They say this is going to be a series.  If so, I’ll be sure to watch it.

On another note, he says that Rossi is beginning production again of its 454 Casull rifle.  That’s nice, although I suspect they will be very difficult to obtain.

The Army awarded General Dynamics Land Systems a contract for its Mobile Protected Firepower light tank. (US Army photo)

Popular Science: Via Instapundit.

When it comes to crossing rivers on bridges, all the technology of modern warfare is still bound by the hard limits imposed by the laws of physics—the structure needs to be able to support the vehicle that’s on it. To try to cope with this problem, the Army is investing in a lighter tank than its current battlefield behemoth, the M1 Abrams main battle tank. This new vehicle, which is still known by its descriptive moniker Mobile Protected Firepower, was promoted at the Association of the United States Army conference held in Washington, DC, from October 10-12.

The Mobile Protected Firepower (MPF) vehicle weighs in at 38 tons, which is heavy by all standards, except it is light compared to the 70 tons of heft of an Abrams tank. That means it can go places the Abrams can’t, expanding how and where the Army can effectively fight war from vehicles. The MPF will also feature fire control and situational awareness sensors, which can allow enemy location data to be shared across vehicles in formation.

The MPF is designed to accompany Infantry Brigade Combat Teams, which are intended primarily for travel on foot. These formations, which consist of between 3,900 to 4,100 people, incorporate some vehicles, but are distinguished from Armored and Stryker Brigade Combat Teams, which use roughly heavy and medium-armored vehicles to transport soldiers and weapons around the battlefield.

Breaking Defense: (from June)

The Mobile Protected Firepower program is part of the Army’s Next-Generation Combat Vehicle portfolio, which is developing future ground vehicles as part of the services’ broader, multi-billion modernization effort that includes the Optionally Manned Fighting Vehicle.

Optionally Manned Fighting (ground) Vehicles and Unmanned Fighting (ground) Vehicles can now be added to the vernacular that includes UAVs.

The Army’s stated acquisition objective for the program is 504 vehicles. The first production vehicle will be delivered in “just under” 19 months, Dean said, a timetable that roughly hits around December 2023. That timeline is driven in part by the time it takes to get long-lead time parts, Dean said.

Moving into production, the Army and GDLS will have to be diligent to avoid supply chain issues as production ramps up. Dean said the program was already experiencing “challenges” in the supply base.

“We are seeing challenges in the supply base right now both in cost and availability [of] materials, as well as competition for other components, particularly in the electronic space where electronic chips are in big demand,” Dean said, adding the Army had “some comfort” because the proposals had “reasonable control” over their supply chain.

So, General Dynamics can’t get raw materials and parts; why? Aren’t these sourced entirely in the US? Building fighting machines based on a global JIT supply chain seems fairly idiotic. If there’s an actual war, not one of those banker’s wars, mind you, but a real war, how can the United States satisfy its national strategic interests if it can’t build fighting machines and field trained fighting men? America does not appear to be a serious power anymore. The best part of the top photo is the little step stool. Is that for Generals to look down the barrel?

Here’s a scale model from AUSA‘s recent trade show and exhibition:

Also, at the show – (Why do we get the feeling many of these will be used in CONUS?)

AbramsX:

TRX Breacher:

StrykerX:

Stryker Leonidas:

Better Photo of the Leonidas:

It’s been a mild autumn so far nationwide. Not sure about Alaska, but they usually know what they’re doing. But for the rest of us, it’s been so mild in all regions that we may be lulled into a false sense of ease about the coming winter. That first blast of cold will be a wakeup call for many. Several links are provided below; most are basics, but for the serious, here is the List of Lists.

Winter Prepping basics and tips, including some things you might not have thought about in a while or ever considered, along with regional considerations. This list is too short. There are many other facets that need consideration.

#2: Honey, get yourself a honey bucket!
Since you may you may not have water or sewer from the municipal water supply in an emergency you’ll need to think about sanitation: grey water and honey buckets.

A Honey Bucket is not a Honey Trap, nor is it a Honey Bunny. See, prepping can be fun! The term Honey Pot is very often misused for Honey Trapping. A Honey Pot is actually a computer network with no real intelligence value in the data. It’s designed to lure in (foreign) powers, so they give away their intrusion capabilities or otherwise open themselves to counterattack. Properly identifying each of these other three potential problems has, at sundry times and in diverse manners, helped me. Prepping isn’t only about dried foods. A Honey Bucket is something else entirely.

