Articles by Herschel Smith

Finally, an answer to Fred’s question.

Discussion at Outdoor Life.

I’ve seen in-field tests.  These things have limited capability, and are no replacement for having a parka or being able to start fire (which underlines my constant attention to redundant means of fire start).

If anyone has an experience with survival blankets, please indicate in the comments.

Yes.

Epoch Times.

Navy SEALs have been informed by superiors that they won’t be deployed if they refuse to get a COVID-19 vaccine, even if they’re granted a religious or medical exemption, according to lawyers representing the elite special operations troops and a document seen by The Epoch Times.

“What they’ve been told is if they apply for a religious accommodation, they will no longer be deployable,” R. Davis Younts, who is representing seven SEALs and is in talks to take on approximately 20 others, told The Epoch Times.

Timothy Parlatore, whose firm represents a number of SEALs and other service members concerned about the vaccines, said his clients have also been given a similar ultimatum.

Some SEALs have even been sent home mid-deployment for refusing a COVID-19 vaccine, one of his clients told him.

A document presented to the SEALs says that any special operations personnel, including Special Warfare Combatant-Craft Crewmen, “who refuse to receive the COVID-19 vaccine based solely on personal or religious beliefs will be disqualified from [special operations] duty.” It was signed by Capt. Liam Hulin.

“This will affect deployment and special pays,” the document also states. “This provision does not pertain to medical contraindications or allergies to vaccine administration.”

The reasons the SEALs don’t want a shot are the same as many unvaccinated Americans. They believe they have so-called natural immunity, or protection against reinfection after getting COVID-19 and recovering. And a subset are Christians who don’t want any medicines that are developed using cells from aborted fetuses.

“These guys are not anti-vax, they just—given the extraordinarily low risk of COVID to them and the substantial risk of unknown long-term effects of the vaccine—they aren’t comfortable with it right now,” Parlatore told The Epoch Times.

The exact number of SEALs considering not getting a vaccine isn’t known, but both Parlatore and a pastor who is advising some of them say it’s in the hundreds. The loss of that many SEALs could devastate the elite force, which has 2,450 active-duty members. So far, lawyers have not been successful in attempts to convince military leaders to alter the harsh mandate.

From one of the comments, “I would love to have the unvaccinated SEALS stay in the United States.  We are going to need them.”

I’m not sure how those who refuse the jab will look at this, whether they will go silently into the night and be quiet like the FedGov wants them to and accept potentially not being able to vote, purchase a firearm, and having to accept a bad conduct discharge (if it comes to that).  My bet would be against that.

However, it disappoints me that any SEALs accepted the jab.  But that’s up to them.

I knew this information anyway several weeks ago.  I know someone who is connected to the SEAL community and he told me this information, and informs me that “morale is very low in the SEAL community at the moment.”

Yea, I don’t doubt it.

As we discussed before, in addition to vitamins D3, C, Zinc, Aspirin (to prevent clotting), Ivermectin, Z-Pac, Zyrtec, Claritin, and nasal washing and gargling with sodium bicarbonate water, there is something else that may be handy.

David Codrea links a piece seemingly written by someone who understands the disease, and he strongly recommends antioxidants (although the ones listed are unfamiliar to me).  Perhaps a medical professional could explain.  For what it’s worth, his connection of intubation with rapid oxidative stresses makes sense, and I recalled from early in 2020 when Dr. Cameron Kyle-Sidell explained that this disease isn’t ARDS and that treating it as such would kill patients.  It seems that doctors all over America doing critical care haven’t learned a thing.

In the mean time, Quercetin is an effective antioxidant.  We have it sitting on our shelves for just such a purpose.

News from Colorado.

When police in Idaho Springs, Colo., saw a vehicle roll through a stop sign on a September evening in 2019, they followed it into a laundromat’s parking lot and turned on their flashing lights.

The driver, Brady Mistic, parked his car and stepped out of the vehicle.

He later said he did not understand what was happening, or even that he was being pulled over — Mistic is deaf and communicates primarily through American Sign Language.

In the confusion, the situation escalated. According to a new lawsuit filed by Mistic, the officers threw him to the ground, stunned him with a Taser and put him in handcuffs. Unable to fully communicate, he tried to use some of the few words he is able to speak: “No ears.” It seemed to make no difference.

After the encounter, Mistic was charged with resisting arrest and assault on a police officer. He was jailed for four months, during which time he said he continued to struggle to communicate the misunderstanding. The charges were later dropped.

Two years after the incident, Mistic has filed the lawsuit against the city of Idaho Springs and the two officers involved, alleging excessive force, unlawful arrest, malicious prosecution and discrimination against a person with a disability. The suit also accuses Clear Creek County of failing to properly accommodate his disability in jail.

