Everyone has a routine and I’m no different, yet what sets me apart from the mass populace is that my routine incorporates tasks that most preppers will be able to relate to. Others who are not in the prep community might look at this list and think I’m a nutcase or pretty extreme but when you examine the minimal effort each takes vs the reward it becomes clear these are essential. Read through this list and let me know what you think in the comment section, post your own list too! Remember I TRY to do these daily but it doesn’t mean I always succeed.
1- EDC Check
Without fail every day I make sure my every day carry (EDC) is complete before leaving the house. I also make sure that it is consolidated and ready to go in one central location before going to bed. EDC can vary depending on what I’m getting into each day but for the most part it remains the same with respect to what I carry on my person and what I have near me in a small backpack which I carry to work. The backpack serves a purpose in that it houses a laptop and daily organizer for work, but also carries items I don’t want in my pockets (flashlight / pocket torch lighter) in addition to a few secondary devices (extra knife etc).
2- Weapons Checks
How many of you take your semi automatic pistol off of the bedside nightstand and simply holster it before walking out the door? Is it loaded (round in the chamber)? If you said yes, HOW do you know? Maybe you are assuming it is loaded because a few months ago you cleaned in and chambered a round when complete. Rather than assuming, why not conduct a simple PRESS CHECK to verify the status of your weapon. I do this every time I pick up my pistol regardless of the loaded chamber indicator.
3- Vehicle Checks
I’m guilty of driving home from work and glancing at the gas gauge, there it sits nosing below the halfway mark. To stop and make sure it’s full or continue the drive and worry about it another day? I can tell you that USUALLY I work extra hard to keep my tank topped off because you never know when something crazy will happen. In addition to the fuel level status I pop the trunk and make sure all items stored inside (bag, water, first aid kit, fire extinguisher, quick access toilet paper) are good to go. Only takes a second to verify all is in place as it should be and yes…that toilet paper has come in handy a few times.
4- Communication Checks
It’s about awareness especially when it comes to family. Myself, wife and daughter are continuously going our separate ways throughout the week but we always keep each other informed as to our status. Text usually works fine for this, just letting each other know where we are going or when we arrived at said destination and potentially expected time of arrival back to home base. Might seem a little over the top but If cell phone service goes down during some event it will be nice knowing the last known location of everyone in the family.
5- Personal Security Checks
I’d rather seem a little paranoid than simply trotting through life assuming everyone is full of happiness and joy and there is no such thing as danger. Do I check my mirrors while driving looking for a tail? Not usually, but I do take in what I see when approaching my neighborhood and especially when pulling up to my home. I know all of the cars on my street and where they are usually parked. Any signs of forced entry or something out of place at the house and I’d be able to pick it up. Granted I have other measures in place to protect the home but these are general “gut feeling” type steps I take daily. Additionally and without fail every night before going to sleep I take extra steps to secure all doorway entrances to the house. Just another layer of security in place to keep my family safe.
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Good stuff. We have a night time secure the house routine as well.
I have said it before, but I’ll go through it again. I do not believe in press checks. I do load them and leave them loaded. I shoot or clean my carry once a week (lint at least) then load it again. So it’s checked weekly. I do have a tactile loaded chamber indicator and I do use that. I disagree with taking a round partially out of battery, looking for brass (bad habit) then forcing it back into battery (which is not how the pistol was designed to operate). If it doesn’t seat back under the extractor properly you have just induced a malfunction. On the first and argueably most important round. Every pistol I have is always loaded minus service. If we follow the safety rules and you treat every weapon as if its loaded, you might as well load it and have it ready. Don’t play bedroom ninja in the mirror with it unloaded and waving it around and develope bad habits.Load them, use them and clean them regularly and you know what state its in, loaded. Rant over.
