Update: First Firearm on a Budget (April 2016)

As of the time I am writing this entry, I have yet to test and put some rounds thru my Armscor 1911 CS (compact .45 acp) pistol. Reason being is the firearms law that we have here in the Philippines.

There have been several changes in the law from the time I purchased the firearm. And since we are currently following a "gun ban" due to the election season in the country, technically, no one is allowed to carry or bring their firearms outside their domiciles (homes) without a special permit from the election body of the Philippines.

I will write an update as soon as I can and will also post new entries in the coming weeks.

Until then, continue on with your preps. No one will ever know when you will need them. It's better to have preps and not use them than to need them and not have anything.

Update: First Firearm on a Budget

First Firearm Update: ARMSCOR 1911 CS .45ACP

I was finally able to pick up my first firearm at the Squires Bingham shop on Col. Bonny Serrano in Quezon City last Friday. I initially expected that the unit will have some cosmetic defects based on what the salesperson I talked to during last year's gun show said but I was surprised. There were no noticeable factory cosmetic defects. Aside from some almost unseen scratches that were maybe because of the handling during the production and transport of the firearm. Overall I was a very happy and excited customer. Like a kid who got what he wanted for Christmas from Santa Claus!

The firearm with wood grip panels came in a standard plastic gun case which included 2 7-round ACT magazines, a user's manual, inspection certificate and a gun safety flyer inserted in the manual.

I only purchased 20 rounds of Armscor .45 ACP FMJs at Php25.00 (50cents in USD) each just so that I have some ammunition on hand. Just to remind you, this is a blog about prepping on a budget. As I always say, it's better to have something on hand when you need it than totally nothing at all. The next gun show will be in 2 weeks and I'm planning to get at least 2 boxes (100 rounds) of FMJs, usually around Php22.00 and if my budget would allow it, maybe some JHPs as well for home defense. I might also get an extra 7-round ACT magazine at the show. Will update you of the purchases after.

I haven't tested/shot the firearm yet, the Philippines has some strict rules regarding bringing your firearm. I need to get a PTT (Permit to Transport) first from a gun club so I can legally bring the firearm outside my residence which would require being a member first. I'll inquire about other firing ranges aside from Armscor at the gun show. So I have to be contented just dry firing it for now. (Safety First: I make sure I don't insert a magazine, always safety check the chamber and to point it at a safe direction inside the house)

By the way, as per the staff from Squires Bingham, they will have the same models on sale in the next gun show. If you have plans of buying a firearm, check their booth. I'm sure they'll be happy to assist you in processing the government requirements for purchasing a gun.

That's it for now, remember to always take small steps towards being prepared you can do it even if you're on a budget.

Prepper Skills: First Aid and CPR

Being a prepper is not only about having a gun or guns and knowing how to shoot them or having a stockpile of necessities for when S*** Hits the Fan (SHTF), you also need to learn and gather basic skills needed to survive not only for you, for your family but also for anyone you know or don’t know, especially in medical emergencies. We can experience medical emergencies not only during SHTF but also during a regular day and it’s best if you have the skills and know what you can and cannot do to help. And the most practical way to learn and gain those skills is through proper training.

I personally wanted to learn and gain those skills not only for me and my family but also, so that I can contribute to the community as a volunteer. So I decided to sign up for a paid training of Basic Life Support with CPR and Standard First Aid at our local Red Cross branch. It was a 6 day training that ran the whole week, Monday to Saturday. The first part, Basic Life Support with CPR for Healthcare Providers was for 2 days. During the first day, they taught us what the difference is between a Cardiac Arrest and a Respiratory Arrest, how to check which of the two a victim is experiencing and what steps to take. We were also taught the proper way to do CPR, how many repetitions or cycles you had to do, how fast you need to compress the chest and how to do rescue breathing for adult, child and infant victims. The second day was for assessments, written and practical. We had to do CPR to three dummies (adult, child and infant) and the timing had to be correct or we had to do it over again.

The second part was Standard First Aid where we were taught a lot! I would not give you all the details as it is not allowed however, maybe I can list down the topics that we covered.

1. Introduction to First Aid

2. Human Body

3. Guidelines in Giving Emergency Care

4. Patient/Casualty Handling

5. Shock

6. Soft Tissue Injuries

7. Poisoning

8. Bones, Joints and Muscle Injuries

9. Basic Extrication

10. Common Emergencies

I would not elaborate on them but all these topics were discussed and first aid procedures were also taught and some we had a chance to practice like how to use and mount a victim to a spine board, transport a victim on a spice board, attach the cervical brace (neck brace), use splints for bone fractures and triaging victims from a Mass Casualty Incident (MCI).  The last day were again for assessments, we had a written assessment and a practical assessment where we had to demonstrate the proper use of a triangular bandage on different types of injuries and different kinds of transfer methods without the use of any equipment, basically we had to carry someone alone, with a partner and with a group. We also had a chance to see the insides of their ambulance and check the equipment that they had. On the side, I finally learned how to use a regular blood pressure monitor which I’ve always wanted to learn. Haha!