#3: Stock up on food and a way to cook indoors
You may well have prepared your long-term emergency food needs with ample supplies of rice and beans, but it’s time to stock up on the foods you’ll need to survive a power outage! Your aim for a power outage is ready to eat, shelf-stable meals, such as protein and energy bars, nut butters and crackers. If you have an alternate way to cook, then stock up on soups and canned foods.

Next, given the recent global environment, there are World War II Civilian Survival Lessons. Regardless of what becomes of America, you’ll spend most of your time doing “civilian stuff” anyway.

How American Civilians helped win World War II (and survive).
History repeats itself they say. Capitalizing on wartime lessons can help you for any disaster, not just war. Below are some civilian survival skills and ideas garnered from the civilians who survived World War II with patriotism, collaboration and a “can do” attitude. Below are survival lessons garnered from civilians during the war…

Next, don’t forget how the bankers and government (but we repeat ourselves) brought us the never-ending communist New Deal. So consider prepper Lessons on The Great Depression. The Green New Deal should be twice as good as the first one! That’s what the TV said, so we believe it. Joking aside, Solutions-based Prepping is an interesting concept.

Learn from the past: prepping for the next Great Depression.
Wondering how can you survive an economic collapse and avoid poverty? Perhaps Robert T. Kiyosaki summed it up best when he wrote: “Poverty is simply having more problems than solutions.” Think about this from a prepper’s perspective: strive to be prepared to have more solutions than problems. To ensure you have more solutions than problems, be creative, be flexible and adapt. Below is how to help survive the next Great Depression.

Further, if you’re new to the notion of viewing how to make it through tough times, here are some basics to start:

10 Steps to Basic Preparedness.

Prepping for Ordinary People.

At the CDC, we learn some rudimentary respects to being prepared for Winter Storms. The fun part about doing what the government says to be prepared is that they tell you to both get ready, and then they call you insulting monikers for taking their advice.

Also, see the basics of preparing for Winter Power Outages. This seems important now, certainly for Europe and California, but elsewhere as well.

37 Foods to Hoard

And finally, in light of the recent “pandemic,” it would be a very good idea to get books and training in basic medical and dental knowledge.

Light weight rifles in the news.

New Begara Crest rifle, carbon stock.  Somewhere on the order of $2000.

American Hunter on the Bergara Premier MgLite.

Carbon barrel and carbon stock.  And it looks about as skeletonized as you could get it, running at 6.8 pounds but a bracing $3300.

And just today Game and Fish came out with a nicely written article on eight guns that run between 6 and 7 pounds, but also run somewhere mostly around $2000 each.  Carbon seems to be the common element.

The goal is weight mitigation in the bush and especially in the mountains.  As a man who has carried heavy weight in the mountains, I can sympathize with the goal.

These are some nice rifles.  If readers have experience with any of them, please weigh in with comments.  We may revisit these guns in the future.

Reason.  But of course it does.  The notion that the founders, free men, would have begged the government for permits, licensed their firearms, or scratched numbers on the pristine work done by the gunsmiths of the age so the government could track them, would have made them vomit.  They went to war over things like that.

"These scenarios make clear that Section 922(k) is far more than the mere commercial regulation the Government claims it to be. Rather, it is a blatant prohibition on possession." pic.twitter.com/EFfIXznBTy

— Firearms Policy Coalition (@gunpolicy) October 13, 2022

"Finally, I can find no authority for the idea that a firearm without a serial number would meet the historical definition of a dangerous or unusual firearm." pic.twitter.com/mxNrvjiuZK

— Firearms Policy Coalition (@gunpolicy) October 13, 2022

America: “We can no longer afford to feed our children peanut butter sammiches!”

White House:

President Biden’s National Security Strategy outlines how the United States will advance our vital interests and pursue a free, open, prosperous, and secure world. We will leverage all elements of our national power to outcompete our strategic competitors; tackle shared challenges; and shape the rules of the road.

The Strategy is rooted in our national interests: to protect the security of the American people, to expand economic opportunity, and to realize and defend the democratic values at the heart of the American way of life.

