Author Archives: GunGuy

About GunGuy

Prep minded city guy who tries not to take himself too seriously.

Ham Radio Starter Kit for Emergencies

by GunGuy

Warning: If you TRANSMIT on frequencies reserved for HAM radio without a license you will be considered a “Pirate”. This is against FCC regulations and they can find you, fine you and take all your radio equipment.

Having reliable communications is always important but it is essential during times of crisis. I think it is imperative that you and your family have reliable communications in times of an emergency or disaster. If the power goes out and the landlines and cell towers are disrupted having the ability to communicate and gather information prevents you from feeling isolated and hopeless.

Keeping the above in mind and also wanting to price out a budget friendly starter package for the beginning ham radio enthusiast or SHTF emergency contingency I recommend the following. It’s cheap, works well and it is easy to add more radios as needed.

Baofeng UV-5R UHF/VHF (HAM) Radio – $32.23
ExpertPower 7.5″ Dual Band Two-way Radio Antenna SMA-Female – $14.99
Baofeng BF-S112 Two Way Radio Speaker (Handheld mic) – $6.59 or the Pro Two Way Radio Earpiece Headset – $19.97
Spare Baofeng 7.4v 1800mAh Li-ion Battery for UV-5R – $10.29
Car charger cable – $3.91. This plugs into the charging cradle and not the radio directly.
Genuine Baofeng Programming Cable – $20.46
Chirp – Free Open Source Radio Programming Software. Chirp Emergency Radio Config IMG file here and Emergency Radio Config CSV file here. List of frequencies further down the post.
Baofeng UV-5R Programming With a Computer (3 part video walk through on using CHIRP to program this radio)

So after ordering several of the items listed above I have:

2 Baofeng 2-way radios.
2 Expert Power 7.5″ antenna upgrades. These are flexible and will not snap like the antennas that come with the radios.
2 Handheld Mics. Good for clipping to your shirt.
2 Spare batteries.
1 Car charger. This plugs into the charging cradle and not the radio directly.
1 genuine Baofeng programming cable

For a total of $152.57 I have two radios with upgrades and accessories which is less than one Yaesu FT-60R handheld.

List of frequencies included in the Chirp Emergency Radio Config IMG file here and Emergency Radio Config CSV file here. Same info different file formats.

In order to get you started on obtaining your HAM radio license here are two excellent resources. National Association for Amateur Radio and eHam.net Practice Exams. The test is relatively easy to pass and just reading the Ham Radio License Manual published by the ARRL will be enough. You can cram for the test by reading the Q&A’s in the back over and over till you get them down.

1	70SPX1	446
2	2SPX01	146.52
3	2SPX02	146.535
4	2SPX03	146.55
5	2SPX04	146.565
6	2SPX05	146.58
7	2SPX06	146.595
8	2SPX07	147.42
9	2SPX08	147.435
10	2SPX09	147.45
11	2SPX10	147.465
12	2SPX11	147.48
13	2SPX12	147.495
14	2SPX13	147.51
15	2SPX14	147.525
16	2SPX15	147.54
17	2SPX16	147.555
18	2SPX17	147.57
19	2SPX18	147.585
20	FRS1	462.5625
21	FRS2	462.5875
22	FRS3	462.6125
23	FRS4	462.6375
24	FRS5	462.6625
25	FRS6	462.6875
26	FRS7	462.7125
27	FRS8	467.5625
28	FRS9	467.5875
29	FRS10	467.6125
30	FRS11	467.6375
31	FRS12	467.6625
32	FRS13	467.6875
33	FRS14	467.7125
34	GMRS1	462.55
35	GMRS2	462.575
36	GMRS3	462.6
37	GMRS4	462.625
38	GMRS5	462.65
39	GMRS6	462.675
40	GMRS7	462.7
41	GMRS8	462.725
42	MURS1	151.82
43	MURS2	151.88
44	MURS3	151.94
45	MURS4	154.57
46	MURS5	154.6
47	NOAA1	162.4
48	NOAA2	162.425
49	NOAA3	162.45
50	NOAA4	162.475
51	NOAA5	162.5
52	NOAA6	162.525
53	NOAA7	162.55
54	MVHF16	156.8

Colt Cobra Range Report

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by GunGuy

I picked a Colt Cobra revolver a little while ago and had a chance to take it to the range to put it through its paces.

I tried three different types of 38 special ammo. Since this revolver is over 40 years old and there is no way of knowing what kind of abuse it has seen over the years I wanted to only shoot the lowest velocity ammo that is commercially produced. I tried the following.

