firearms licence". Otherwise, no permit means your armor can be seized, up to a $10,000 fine and six months in jail.

If you believe you are "at imminent risk" you can apply for a 90 day exemption and hope that the bureaucracy approves it before you are attacked. Good luck with that!

Manitoba has passed a ban with NO exemption for firearms license holders.

Alberta's ban is currently awaiting final proclamation.

and Nova Scotia is now proposing a ban.

This legislation is evil because it will cause the death of innocent folks who, because of  all the bureaucratic hassles, cannot (or will not) buy a vest ahead of time.  Then they will not be able to get a vest fast enough when the need arises.

The argument given is to keep criminals from using armor but this is naive, as serious criminals will have little problem buying armor via the black market.  Do criminals have too much of a problem getting illegal guns or drugs?  Should we ban cell phones, because they are so useful in carrying out a crime?

Over the years I have helped many people who needed protection in a hurry: victims of criminal attacks, fearing further attacks, and witnesses to court cases, to name just a few examples.

In the US a felony conviction bars you from using Body Armor, but law-abiding citizens are perfectly free to protect themselves.  Right now the only notable exception is Connecticut that has a ban on mail order sales. (But you can still buy locally).  We hope this odious legislation does not spread, but advise folks to be on the lookout, especially in the "Nanny states".  Be ready to call your Representative vote at the ballot box. And be ready to vote with your feet, if need be.

Yours truly, - Nick at BulletProofME.com Body Armor

Dear Jim:
To follow up on the recent letters, we supply roughly half inch thick ballistic steel to stop .30-06 AP threats. (NIJ  Level IV ).

The tradeoff is that you are looking at roughly double the weight -- 20 lbs. per square foot.  So for the hypothetical 36" by 36" piece it adds up to roughly 180 lbs.  Ceramic tile can provide AP or Level IV protection at less than half that weight - but much more expensive.

Your point about spall is well taken. I would worry most about the bullet splatter or ricochet from a round plastering itself onto the threat side face of steel plate.   Eye protection is mandatory anytime firearms are in use, but especially here.

Your idea to angle the plate is a great one. Just be sure you are directing ricochets and bullet splatter in a safe direction!   (You do not want to have your head sticking up over a plate angled toward you!)   Ideally, you want to direct bullet splatter and ricochet away from you.  So shutters that lock open at an angle are an idea here, to give a protected firing port.

Assuming a bullet that would otherwise be a perfect 90 degree hit, a .25" thick steel plate angled at 45 degrees effectively gives you a 0.35" plate thickness. Or in metric terms, 6.4mm becomes almost 9mm.  Over 40% more effective thickness, plus you are encouraging the round to take the path of least resistance, and ricochet rather than penetrate.  There is a good reason that tanks have sloped armor on the front!
Yours truly, - Nick at BulletProofME.com Body Armor

Mr Rawles,
I found A.Y.'s suggestions to be very astute and workable, and wish to add a few of my own.

Underclothes: fencers over the years have pressed the bounds of stab- and slash-proof clothing. There are a number of SPECTRA fencing undershirts, that are of the same quality, if not better, as LEO anti-knife gloves. They also have the added bonus of being made with the express purpose of being stab proof. That said, still hurts like the dickens when one really gets gut stabbed. Having worn one in 90 degree sun, I can attest that not only are they comfortable but do a decent job keeping one cool.

Shoes: I wholeheartedly endorse his suggestion that on wearing steel-toed sneakers. I have worn these exclusively for about 12 years, and they have saved me more than once. Sears carries them, usually in the $30-40 range. They generally last me around 2 years, and I do a lot of hiking and running in them.

Jackets: motorcycle jackets do wonders for basic protection. Often either full leather (think motorcycle gangs) or leather-kevlar combination, most rated in the range of 100 feet of abrasion resistance. That's sliding on asphalt at 50+ mph. Many combo jackets come standard with padding in the spine and elbow areas, as well as have special pockets for more protection. Great for protests and random street brawls as well. Caveat: when purchasing leather only, make sure it is not fashion weight leather. eBay is especially bad for listings of motorcycle style jackets that offer minimal protection.

Motorcycle gear is especially useful for personal protection. I was once the victim of an attempted robbery while fully geared (helmet, gloves, jacket, 511 tactical pants and steel-toed sneakers) on my bike. I was blind-sided and knocked off the bike, and the attackers proceeded to kick and hit me with sticks. While bruised, the above gear kept me from suffering more than minimal damage, and allowed me to fend them off.

In closing, I hope these personal anecdotes and suggestion help expand this often overlooked but extremely important aspect of self defense. - R.I.