[…]

In the early years of this decisive decade, the terms of geopolitical competition will be set while the window of opportunity to deal with shared challenges will narrow. We cannot compete successfully to shape the international order unless we have an affirmative plan to tackle shared challenges, and we cannot do that unless we recognize how heightened competition affects cooperation and act accordingly.

The most pressing strategic challenge we face as we pursue a free, open, prosperous, and secure world are from powers that layer authoritarian governance with a revisionist foreign policy.

While this competition is underway, people all over the world are struggling to cope with the effects of shared challenges that cross borders—whether it is climate change, food insecurity, communicable diseases, or inflation. These shared challenges are not marginal issues that are secondary to geopolitics. They are at the very core of national and international security and must be treated as such.

• We are building the strongest and broadest coalition of nations to enhance our collective capacity to solve these challenges and deliver for the American people and those around the world.
• To preserve and increase international cooperation in an age of competition, we will pursue a dual-track approach. On one track, we will work with any country, including our competitors, willing to constructively address shared challenges within the rules-based international order and while working to strengthen international institutions. On the other track, we will deepen cooperation with democracies at the core of our coalition, creating a latticework of strong, resilient, and mutually reinforcing relationships that prove democracies can deliver for their people and the world.

It’s not necessary to actually read this circular word salad; we’re simply posting the rest to make a point.

The Biden-Harris Administration has broken down the dividing line between domestic and foreign policy because our strength at home and abroad are inextricably linked. The challenges of our age, from strategic competition to climate change, require us to make investments that sharpen our competitive edge and bolster our resilience.

• Our democracy is at the core of who we are and is a continuous work in progress. Our system of government enshrines the rule of law and strives to protect the equality and dignity of all individuals. As we strive to live up to our ideals, to reckon with and remedy our shortcomings, we will inspire others around the world to do the same.

• We are complementing the innovative power of the private sector with a modern industrial strategy that makes strategic public investments in our workforce, strategic sectors, and supply chains, especially in critical and emerging technologies.

• A powerful U.S. military helps advance and safeguard vital U.S. national interests by backstopping diplomacy, confronting aggression, deterring conflict, projecting strength, and protecting the American people and their economic interests. We are modernizing our military, pursuing advanced technologies, and investing in our defense workforce to best position America to defend our homeland, our allies, partners, and interests overseas, and our values across the globe.

The United States will continue to lead with strength and purpose, leveraging our national advantages and the power of our alliances and partnerships. We have a tradition of transforming both domestic and foreign challenges into opportunities to spur reform and rejuvenation at home. The idea that we should compete with major autocratic powers to shape the international order enjoys broad support that is bipartisan at home and deepening abroad.

• Our alliances and partnerships around the world are our most important strategic asset that we will deepen and modernize for the benefit of our national security.
• We place a premium on growing the connective tissue on technology, trade and security between our democratic allies and partners in the Indo-Pacific and Europe because we recognize that they are mutually reinforcing and the fates of the two regions are intertwined.
• We are charting new economic arrangements to deepen economic engagements with our partners and shaping the rules of the road to level the playing field and enable American workers and businesses—and those of partners and allies around the world—to thrive.
• As we deepen our partnerships around the world, we will look for more democracy, not less, to shape the future. We recognize that while autocracy is at its core brittle, democracy’s inherent capacity to transparently course-correct enables resilience and progress.

The United States is a global power with global interests; we are stronger in each region because of our engagement in the others. We are pursuing an affirmative agenda to advance peace and security and to promote prosperity in every region.

• As an Indo-Pacific power, the United States has a vital interest in realizing a region that is open, interconnected, prosperous, secure, and resilient. We are ambitious because we know that we and our allies and partners hold a common vision for the region’s future.
• With a relationship rooted in shared democratic values, common interests, and historic ties, the transatlantic relationship is a vital platform on which many other elements of our foreign policy are built. To effectively pursue a common global agenda, we are broadening and deepening the transatlantic bond.
• The Western Hemisphere directly impacts the United States more than any other region so we will continue to revive and deepen those partnerships to advance economic resilience, democratic stability, and citizen security.
• A more integrated Middle East that empowers our allies and partners will advance regional peace and prosperity, while reducing the resource demands the region makes on the United States over the long term.
• In Africa, the dynamism, innovation, and demographic growth of the region render it central to addressing complex global problems.