Hornady Custom 38 special XTP Hollow Point 158 grain – 800 fps
Magtech 38 special FMJ 158 grain – 755 fps
Inverted wadcutter handloads 158 grain – 650 fps

I was shooting slow aimed fire with two hands in single action at 7yds. It was 62 degrees outside and slightly cloudy. The best results came from the 158 grain Hornady 38 special hollow points. I was very surprised with the tightness of the group. The recoil was minimal across all three types of ammo with the lightest and most pleasurable being the custom handloads.

Pics below.

colt cobra left

Hornady Custom Ammunition 38 Special 158 Grain XTP Jacketed Hollow Point at 7 YDS

Magtech38 SPL 158 Grain Full Metal Jacket at 7 YDS

Custom handloads with inverted wadcutters at 7YDS

Day of Wrath – Book Review

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Just like his book, ‘One Second After’ Mr. Forstchen has the ability to put the reader directly into the very real scenarios that he describes.

In ‘Day of Wrath’ William R. Forstchen again dares to think the unthinkable by imagining the effects of a series of coordinated attacks on the American heartland by ISIS, the savage Islamist terrorist organization currently sweeping across SYRIA and Iraq – with its sights set on a Middle Eastern Caliphate ruled by Sharia Law. ISIS has also threatened to bring their brand of savagery to America, and this is what the author lays out for us – depicting the brutality of one eight hour period.

It’s frighteningly real and the reader can easily put him/herself directly into the story. Both of his books are must reads for Americans, especially those who don’t believe that our country is vulnerable to attacks.

Vortex Viper PST 2.5 – 10x32mm FFP Riflescope Review

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Last year I was on the look out for a new scope for my DMR rifle. I purchased the Vortex PST 2.5x 32 mm scope after talking to some friends about their experiences. After using the scope for over as a year I find that the Vortex Viper PST 2.5 – 10x32mm is an excellent scope for the money. The optic is very clear and bright and the finish is a nice matte black. The turrets have the right amount of resistance to them and have a nice positive feel so you know that you have moved the turret. The turrets are easy to read and setting the zero stop with the included brass shims is a breeze.

In my extensive testing the scopes adjustments seem to be accurate. I have used the scope out to 650 yards and consistently hit targets I was aiming at. I have used the shim stop system and it works well. The illumination works great at dawn, dusk, and night. The illumination is not bright enough to been seen during the day but that’s not really an issue since you can see the reticle without any issues. I really like the reticle on this scope as it is very clear and easy to use. Using the mil system to calculate range is easy at most magnification settings except the lower ones.

This is my first, first focal plane scope and so far I am liking it. The eye relief is very generous in the horizontal plane at all magnification settings. The ring that changes the scope’s magnification is pretty stiff and will not be moved on accident. I am able to change magnification with out problems as it feels smooth when the ring is turned though I will be adding a Vortex SV-1 Throw Lever to aid in rapidly transitioning through the magnification settings.

Cons:

I only have one major con and that is that the reticle is pretty small at 2.5x magnification and can be hard to see on darker backgrounds. That is a con of a first focal plane scope though. That being said I don’t think I would want the reticle made thicker to make it easier to see at 2.5x magnification because it’s just the right size at 10x magnification.

Overall I would highly recommend this scope. Especially for a DMR or SPR type rifle. It’s about as close to perfect for that setup as you can get. I have mine mounted on my PWS AR and it’s working great so far.

DMR/SPR Parts List:

PWS Viper Vortex PST

Lone Survivor – Book Review

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Lone Survivor is a compelling, easy read that you will find hard to put down. The first part takes you through SEAL training in Coronado, CA and gives you a deep appreciation for just how hard it is to become a SEAL, while the second half takes you through a harrowing battle that in many ways validates just why the SEAL selection and training process is so difficult and so effective.

The battle sequence in Afghanistan and its aftermath is incredibly intense . The best screen writer in Hollywood couldn’t have dreamt up something more intense, moving, and awe inspiring.

Reading this fills one with humility and gratitude for the sacrifice that all the members of our armed services make on our behalf, but especially for the men of the SEAL teams. All I can say is that I am very glad they are on our side.

As an aside, if you enjoy books like this you should check out Bravo Two Zero by Andy McNab, an SAS operative who served in the first Iraq war. I found it highly ironic that in both cases great misfortune results from acts of human mercy that elite soldiers felt compelled to take despite the clear risk it posed to their own lives. These books should be required reading for anyone who questions the character and moral fiber of such brave men.