Dear Jim:
I was in Cairo with my wife and two kids six weeks ago at the tail end of a 13 country 3 month trip. I was traveling with some custom bulletproof vests for all of us (thanks to Nick at bulletproofme.com). They were inserted in our backpacks and no one was the wiser at airport security. In Cairo, I had no sense whatsoever that it was a powder-keg, ready to explode. My wife laughed at the extra weight I hauled around with us. Now seeing on television the places where we walked looking like a war zone, she's not laughing anymore. - S.F. in Hawaii

I recently got an irate letter from an outspoken Peak Oil commentator who often stresses "community agriculture" and "sustainable development." He castigated me for "advocating a fortress mentality..." and "encouraging gun-buying..." I think that he meant those as insults, but I took them as compliments.

I am indeed an advocate of the fortress mentality, and fortress architecture. The two go hand-in-hand. As I pointed out in my book "How to Survive the End of the World as We Know It", modern American architecture with flimsy doors and large expanses of windows is just a 70 year aberration from a global norm that dates back many centuries. The real tradition in architecture outside of the tropics has always been to build homes with small windows, very stout doors, and lots of mass in the walls to absorb projectile impacts and to delay entry by evil-doers. Since 1945 we've been blessed to live a country that is relatively safe and peaceful. But don't expect that to last forever. Plan and build, accordingly.

Just look at the long history of the mote-and-bailey and castle in Europe and Fujian Tulou (Hakka) in China. Or look at the stout walls that are still the norm in Afghanistan and Pakistan. And consider the HESCO bastions that are almost always used by the U.S. military when deployed in any of the world's hot spots. I've said it before, and I'll say it again: There is no substitute for mass. Mass stops bullets. Mass stops gamma radiation. Mass stops (or at least slows down) bad guys from entering a home and depriving its residents of life and property. Sandbags are cheap, so buy plenty of them. When planning your retreat house, think: medieval castle.

The fortress mentality necessitates adopting fortress architecture. Whether you turn yourself into a moving fortress (with body armor), or you decide to design fortress features into your next home, I recommend that you prepare for as many different threats as possible. If you cannot afford to build your house like a fortress, or if that would "stick out" where you now live, then at least add a combination vault/shelter basement room to your house. (Either via new construction, or by remodeling.) Several SurvivalBlog advertisers can supply the know-how and crucial components for such a project such as inward-opening vault doors, blast valves, and HEPA filters. These companies include: Hardened Structures, Safecastle, and Ready Made Resources.

The bottom line is that in the event of societal collapse, looters will prey upon those who are obviously weak and defenseless. Unless they are suicidal, looters will consciously pass by any well-defended retreats. Why would they go up against an Alpenréduit when they could instead go pick on some defenseless granny living in a veritable glass box, a mile down the road? Why would they risk getting ventilated by a group of well-armed Rawlesians who are standing behind ballistic protection--especially while living in a world without readily-available medical care?

Planning ahead for bad times isn't paranoia. It is prudence. An integrated national defense should start with every hearth and home, and proceed systematically all the way to national borders. This is the true and righteous fortress mentality. The Swiss call this an "intellectual defense of the homeland" (Geistige Landesverteidigung). Their well-armed citizenry and their extensive system of réduits (many of them very well-hidden) have kept them free and essentially independent for 720 years. We should learn a lesson from that.

Dear Jim:
Regarding force multipliers, you touch on early warning with SIGINT, HUMINT and night vision, but I would argue that more immediate early warning through intrusion detection or perimeter security should be stressed as well:

If you are not aware of the bad guys approach, then all your other defensive measures are for naught.  Even just having a minute to muster a defense, instead of 10 seconds, could make all the difference.  Imagine an early warning on the approach of intruders at O-dark-thirty, with your entire team wide awake and suited up in defensive positions, vs. waking up to the sound of gunfire to mount a defense.

Some examples of perimeter security to give you early warning:

• Electronic motion detectors, or ground sensors. [Typically either passive IR or seismic.]

• Electronic hearing amplification. [JWR Adds: The Walker Game Ear hearing aids are very compact and have automatic noise suppression, so they work like electronic ear muffs.]

• A trip wire connected to tin cans, or a chemical light stick (visible light or IR) or blank cartridge. [JWR Adds: Magic Cube photographic flash cubes can also be set off, using a paper clip and a trip wire. It is quick and easy to use clear packing tape to attach them to a post, tree, or large bush. Magic Cubes are no longer manufactured but are still often sold on eBay and Craigslist.]

• Military grade thermal imaging scopes would be the ultimate for your OP, but are still $10,000 plus, the last time I checked

• Don't forget the obvious - a cleared field to approach your homestead versus an overgrown field. How have other folks dealt with this issue?  What worked, what didn't?

Regards, - OSOM

James,
Regarding force multipliers, I would like to mention body armor.  Obviously, protecting the main target area on the body "puts the odds in your favor" as we say.