“Some men’s sins are open beforehand, going before to judgment; and some men they follow after.” – 1 Timothy 5:24

Some live in sin openly without fear of God; all see their sin and know it as such. Yet more men hide their sin from others, even trying to deny it to themselves, looking for and desiring some escape that never comes. There is no flight; all evil is set before the holy hill, appearing as a dead stinking fish in a meadow, entirely out of place before the throne of God. There is God and your sin before Him. There is no escape, whether iniquity is hidden in this life to follow after in final judgment or exhibited now going before you for judicial review.

There are sinners of the baser sort, foul creatures without remorse, having no fear of God and never considering a coming day with God, and such were some of you.

But others suppose that living in open sin while pretending it’s not wrong will have no consequence. Everybody looks upon their sin as they gallantly expect some new level of social sophistication in maturity, proclaiming their adult and responsible choices; God is not impressed. Hiding your sin in plain sight for all to see while pretending it’s not wickedness isn’t maturity; it’s childishness. You can fool some and even yourself for a time, but God sees your sin; all things are established before Him.

None will get away with sinning. Whether hidden in fear or seen by all, grossly in ignorance or with malignant intent, none don’t sin. It’s hard to know which curse is worse, the exposed sport before men or the hidden self-deceived before God, for none can honestly hide from God, and all are brought to justice.

“And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels” – 2 Thessalonians 1:7

The crack in the door to hell is creaking ever wider. You who are troubled with no refuge and nowhere to run, watching the world dissolve into fervor for wars with growing evil all around, seek rest with Jesus Christ. His vengeance against all the disobedient is coming; He will repay with tribulation. There is no other to whom you can hope for salvation than Christ.

“In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ: Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power” – 2 Thessalonians 1:8-9

Vengeance at the hand of the Lord our God shall fall upon all who know not the God of their creation. Having heard of Him, obeying not the truth of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, they attempt to hide from God; eternal death is soon their home. By the glory and the power of the Lord, you, who reject the Christ of God, shall be punished under the eternal destruction of damnation in hell; flaming fire awaits as you are slipping toward hades, being removed from the presence of the Lord. Face Him now before it’s ever too late, admitting your sin in repentance; renounce the hidden things of dishonesty, not walking in craftiness.

“Thou hidest thy face, they are troubled: thou takest away their breath, they die, and return to their dust.” – Psalm 104:29

Christians are commanded to have no communion with the unclean thing and to depart from evil. Even God Almighty hides His face from those that are troubled and beset by iniquity, for He will not look upon sin; holy is He. There is a price upon your head. In the last, their final breath is taken from them, but all does not go blank; the soul of the sinner dies eternally, in torment, his worm ever turning to escape the wrath of God at the hand of evil. Is this your final lot?

They pay a man to read a Bible and lie about the passing; they say the dead was a good man. He was kind and caring and giving perhaps, but none are good; all have come short of the glory of God. And as they place the carcass in a box returning it to the dust, all those looking on also lie to themselves and each other, nodding in agreement claiming he was a good man, a just man; perhaps now he’s with Lord in glory? Certainly not, for God is holy; no sin may defile Him, nor ever will; He won’t look upon the unforgiven.

“Riches profit not in the day of wrath: but righteousness delivereth from death.” – Proverbs 11:4

His money didn’t protect him, nor did all the preparations for the end prevail, for God owns everything: every penny in the purse, every tool in the shed, and beans in the cupboard. Only the righteousness of Christ can deliver your soul from death. No deeds well done or riches stored up will profit. Hidden in the womb, you arrived naked, scared, and alone: and in dying, though you may try to hide, the transgressor returns naked and fearful before a holy God, alone without defense.

But there was One, sinless yet crucified, tortured to death, beaten and bloodied, with beard ripped from His face, who took His own cross and dragged up a hill, laying down upon it He stretched His arms wide in love and was nailed with spikes of iron. Then the cross was stood while all mocked and jeered; He was spat upon and ridiculed, dying there for you. He died for the sinner.

Dead in your trespasses against the Almighty and headed to wrath; Christ died there on that cross to save you from your sin and certain death. Holy Father God has turned His face and hidden it from you, ashamed of your folly, but this Jesus came to get you and rescue you from the certain eternal damnation of God’s judgment that you deserve. Jesus paid your debt in death and commended His own spirit to the Father.

