Outdoor Life Prepare for Anything Survival Manual (49 page)

Shooting a handgun accurately takes a lot of practice. Yes, good-quality ammunition goes a long way toward marksmanship. But before you ever sight down a target, you can study some common mistakes and help diagnose problems as (or even before) they occur.

First, you need to understand sight alignment and picture. To align your handgun’s sights properly, you must confirm that the top of the front sight is level with the notch in the rear sight. This ensures proper elevation, meaning that your aim is neither too high nor too low. Of course, you must also align the sights horizontally. A good way to practice without even using a gun is to have the shooter hold a pen and extend her arm out front. The shooter can pick a target in the distance and practice transferring her gaze from the tip of the pen to the target and back again. This focusing trains the shooter’s eye to transition between the front sight and the target. Remember that when the shot breaks, the focus should be on the tip of the front sight or, in this case, the tip of the pen.

Second, learn trigger control. If you don’t properly pull the trigger, the most well-sighted shot will be off target. In order to develop good trigger-pull mechanics, try balancing a penny on the end of the barrel. Now practice dry-firing the pistol until the penny remains balanced. If the penny keeps falling off, pay close attention to the direction it falls. This observation can tell you if you’re pushing or jerking the trigger, and you can correct targeting issues before ever squeezing off a valuable round.

Cultures around the world have used blowguns as hunting tools for thousands of years, and there is no shortage of modern fans in the sport of blowgun target shooting. This particular plan doesn’t include poison, but with these instructions, you can go after small game with your own homemade blowgun and darts.

STEP 1
Measure a length of PVC pipe to make the body of your blowgun—generally about 3–6 feet (1–2 m). You can also make a “takedown” version by assembling multiple lengths of threaded PVC pipe and female adapters. Cut the ends of your pipe (including removing any threading if necessary) and sand smooth.

STEP 2
Create a mouthpiece by cutting down the threads on the 3/4-inch adapter, leaving about 1/4 to 1/2 inch (0.6 to 1.2 cm). Screw the adapter into the 1/2-inch (1.2-cm) bushing, securing with superglue or cement.

STEP 3
Attach the other end of the 1/2-inch (1.2-cm) bushing to one end of the pipe, again using your glue.

STEP 4
Sharpen the pointed ends of your skewers, and round or blunt the back ends. If you are using metal skewers, you may have to cut off a ring or handle first.

STEP 5
Measure out several inches (at least 10 cm) of string and glue it to the end of a wooden skewer, about an inch (2.5 cm) up from its base.

STEP 6
Pull a couple of long tufts from a cotton ball, lay half of their length against the back of the skewer, and wind the string around them to pin them in place. Continue adding tufts of cotton, tying them on, until you have a tail on your skewer.

STEP 7
Trim off excess string and glue the end so it does not unwind. Make sure the dart can be placed snugly into the blowgun but does not entirely block air flow. Once you have the right size, you can make more darts the same way.

When it comes to defending yourself or your property, take a cue from some common items.

THINK GALVANIZED
Every kid who ever played knights in armor knows about using the lid of a trashcan as a shield. It won’t stop a bullet, but it will stop a machete or a hatchet and will most certainly deflect a punch.

CLIMB A LADDER
You can even pick one up to keep attackers at bay. Improvised weapons aren’t always offensive; when it comes to protecting yourself from physical assault, anything that keeps an aggressor at more than arm’s length is good. A lightweight ladder can easily be grabbed to put space between you and an intruder. In the event the assailant is of the four-legged variety, a ladder is invaluable in keeping you from being bitten.

SPRAY AWAY
A spray bottle is useful for more than simply watering plants or using pesticides. Chances are, it already contains something you’d rather not have in your eyes. If not, just pick up an extra one and fill it with common ammonia. Set the nozzle to “stream,” and don’t hesitate to use it in an emergency situation. A well-aimed squirt of ammonia is usually all that’s needed to keep you safe, especially with small animals.

TOOL UP
Household tools make for good weapons. Look at the weaponry of medieval peasants: pitchforks, spades, hammers, and more. There is almost always a weapon within reach, especially if tools are kept where they are most often used rather than in one central location.