I would say that it was a great experience for me. Aside from learning new skills that might prove useful someday, I also met new people and now I get a chance to volunteer and help in case the Red Cross calls us for an emergency. I’m now thinking of getting more training from them so I can volunteer for their Emergency Response Unit (ERU) which is their ambulance team who are always on stand-by.

I paid PhP1,500 for the 6 days training and I was given the manuals, a large triangular bandage with the Philippine Red Cross logo, some supplies we used during assessments, an accident insurance worth PhP50,000, certificates and of course invaluable knowledge and skills. Cheap right? They hold monthly trainings at their office in Mandaluyong City, if you are interested in getting training and signing up, you can call the branch or you can follow their like page on facebook just search for Prc Mandaluyong and ask questions there someone will answer you I promise. They would only require a medical certificate and the fee for you to join.

You will never know when these skills would come in handy, it’s best to be prepared.

As always, prepare for the worst, hope for the best.

My First Firearm/Pistol on a Budget: ARMSCOR 1911 Compact CS PS in .45ACP (Officer's Model)

In my last posts, I had was looking at 2 types/models of handguns that I would most likely buy as my all around self-defense pistol on a budget. I initially wanted to get a commander (mid-sized) 1911 but due to budget constraints I thought of getting a revolver in .38 special instead, may it be a snub nose or a with a 4 inch barrel. So last November of 2013 I went to the 21st Defense And Sporting Arms Show Part II at the SMX Convention Center in Pasay City to finally choose my first ever firearm. Though I was still not sure what particular firearm I would get. It could be a revolver in .38 special, a commander 1911 in 9mm or a 1911 GI in .45ACP but one thing was for sure, my first firearm would be an ARMSCOR. So I went to the booth of ARMSCOR/Squires Bingham and while checking the pistols and other firearms that they were offering at the gun show, I saw a 1911 CS PS both in 9mm and .45ACP which is the compact or officer's version of the 1911 and it was on sale for roughly 45% off! The original price of the pistol was Php25,300 (USD625) but they were now selling it for a promo price of Php14,000 (USD350)! Bargain right? So I ask the sales person in the booth why they were selling the firearm for that low price. I was told that it was because those pistols had some cosmetic damage that it did not pass the Quality Control of the company but the gun's function was 100% okay. Trusting the word of the sales person and the company he represents, I ordered that model.

ARMSCOR 1911 Compact CS PS

This was the actual photo that I took at the ARMSCOR/Squires Bingham booth.

Aside from the CS PS model, they were also selling other CS/compact variants in 9mm and .45 auto at the same price and even lower. The CS Tactical, with the standard slide serrations was also for Php14,000 and the CS GI with the standard serrations, GI sights and GI trigger was being sold for Php13,000 all chambered in both 9mm and .45ACP. I'm sure a lot of folks who were also in a small budget like me took advantage of the sale.

I wanted to get the ARMSCOR 1911 CS PS (compact) in .45ACP with two 7-round magazines included. Since I didn't have enough money yet, I settled for a downpayment of Php10,000 (USD250) so that I could reserve one and have the firearm license processed. That's right, most gun shops would have a lay-away promo during gun shows to attract more sales. Good thing is that the new IRR for RA 10591 (New gun law here in the Philippines) was not yet in effect so it was still easy to get a firearm license, and another good thing with ARMSCOR and Squires Bingham is that they will process the license application on your behalf, you just had to submit the complete set of documents that they would need including your pictures. (Yes, it is that hard to get a firearm here in the Philippines.)

The firearm license card was mailed to me in the latter part of January which means that the firearm was ready for pick-up at the Squires Bingham shop in Quezon City. But unfortunately, I did not have enough cash yet and I didn't want to borrow money just to pay for the firearm. I still had a balance of Php10,500 for me to get the firearm. And since I already had the license to own the firearm, the unit is just sitting in their warehouse waiting for me. Haha!

The PNP Firearm License Card

Well, I'm just excited to tell you about the pistol that is why I posted this entry even if I didn't have it yet. I'm hoping that I would have saved enough buy the end of March or mid April to pick-up the pistol. I've got bills that I need to pay you know. Anyway, I will certainly update you on the quality and show you some photos and talk about the specs of the firearm once I already have it.