Being in the business of selling body armor (I run BulletProofME) I am obviously partial to ballistic protection, but no less an authority than Boston T. Party lists body armor, along with night vision and secure radio communications as “... An order of magnitude advantage”. (See his book Boston on Surviving Y2K .) - Nick

Good Morning Mr. Rawles,
Last year my former boss--with whom we used to have a Bible study--and who is a former Marine, called me up on a Saturday morning, and inquired about a firearm that I would recommend for a semiautomatic sidearm that he and his wife would be able and to shoot comfortably. Without knowing much about what he had in mind, I told him about the top companies, and that a 9mm would be sufficient for his wife, as long as they used +P or +P+ defensive hollow-points with a heavy bullet weight, and if even this was too stout for his wife you can always get a heavier recoil spring for those loads. There is no magic bullet for handgun ballistics, none are moving fast enough to create hydrostatic shock, and a 9mm in the head or center-mass is better than .40 S&W, 10mm, or .45 ACP in the shoulder or arm. He then proceeded to tell me about "Patriots" and gave me the run down.

I was away from home at the time but I purchased the book when I got back. My wife read it, and we purchased three copies and have passed them on to friends and family to plant the preparedness seed. Due to a limited budget, we have not been able to move to a rural area yet; however we are currently planning to move after my wife finishes out this semester. After being laid off this summer, she went back to school for web design so she could work from home, wherever we live. Amongst all of our current planning and preparations, my wife and I found out that we are pregnant with our first child. This adds a unique dimension to how we think about preparedness now. (Seriously understated.)

We began prepping with a three-tiered system: Alpha - essentials, may have to be carried to our family’s place in the mountains on foot. Bravo - things to G.O.O.D. with in our small SUV, such as tools, spare gas, weapons and ammo cans, and our current “hurricane kit” full of canned goods, medical supplies, and water. Charlie- If we have any room left in vehicle, non-essentials such as books. I have a nice set of the classics I want my kids to read someday.

If TEOTWAWKI were to happen tomorrow, we could no longer bug out on foot. In addition to being nauseated, my wife is fatigued and takes long naps in the afternoon. Food and rest is key for her right now due to the nature of the many things that are growing. She is also very hormonal and I don’t think she could cope with the stresses of combat or fatigue. She cries during commercials now too instead of just the cheesy love story.

We keep our G.O.O.D. bags ready on top of kit in master closet. I don’t know if she could fit into any of her cammies, or body armor--God forbid she took a round to the chest--the blunt force trauma would kill the baby] and I am wondering what we are going to do during the last trimester when it won’t fit at all. Hopefully we will be moved to our mountain home in January (she’s due in April). Then she won’t have to bug out to anywhere (far) and her duties would be concentrated in a LP/OP capacity and not in the field.

If we were not able to “bug out at the eleventh hour” and get the jump on the golden horde, I am sadly looking at what we would have to do to dig in. It certainly would not be ideal, but I am looking at all options. We have friends who could eventually make it to our place, but I would never be comfortable in the small condo we occupy. We would have to go somewhere. We have a state park a few miles away, that I believe we could melt into with a small group of us for security, and it is passable on foot from the condo to there. It would be like a permanent camp-out.

My former boss who told me about "Patriots" lives on the far side of this state park with animals and a little land. In order to thrive in a TEOTWAWKI scenario he would need a good group of workers and guys who are familiar with security, weapons, and field medicine, just to keep what he’s got. You cannot secure a retreat with 3-5 people. We would bring our own supplies and hunt the plentiful game I have seen in this state park. As an aside it personally offends me when I speak to people- friends or even family, who insist that if the SHTF they will “come to my house”. A friend and I were joking that A). I probably won’t be there, B.) if you haven’t prepared you aren’t leeching off of me, and C.) I might shoot you and take whatever you have in your pockets. I would never assume that I could go to anyone’s house without my own supplies and invitation to stay.

A third option is to survive until after the baby is born if we are still here in this state, and then hump it out to family in the mountains. This seems the most dangerous and you always have to factor in Admiral Murphy. (Of Murphy's Law.) He will throw multiple monkey wrenches into your plans. I cannot imagine keeping an infant quiet is easy, but somehow the Indians did it. Even using small unit tactics in a ‘V’ formation with wives at a good interval behind us, stray rounds will still kill. This is not an option I would be looking forward to at all.