“This is a civil rights action seeking justice for the shocking use of unnecessary police force and wrongful incarceration of a deaf man whom the Defendant officers rashly attacked after failing to recognize his disability and misinterpreting his non-threatening attempts to see and comunicate as challenges to police authority,” the lawsuit states.

In a statement, the Idaho Springs Police Department said the two officers, Nicholas Hanning and Ellie Summers, did not know Mistic was deaf. The department said the police chief had reviewed the incident and found the officers acted appropriately in the situation.

Of course the chief found that they acted appropriately.  They’re geniuses, one and all.  Top IQ, cops are.  Top boys and girls.

All of their procedures are perfect, the cops are smart, and it’s customary to slam people around.

Some folks, like this chief, still tell fairy tales like little children are listening.  And others love to hear them, like for example, if you vote for Mitt Romney, or write at the National Review and consider yourself a “law and order” type.

Ron Spomer does the 6.5 Grendel.

I’ve done the AR-10 scene and didn’t like it.  An AR-10 is heavy, unwieldy, and stiff recoiling – everything the AR-15 isn’t, negating the very advantages of the AR-15 platform.  I wasn’t all that pleased or impressed and sold what I had.

On the other hand, a 123 grain bullet travelling this fast in an AR-15 size package is very appealing.  Folks like Pat Hines may say “I told you so.”

Also, if you can make it past the two idiots to get to the knowledge of Ryan Muckenhirn, this is a good video on the virtues of the Grendel round, including out of a bolt action rifle.  Posted eight months ago.

We’ve discussed vitamins D3, C, Zinc, Aspirin (to prevent clotting), Ivermectin and Z-Pac.  Early, not late.  Seems to me to be fairly simple stuff.  Yet this may get even simpler (via WRSA).

Zyrtec, Claritin, and nasal washing and gargling with sodium bicarbonate water (half a glass of warm water with half a teaspoon of sodium bicarbonate).

In other words, dry it up to prevent it from dripping down into your lungs, and wash it out before it gets a chance to multiply.

It sounds better than Myocarditis and massive hematoma, yes?

There’s also this disturbing report from a Brigade Surgeon for the 1st Aviation Brigade Ft. Rucker, Alabama.  Read it all.  The courage she exemplifies is stellar.

Via WiscoDave, a followup to the conversation we had a few days ago.

Australian Citizen: "Why r u doing this? Policies are killing people."

Australian Police: “I agree with u, I'm just doing my job…I'm just as over this lockdown as you are mate, but this is my job. Im not skilled to do anything else.” pic.twitter.com/Dmaaa9LW6r

— מאק (@beingrealmac) September 21, 2021

CTD.

Super-Full And Extra-Full Chokes

Known as gobbler getters, these are ideally suited for the headshots necessary in turkey hunting. They have extra-tight constrictions and the densest patterns.

Full Choke

A full choke has tight constriction and a dense pattern, delivering approximately 70 percent of a shell’s total pellets in a 30″ circle at 40 yards. It’s best for trap shooting, waterfowl pass shooting, turkey hunting, and buckshot loads.

Modified Choke

The modified is characterized by less constriction than full choke, delivering approximately 60 percent of a shell’s total pellets in a 30″ circle at 40 yards. Excellent for all-around hunting of waterfowl, long-range flushing of upland birds (such as late-season pheasant and sharptail grouse) as well as other small game. It’s also used for trap shooting.

Improved Cylinder Choke

Even less constricted than modified, the improved cylinder distributes approximately 50 percent of a shell’s total pellets in a 30″ circle at 40 yards. Ideal for close-in small-game shooting, upland bird hunting (such as quail, grouse, and pheasant) as well as hunting waterfowl close over decoys. Rifled slugs also perform very well with this choke.

Cylinder Bore

A cylinder bore provides no constriction and distributes approximately 40 percent of a shell’s total pellets in a 30″ circle at 40 yards. It’s most often used by law enforcement for service shotguns.

Skeet Choke

A skeet choke is a specialty choke that sends approximately 50 percent of a shell’s total pellets in a 30″ circle at 25 yards. This type is designed to deliver optimum patterns for close-range skeet shooting.

I found this informative as a good summary, but one of the best things I learned was in the comments.  I confess I didn’t know this.

Q: Is it safe to shoot 12 gauge slug on the Benelli M4 with a modified choke?

A1: It is not recommended to shoot slugs through a modified choke. Cylinder and Improved Cylinder are acceptable for rifled slugs, as they have the least constriction. Additionally, you can purchase a rifled choke, which will allow you to shoot sabot slugs (at what level of accuracy, I am not sure).

A2: Not only can shooting a slug through a full choke be potentially hazardous to the barrel (and in very extreme cases the shooter), accuracy will typically be poor since the slug is heavily compressed as it passes through the choke. I typically recommend cylinder bore or improved cylinder for shooting rifled slugs, though I know some old timers that swore by their modified chokes for slug shooting.

If some shotgunners would like to add to this, do so in the comments.