For comparison

Left: ARMSCOR 1911 CS PS (Officer)

RIGHT: ARMSCOR 1911 MS PS (Commander)

Until then, it's best to have some preparedness measures done than non at all..

Defensive Pistol: 38 Special Revolver as a Self/Home Defense and Survival Firearm on a Budget

During my previous posts regarding a firearm for self-defense on a budget, I initially looked at getting a 1911 from Armscor. Reason being is that the 1911 platform has been a reliable pistol since it's introduction up until today. It is still currently being used by police and military elements. It's also the most popular competition pistol in the world. And here in the Philippines, the 1911 pistol has a very large group of owners. But since I discussed about the 1911 pistol last 2011 as my preferred defense firearm, I did some research on the other pistol platforms, designs and brands that are available in the market. And I came to a conclusion, that for me, the best home/self-defense and survival pistol would be a revolver or wheel gun. Yes, you got it right, a revolver. Specifically chambered in the .38 Special cartridge.

If you are into guns and firearms then you would know that in terms of years of service, the revolver has been around longer that the 1911 or any type semi-automatic pistol. Everytime you watch a cowboy movie or show, you would see a revolver. The first models were only single action, this means that every time you want to fire the weapon, you would need to pull the hammer back. Hence, cowboys would hold and shoot the firearm with their dominant hand and cock the hammer using the other hand. And of course, the most basic way to shoot the SA (single-action) revolver would be to pull the hammer back with you thumb.

Wild West Style Single Action Revolvers

As technology improved, the revolver also changed it's firing mechanism from single-action to a double/single-action firing mechanism. You can still fire the pistol by pulling the hammer back to cock it then pulling on the trigger for the hammer to strike the bullet. But this, you can also fire the pistol even if the hammer is not cocked or pulled back. It had a 2-stage firing process thus it's double action. The first stage is to pull the trigger and in doing so, the hammer would pull back, it's a long and heavy trigger pull usually about 11-12 lbs. The second stage would be when the hammer strikes the bullet and fires.

During the 60's to 80's, the PC or Philippines Constabulary used the .38 Special Revolver as a duty gun. The FBI and Secret Service also used a revolver, it was the snub nose Colt Detective also chambered in .38 Special for concealed carry. And as the model name suggests, most detectives used the same pistol.

Today, the .38 Special Revolver is being used by security agencies as the standard duty gun for guards mainly because of it's reasonable unit price.

I'm sure, like me, you watch The Walking Dead right? And I'm also sure that you noticed the gun that Rick Grimes uses in the show. Yes, that it a revolver but it's not chambered in .38 Special, it's a Chrome Colt Python 357 Magnum revolver with an 6 inch barrel. Aside from him, I also noticed that when Lori was still alive, she was carrying a snub nose revolver, looks like a Smith and Wesson and definitely in .38 Special as well as other characters like Merle Dixon also used a 38 Special revolver in the show. 

Colt Python .357 Magnum

So the question remains, why a .38 Special revolver for defense. Aside from its long history and popularity, I have several reason why I recommend having a revolver for self/home defense and as a survival pistol.

1. Reasonable Price:

Again, this is prepping on a budget, so cost is number one. A locally manufactured revolver would only run for around Php10,000 to 15,000. Ammunition costs almost the same if not less compared to a 9mm or .45 auto cartridge. You don't need to buy extra magazines since a revolver does not need one.

2. Ease of Use:

There are no magazines that you need to load, you don't need to cock before you can shoot, there are no external safety levers or buttons, just pull the trigger and it goes bang! Anyone in the household can shoot the gun even under stress if need be. Loading and unloading is also very simple to do. Just do a demo and if you can, practice with your family members using fake plastic bullets or spent cartridges. Cleaning the firearm is also very easy, you don't need to fieldstrip the firearm for you to clean the barrrel.

Cleaning a Revolver

3. Reliability:

Unlike a semi-auto pistol, you don't need to do a lot of troubleshooting in case it does not fire or if you experience any issues with the bullet. No stove-pipe, failure to eject, failure to go into battery issues with a revolver. If the gun does not fire, all you need to do is pull the trigger again for the gun to cycle to the next round and it should shoot. There is no break in, you just initially need to make sure that the pistol does fire.

4. Ammo Options:

Like other firearms, there are many choices when it comes to the cartridge type. There are FMJ (full metal jackets), copper plated, lead reloads, semi-wad cutter, +P and of course for home defense, JHP (jacketed hollow points).

