Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Backpack Hunting Surviving a cold wet night

Did I really write "homemade matches"? Opps.I guess I shoulda written Strike on anything Diamond Matches that I waterproof with parafin wax. Just dip the whole thing in and let it dry. I've never had a problem lighting these-ever. Although, I'm looking at the REI type that are strike on anything and have about an inch of sulfur. I've seen the flame and burn on these and they are extremely impressive. The sawdust/parafin firestarters: Melt hard parafin wax, add hard wood saw dust (more like small shavings, not dust). Make mold outta aluminum foil about the size of a finger. Add thick wick the entire length and add wax/sawdust mixture. I get about a 10 minute burn time, and they burn in wind and rain pretty well. Try em and let me know what you think. The tarp is Silnylon 65" wide (it comes that wide on the roll) x 5' with all corners and mid points with sewn in loops.

If at all possible if members could take pic's of their survival kits/gear that they carry in day packs and list suggestions for surviving a night or two or three in wet cold conditions that would be great.
Even if you get some time this summer or spring or whenever to actually set up a shelter made from survival tarps blankets etc and post a pic that would be great.

i found these "fire starter squares" in the grocery store by the bbq stuff, you can peel 'em apart or keep them whole (about 1"x1")
they are made of wax and sawdust and burn quite a while, i keep four in my pack with two lighters and waterproof matches,
i really should eliminate one of the lighters and add a fire steel.

S.H.S., here is a link to the best fire steels (ferro rods) out there. I have two of his 3/8"x4" Armegeddon fire steels, plus his super scrappers for each one, and they are outstanding. Look on the left side of the page to click on various types.

http://www.survivaltopics.com/gear/

One of these ferro rods with some petroleum jelly/cotton balls will get a fire started in inclement conditions.

L.W.

I would argue those are the best fire steels out there. I bought one, and threw it away. It didnt put out anywhere near the spark that my Swedish Fire Steel did.
Swedish Fire Steel

MarkG, I have both the Swedish Fire Steel and the Armegeddon I mentioned. Both -- for me, at least -- throw a tremendous ball of sparks and I've used them both in rainy conditions and snow. I can't tell the difference.

Different strokes for different folks, I suppose.

L.W.

Just an observation, but it was just a test group of 1 so maybe I got a dud... dont know. I do love flint and steel though..just a cool way to get a fire going. I let the kids start fires in our back yard fire pit with them, just a neat skill to have, and they think its fun!

I would agree spomewhat with "me".But ONLY to the extent of finding it hard to understand why so many who venture into the wilderness go so un prepared.

Lets talk survival in the NH � Maine woods which is my normal hunting range. First of all I have been lost many times but never spent a night in the woods alone.

For me the Number One survival gear you can have is the clothes you wear. You can talk about building a fire, building a shelter, catching food ect� But you may not be able to do any of those things with a major injury of some nature.

Wool is number one.
Today you can comfortably hunt in 100% Marino wool in any weather conditions. Companies like Minus33 www.Minus33.com (and many others) have complete lines of wool base layer garments. Start with boxer briefs, and good wool sox. Then add the long underwear for the temperate you are hunting in. For winter / cold weather going I use the expedition weight (400 g/m) top and bottom with a second layer of a full zip top. This is easy to open up or remove completely when necessary. There are many 100% wool pant and coat makers. I just bought a light weight pair of First light Gila Pant www.firstlite.com 99% wool 1% rip stop nylon. This is a light weight early fall pant but for later in the year I will move into a 22-24 oz Filson bib type pant. www.filson.com

A good hat and your good to go.

In general I would rather lug a few items to prevent me from getting lost like a good GPS, and a back up compass with map. If I knew I was spending a night in the woods I would lug a real ax. www.Gerber-tools.com Gerber has a nice 1 lb one which I might buy some day.

I have carried a Buck Skinner knife www.buckknives.com for 30+ years. You can probably find some fancy new thing but this is a down to earth basic knife that really holds and edge. In a survival event this guy will take what ever you need it to.

Boar is right. Just this last year a friend of mine became lost and I had to call the police and search and rescue to find him.
It was winter, up high, heavy frosts and probably hovering a couple of degrees either side of freezing through the day.Luckily it didnt rain until the second night...
There was very little wind which was very lucky also.

The only things that really mattered in this situation were his clothing, and starting a fire. Sadly he had no lighter or matches ! And the bush was dry as a bone the first night. I wasnt even too worried about him, thinking that he would make a great big blaze and be warmer than I was...
Ironically he saw a ton of deer....all after he had fired his eight rounds of ammo away signalling...they found him after two days and nights. He said some of things that went on were between him and god.

Alaska is full of bodies of men who fired all their ammo trying to get rescued, or kept it in case of bears, when they should have bulled a bullet with their teeth, dumped the powder on some kindling, chambered the shell, and pointed the barrel at the gunpowder and fired. The spark from the primer would have lit the gunpowder, started a fire, and they would have been warm, and the bears, if there ever were any, would have stayed away.

Yes I've done this.

Mr Walter, I'm not saying I don't beleive you, but I'd have to see you light a fire as you've described before I stop being a tad skeptical.


Lot a good knowledge passed along in this thread. Only "wisdom" I can add is that when the Sun starts to go down and your a long ways from the comforts of home, you'll be much less likely to panic and get yourself into deep sheet if you have practiced how to make fires with little to nothing, and made a shelter or two out of whatever was lying around.

Ah, it's pretty easy to do your self, but I'll do a YouTube video and post it here.

Looking forward to your video David, thank you in advance!

MtnHtr

+1 would love to see that..

That's one reason to carry a Leatherman tool.

Mr. Walter, my skepticism has more to do with your ability to pull a copper jacketed bullet out of a shell case with not but your teeth.

I've tried igniting smokeless powder in the manor you described and I've not had it work for me. I used 30/06 shell cases, large rifle primers, and charges of IMR smokeless powder poured out onto a pad of dry concrete. Perhaps you have a better method.

Hopefully I'll get to this tonight.

If you stick the bullet in the muzzle and bend the case a bit it will come loose.

I'll do it all on the video for the unbelievers.

I have never tried this myself either but it should be possible.

In trying to reduce what is possible to its bare elements, let's consider the point of the exercise as simply figuring if enough of a spark/flash can be produced out the end of the muzzle of a barrel X inches long using just a primered case. From there, we do not have to confound the question with the inclusion of being able to ignite the actul gunpowder with the flash produced because one only really needs the spark/flash produced by only the primered case to produce a fire anyway. Proper preperation of appropriate tinder material still applies.

Do it in the dark. If there is a significant enough flash then it should work. You could put a cotton ball soaked in vaseline at the end of the muzzle to see if it will take the park and ignite. The question of whether one can pull the bullet is another question and variable altogether. I would actually try the exercise using rimfire ammo from a handgun instead of a centerfire rifle bullet... less expensive. A $3 match? No thanks

BTW, Les Stroud of "Survivorman" fame did it in his artic tundra episode.

A "space blanket" can be invaluable.