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E5C
Totally cool with your opinion man, to each his own! More than one way to skin a cat, but I’m all about the press check for the pistol and the rifle. Don’t tell me you’ve never been on the range and ran a drill only to pull the trigger and hear a click. Might have helped if you did a press check before? 🙂
I actually have not pulled the trigger on an empty chamber. I have safety shot a few things with the rifles, mostly due to the different safties on hunting rifles when the majority of my trigger time is on one modern sporting rifle or another and pistols without safties.
Now, I used to get confussed and check it all the time before I was comfortable carrying with one in the chamber. Back in that time I also had to carry off body alot (not a fan, had no option at the time) so I was constantly chambering and clearing and rechambering, during that time I could have had an issue.
It’s cool we disagree on this, you’re a knowledgeable guy, I benefit from your experiences. I have worked hard to ensure good habits everytime and for me there are several bad habits wrapped into press checks. In your example up top for instance, you wear it all day (loaded) put in on your nightstand (loaded) put it on in the morning…why would it not be loaded, and if you’re concerned why not feel the indicator (if so equipped) rather than taking it out of battery.
My habit is to check for an empty chamber, it should alert me if I see brass. Because if I am checking it, it’s to ensure it’s unloaded for service. It should not seem normal. There’s other reasons, but whatever. Just wanted to throw out an alternative for anyone reading.
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Different strokes for different folks, I see where you are coming from. 🙂
Author
E5C
here is a good vid…notice the mention of the press check 🙂
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0KCSXTw5hZg
My 2 cents worth, the Five Tasks I try to do every day.
1. Probably the most important (for me anyways), Wakeup, open the eyes and see if the ceiling fans are still running. Wiggle all of my fingers, toes, and work the joints. Then hit the floor with the feet, and stand. Now that may sound stupid, but I feel being vertical and semi-coherent is rather important.
2. Next I do a local “safety” check of the house, a walk through if you will. No doors ajar, no windows open or broken, and the security system still intact. Dog gets tossed out and I’m off for farrrrrr more urgent morning business.
3. Then I check my EDC stuff as I load it up. Everything from the ankle knife, pocket folder/fire starter, wallet/keys/cell-phone/45ACP/so on. I seem to agree with E5C on the “checking method” for loaded, but like you said, each to their own. I personally rack a round through than replace the ejected round back to the Mag.
4. As I sit and enjoy a nice cup of Cappuccino I try to plan out the day, laundry, work, food, trips I have to make, and check the net and see if we are at war yet. You know the normal stuff.
5. Finally the very most important thing I, or anyone, can do as an everyday “Task”. I make dang sure I enjoy the day, I don’t care if it’s snowing, hot as hell, or an absolutely beautiful day, I make sure I do something that’s enjoyable/fun/interesting/or any other way you want to put it. I have come to KNOW that if you’re not enjoying your life, you sure as heck better change it.
Thanks for another fine article PJ.
NRP
Author
NRP
That urgent business usually directly follow cup of coffee #1? Also do you carry a full size 1911? I really want to, my TRP is begging to be carried but the damn thing is just too big and heavy.
PJ
Actually the Cappuccino and the urgent business coincide… HAHAHA
I’m not much of a 1911 person, I personally don’t like a “hammer” on my CC firearm Also not a Glock fan, they just don’t fit my hands well. I carry a Springfield XD compact 45ACP 4″ pipe, I like the “shell indicator” on the top and the small “pin” when it’s cocked. With that said I still “rack it every morning. The XD comes with a 10 round mag for carry, and one in the pipe, it also will except the 13 round standard Mag I carry as spares (2). I also mounted a grip laser, plus mounted orange sight forward and green sight on the rear. Last thing I use a BLACKHAWK SERPA Holster I like the “locking” mechanism it uses.
I would greatly recommend them.
NRP
I’d like to incorporate the fun now and then, been tough for awhile now.
Unless you count hanging upside down while I take my pistol apart real fast before my nose starts to bleed.
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I just finished cleaning 3 guns I shot this weekend, it was awful. It’s definitely the worst and most boring part of the shooting experience.
Ahhhh come on PJ, the smell of gun power and lube oil???? better than a good stiff drink of Gin. HAHAHAHA