5. Accessories:

When it comes to customizing the pistol, there aren't a lot of things you can change or would need to change from the stock version. You can change the grips, there are Pachmayr and Hogue grips available for revolvers of different frames. You can also get a speedloader for faster reloading, since there are no magazines for a revolver or you can also but a strip loader or a ring loader usually used in shooting competitions. There are also aftermarket sights but depending on the type of revolver that you have, most of them have fixed sights. There are also a lot of holster options for a revolver if you would look for one. There are holsters made from synthetic materials, you can also have a custom kydex holster made, a race holster for revolvers is also available, and the most popular for them would be a leather holster.

Pacmayr Rubber Colt Revolver Grips

Speed Loader

Strip Loader

Moon Clip

6. Concealed Carry:

If you carry a firearm on you or would like to, there is an option for you to carry the 2 inch snub nose revolver. It's small that you can put it inside your pocket or if you are a female, in your purse. There is also an option for a hammerless type revolver that you can shoot even while inside your pocket. There are lightweight revolver frames from Taurus and Charter Arms that you can check, but would cost you a bit. It's up to you.

Hammerless 5-shot .38 Special Revolver

The revolver is not a perfect firearm, there are also downsides to having and using one. First would be firepower. Most full sized revolvers would be 6 shots, and an imported brand, specially if it's a snub nose usually has 5 shots. And since it does not use magazines, it would take some time for a shooter to reload the firearm the traditional way. But practice would make reloading the gun faster, and if you get a speedloader, it will be quicker. If you're used to a light trigger pull like in the 1911, shooting a revolver would need some getting used to.

In conclusion, the revolver would be a very good choice for a self/home defense and survival gun because it's practical and easy to use even under stress. The cons of using one can all be compensated with practice. As with any other firearm, you need to train how to use it for you to be effective. Besides, in a home defense situation, you don't need too many bullets.

Remember: Prepare for the worst, hope for the best.

Surviving Urban Disasters - Storm/Flood

This is a series of Youtube videos that I found online. 


Les Stroud "Survivoman" shows you how to survive a flood if your in your house, office or car, explaining ways to treat food, health measures and safety.


And as always, I little preparation is better than not having any.

Survivorman - Surviving Urban Disasters Ep1 "Flood" Part 1/5

Survivorman - Surviving Urban Disasters Ep1 "Flood" Part 2/5

Survivorman - Surviving Urban Disasters Ep1 "Flood" Part 3/5

Survivorman - Surviving Urban Disasters Ep1 "Flood" Part 4/5

Survivorman - Surviving Urban Disasters Ep1 "Flood" Part 5/5

Prepper/Survivalist Accessory: Paracord Bracelet

One of the things that would distinguish a prepper/survivalist is a paracord bracelet. This is a bracelet made of a braided 550 parachute cord. 

Within some military units, it is a tradition to make what is known as a "combat bracelet" using paracord from a soldier's trouser ties and a button from their uniform. Each soldier makes one for the next so each one has a bracelet made by someone else. These are then worn on the mission by each soldier and only taken off when the whole unit returns. In this tutorial you will learn how to make these combat bracelets. (http://www.wikihow.com/Make-a-Paracord-Combat-Bracelet)

But in the modern prepper/survivalist community, there is a different reason for wearing the bracelet. The paracord is a tough rope that you can use in emergency and survival situations.

Here are several uses of the paracord in emergency situations:

-Build a shelter using sticks or by tying up the corners of a poncho or tarp

-Lash logs or other items together to build a raft.

-Use it to make a bow drill for fire starting...(note it does take a lot of practice to start a fire with a bow, so don't rely on this unless you've done it before!)

-Make a sling to throw stones for protection and food. 

-Use it for signaling by tying a mirror or colorful cloth to the top of a tree

-Tie straight sticks around a broken limb to make a splint.

-Tie a sling to hold your arm

-Make a tourniquet to slow loss of blood

-Make a stretcher by running paracord between two long sticks, or fashion a branch drag to move an injured person

(http://www.survivorgeek.com/pages/Emergency-uses-for-Paracord.html)

But aside from the above mentioned, it is still a bracelet, a cool tactical accessory.

The picture of the paracord bracelet shown on this entry is my own bracelet which I bought from "The Para Shop Manila" (http://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Para-Shop-Manila/141274725939869)

This particular braid design is called Super Cobra. This is a double cord braid, I chose the black/OD green colors for a military look. The clip lock has a built in whistle that can also be used in emergency situations so that you can call for help or catch someone's attention.

Though it did not come cheap, the quality of the braid and the bracelet itself is very good. The bracelet was priced at Php420 + Php50 for shipping. I consider the purchase a good buy because I bought it from a fellow prepper/survivalist. Check out the facebook page to see the other prepping/survival items that they sell.