As we today anticipate His return and the final judgment, some sadly doubt. Even two thousand years ago, they paused three days for the promise; some waivered then, but they waited.

“And to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, even Jesus, which delivered us from the wrath to come.” – 1 Thessalonians 1:10

And three days later, the Son of God was risen up from the dead, this Jesus of Nazareth who draws all the world to the curious affair of the crucifixion and His resurrection from the dead. He rose again from the dead that He might deliver us, deliver you, from the wrath to come. This is how you can know that Christ Jesus has the power of life. Death could not hold Him, the tomb and hell could not keep Him; this authority He had of Father God, to raise Himself again. Having risen again indeed, this power He has of Himself – to raise you to life eternal, presenting you blameless in the heavenly places with God Almighty.

“For as the heaven is high above the earth, so great is his mercy toward them that fear him.” – Psalm 103:11

The fear of God is a mighty thing. This knowing, deep in your conscience, that indeed there is a God, and although you know Him not, and you’re not perfect by any stretch, you dare not to offend overtly putting yourself at ought with your Creator. This is a fear of the Lord yet without faith. For it is your decision, many are called, but few are chosen.

Knowing the fear of the Lord, do you determine to believe by faith that He is also the God that can save you by His power? The idea in your gut is one thing; choosing Christ, making Jesus your Saviour and holy Father God your one and only God, is what awaits. Do it this day if ye will hear his call, harden not your heart.

“As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us.” – Psalm 103:12

And we testify that the love of God is sweet beyond measure; your sins can be hidden from His face and from the wrath to come. People may look upon your outward parts, and you seem the same. They may remember what you once did and were, but Holy God declares of all who trust in His Son; their sins and iniquities will I remember no more. And not only so, but your transgressions can be removed, gone, as though they never existed. You will change, released from chains of fear and regret. This is the forgiveness of Christ, who loves you and, in mercy, expended His life for you.

The human conscience is an alarm to return to God. Whether you’ve ever known God or not, all must return to Him for judgment. The conscience gives you an inkling to be prepared for that day, and it’s not wrong, for God has made us thus, that we might seek Him.

The only saving trial is forgiveness from sin and salvation from hell in the person of Jesus Christ. Return to God in contrite spirit. In Christ Jesus, those who understand they are dead already find forgiveness and life everlasting.

“For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God.” – Colossians 3:3

Though you hid your sins from men and tried to conceal them from the Almighty, God will hide them as far as the east is from the west, seeing them no more. In Christ is a home unending, free with God. Call upon His holy name. Nothing can separate us from the Love of God. No man can pluck you out of Christ’s hand. No more fear in your conscience nor price upon your head; hallelujah, commending your spirit to the Father, your eternal soul can now be hid with Christ in God.

From Guns.com.  Here is the video.

That gun sure is jumping around in her hands.  I’d like to understand the differences between this model and what Langdon Tactical does with the Model 92 low mount red dot optic cut slide.

Watch until the end where you learn the reason for this failure.  It’s quite common, actually, because of the similarity of ammunition case.

Check your ammunition.  Load it by hand, and watch while you do.

Here Kitty Kitty:

Oct. 11 (UPI) — Multiple witnesses have reported mountain lion sightings in Madison County, Iowa according to local police.

The Madison County Sheriff’s office posted video of a mountain lion roaming through the woods outside of St. Charles along with a photo taken from a trail cam near New Virginia in Warren County. It’s not known if the images show the same animal.

The video evidence comes after multiple eyewitnesses reported seeing mountain lions in the area. The sheriff’s office doesn’t think the mountain lions are a threat to the public because the sightings have been away from populated areas.

Mountain lions do not have any wildlife protections in Iowa, but the Department of Natural Resources does not encourage people to kill the animals. Instead citizens are encouraged to report sightings to the Department and to frighten the animals away by making loud noises, throwing objects, and slowly backing off.

I can assure you that cats are not frightened by people slowly backing off. It’s like a comedy sketch that goes on too long:

If attacked citizens are encouraged to use sharp objects to attack the mountain lion’s eyes, though the Department of Natural Resources emphasizes that attacks on humans are very rare.

Bullets, those are sharp!

Via Instapundit