The conclusions I am approaching are to be Semper Gumby ("Always flexible"). Adapt to any situation- even a hormonal, pregnant wife. Use my head, the solution is usually there, I just have to have the presence of mind to see it. Plan for a worst-case scenario and I will never be caught with my pants down. It is better to have it and not need it than to need it and not have it. Last but certainly not least is prayer. Praying a lot is no substitute for good planning and due diligence; but without it, you will not be in constant communication with the real Commander in Chief, and thus will not be as effective as you can possibly be. By the way, I loved the movie Gods & Generals as it portrays General Thomas “Stonewall” Jackson as a superb commander and pious man, who also loved his wife well. - “Jeremiah Johnson” in Florida

I am a public school teacher with five kids and one income. There is little in the way of extra cash to protect the family, but I will do my best to prepare for TEOTWAWKI. If you want to plan well; plan as if it was a lesson plan and you are going to teach it to a class. My class is my family the the goal being not to get anyone panicked (Refer to # 9 below). Having a receptive audience is difficult, because of what I deem…complacent comforts. These are built into the core and routine of our everyday lives that we depend on all to often (you know what they are).

Suburban survival is a surreal world of isolation. You feel alone although you are surrounded by tens of thousands of complacent people who are very comfortable in their grid dependent homes and lifestyles. Try living in suburban New York in which neighbors think you’re getting wacky because you talk of preparing for an event that they deem impossible or extremely remote.

You ask that I provide what works. I provide to you what may work and what does not work when trying to explain to neighbors the concept that more people prepared the less people in need . Going Social and leading a group of individuals is not an option. Sorry, but human nature is 90% reactive and 10% proactive. If you are reading this wonderful blog and this story I tell, then good for you, welcome to the proactive10%. But does anyone really know what will work? You ask for what is proven. Nothing is proven when it comes to TEOTWAWKI. Just prove to yourself that you have prepared for the worst and hope for the best to the greatest of your ability without losing your mind.

What may work is what I have planned for this summer.

1. Two years ago, this house I bought has a chimney with the wood stove removed. I have since bought a wood stove on eBay and will install it this summer. Contact local tree services for what is known as a hook (someone who can give you free wood because around here it costs them money to get rid of it).
2. The back 6 feet of my garage is walled off as a walk in pantry and safe room. Steel racks from target $80 to store the basic recommended foods and three 5 gallon clear water containers. Stores such as Target.com and Harborfreight.com sell a nice three bottle storage rack and a $4.00 hand pump.
3. We like to go camping, so the escape gear is packed and ready to go in the garage. I have three day MRE food packs for each child. Books, games, toys and blankets. I like the items from www.lifesecure.com if you want it all pre-packaged.
4. The Aqua Rain Gravity Water Filter will be used for long term water consumption because I have a fifteen diameter above ground pool that maintains 5,000 gallons of water. Fun to play in and a nice supply of water when filtered. Five gallon clear containers will be wheeled to and from the pool to a basin and then filtered and stored.
5. As an alarm. We have a small barky Cairn Terrier. He has proven to be very territorial. I have encountered many dogs in my life and the small ones seem to bark at strangers the best. Not to scare them off but to let you know there is an intruder.
6. Pray. With the Lord there is confidence and the resolve that you are giving it your best shot and some things are just plain out of you hands and in His.
7. Stay fit. Run and stretch. Exercise with you family. Personally I run and work out with a 1” by 3’ wooden staff. [These are commonly called "dog chasers'] It is cane-like and there are many defensive and offensive forms that can be used.
8. I have friends who are police officers and have never fired their weapon in the line of duty. Do you really want to shoot someone? I train my family for a chaotic attack. We have code words and all have set actions when the code word is mentioned. No matter how crazy things get remember that everything is negotiable. Have a planned system for dealing with a threat other then sending bullets all over the neighborhood. If you can offer an item or two to the desperate individual (who may truly need help) then do so. If they really look like trouble or if they are armed then at least have pepper spray ($11.99 per can here in New York). If you are going to shoot someone, then expect to be shot at as well. You can always think from the other end of the barrel as well, by checking out this web site.
9. Communication - The FEMA and Ready.gov have suggestions on how to communicate to you kids so they know that what you are preparing for is legitimate. The other type of communication Midland Nautico NT3VP VHF 88-channel Two-way radio covers many of the important radio bands as well a my CC SWPocket AM/FM Shortwave Pocket Radio From C. Crane Company.

10. My preparedness approach, in a nutshell:

Heat- Wood

Cook- Wood Stove

Light – Oil Lamps

Food – Stocked bulk items

Water - Aquarain Water filter 2000gallons per filter

Books - Survival (I own three right now), and fiction

Kids - Lots of Books Games, Toys (Legos) and art supplies

Long Term:

Food – fishing and trapping (raccoon/squirrel, locally)

Barter – Lots of practical things and 1 ounce US Silver Eagles (Currently @ $19 each)

Money - $5 Bills (x 50) as a cash reserve

Protection - The Lord gave us our eyes, ears and intuition.