Hi there, Isle of Wight calling!!

[britrb]

Hi there, I'm Brian from the Isle of Wight.

I'm new to this - or so I thought... I am an ex soldier and have been keeping my "bug out" kit in one place for years but wish to learn more about what goes on, and what else I can do. I'm also willing to meet up and exchange ideas, practise etc. I was in the Royal Artillery for 13 years from '92 to '05.

Whats got me into this now? I have ordered an air rifle (I'm an adult instructor with my local CCF unit, and wanted to get my marksmanship skills back up to scratch before any of the cadets embarras me on the ranges!) and while looking through the videos on YouTube I came across a load of preppers videos "Air Rifles for Survival" etc. and realised that I sort of do the same thing as far as keeping my kit up to scratch, looking at new kit etc. I also noticed that when I went on my first exercise with the cadets last year, it only took me a few minutes to have a bergen ready... Some things you never forget!

The air rifle by the way is a Weirauch HW97KT Synthetic .22 which I'll be adding a Hawke Sport scope. I think it will be a great hunting rifle as it has underlever action and a fixed barrel so that he zeroing will not be lost when cocking.


I have a pretty good vehicle, a Toyota Land cruiser 4.2 6 cylinder diesel. Most of the kit I use is ex British Military - very hard wearing stuff and built for a purpose, and I'm used to it.

My other interests include walking the doggies - a pair of ex racer greyhounds - which are just big softies, and a wee bit of kayaking. I'm also a bit of a PC gamer and can help people out with hardware issues (Try switching it off and on again!! lol) but I love outdoors stuff and would definitely bug out, rather than in.

Anyway, hi all, and have fun,
Brian

[hobo]

Hello and welcome, Brian.
Thanks for your intro!
I'd definitely bug in if possible, rather than out! If it was out, a Premier Inn would be my preferred option , though I'm still a member of the YHA!
Nice Weihrauch! Mine's and 87
Hobo

[tigs]

welcome to the forum

[Decaff]

Hello and welcome

[Hamradioop]

hello and welcome.

[Vespa]

Hello and Welcome Brian.

The Isle of Wight is one of my favourite places in the world. My wife is originally fron Ventnor and we visit her family twice a year at least, and for any other excuse we can find.

I've often wondered what I'd do if TSHTF whilst I was there and couldn't get back home to my preps. It's a relatively small place with a higher than average population density, even more so when we Grockles are there in the summer months, I suppose the locals could just eat us tourists in the summer.

[islesurvive]

Hi there Brian,I am a fellow isle of wight prepper welcome to the site!!
I am also ex military(pwrr),would like to hear youre thoughts on buggin out as there is little to no wilderness on the island and like vespa says we have a high population.My tactis would be to be as minimal as possible,possibly dig in with basha for roof as it would be hard to see and added bonus of protection from wind ect.And as you probably know trenches can feel quite homely after a while lol.Your rifle is a good choice i have a freind that has the hw97 with wooden stock swears by it,accurate, reliable,also i think the black version makes it look a bit meaner so maybe good as a deterrant.Good to see another islander on here,happy prepping m8

[britrb]

Well, if S does HTF, drop me a line and I'll direct you to some boats and help you get started. Just a Canoe should get you across from Colwell bay to Hurst Point in about 20 mins - done it myself a few times, its good fun and easy to do. - Do it at just before high tide and there'll be no trouble.

This is from a few months ago. We are marking some charity swimmers in from Hurst to Colwell. I was following the human torpedo!
[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v1lsKkv ... Vsb7FZFWoA[/youtube]

My lovely Weirauch has arrived and I've spent all afternoon on a familiarisation shoot and a wee bit of adjustment. More tomorrow with a bit of a cook out. I wont go for any rabbits yet as my marksmanship is abysmal, and I detest unnecessary cruelty. I need to build up my upper body strength a bit... I'll start tonight by lifting a few pints.

Have fun all,
Brian

Moderator, please accept my apologies if I have upset you with some of my earlier posts. I am used to a mainly Military/ex Military group in the forums I use. I'll tone myself down.

[pseudonym]

Hi there Brian,I am a fellow isle of wight prepper welcome to the site!!
I am also ex military(pwrr),would like to hear youre thoughts on buggin out as there is little to no wilderness on the island and like vespa says we have a high population.My tactis would be to be as minimal as possible,possibly dig in with basha for roof as it would be hard to see and added bonus of protection from wind ect.And as you probably know trenches can feel quite homely after a while lol.Your rifle is a good choice i have a freind that has the hw97 with wooden stock swears by it,accurate, reliable,also i think the black version makes it look a bit meaner so maybe good as a deterrant.Good to see another islander on here,happy prepping m8

Please pop to the new members area and make an introductory post.

Many thanks.

[britrb]

Hi there Brian,I am a fellow isle of wight prepper welcome to the site!!
I am also ex military(pwrr),would like to hear youre thoughts on buggin out as there is little to no wilderness on the island and like vespa says we have a high population.My tactis would be to be as minimal as possible,possibly dig in with basha for roof as it would be hard to see and added bonus of protection from wind ect.And as you probably know trenches can feel quite homely after a while lol.Your rifle is a good choice i have a freind that has the hw97 with wooden stock swears by it,accurate, reliable,also i think the black version makes it look a bit meaner so maybe good as a deterrant.Good to see another islander on here,happy prepping m8

Yup fairly minimalist, however I'd be vehicle mobile - going right where Andy McNab went wrong. No hides/caches. Night movement only with foot recce's before vehicle movement etc. I'll be carrying my Yak and can abandon the truck and bin it to the mainland whenever necessary. You can always rely on your bergan and Black Cadillacs to get you about! I'm definitely not into trenches, hated digging them, and when it rains you're in a bath!! Coffin hides in an emergency - actually quite cosy for a sleepy lie up! While I have the truck it'll be 5 star luxury, with the US camp cot, big lean to etc. but on foot I'll be using the least amount of kit as possible. Goretex till endex!

The only thing I don't like about the rifle is the safety catch, you cant reapply after you take it off, so if you change your mind about a shot remember the state of your weapon. You also cant de-cock under control (think GPMG.) However the accuracy more than makes up for my faded marksmanship skills!! It is a heavy lump of kit too!I have zeroed the scope to 25m and I'm adding a Holo collimator sight to the top of the Hawke scope and zeroing that to 10m for bunnies on the move.

Brian - Ex Royal Artillery.