Wasteland Survivalist: A Scientific Guide to Post-Apocalyptic Survival

After several days, the explosives were made.

Gu Lang calculated the time and realized there was still one day until the first high tide of the lunar new year.

He then took out the remaining nitric acid and sulfuric acid and continued to make the propellant needed for the homemade gun.

The gunpowder recovered from the bodies of the criminals is almost exhausted.

Although these gunpowders were granulated, their power was still somewhat lacking.

Furthermore, each time a bullet is fired, it is accompanied by a huge plume of gun smoke, which both obscures visibility and reveals the position.

Taking advantage of the rare quiet time, he finally had the opportunity to manufacture nitrocellulose.

The production process is basically the same as that of nitroglycerin, except that the raw material is changed from glycerin to cotton.

Although there were a few cotton quilts left on the ship, the filling cotton inside had not undergone thorough degreasing and bleaching processes and could not be used as raw materials.

The production of nitrocellulose requires the use of degreased cotton from which natural waxes and oils have been removed.

Gu Lang rummaged through the warehouse for a while and found all the medical cotton balls, cotton swabs, and gauze.

Then tear all the absorbent cotton into small, fluffy pieces to increase the contact area.

The nitration process still requires a mixed acid consisting of concentrated nitric acid and concentrated sulfuric acid, and the temperature also needs to be controlled below 20 degrees Celsius.

Gu Lang immersed the processed cotton in small batches into the cooled mixed acid, and then set a 30-minute countdown on his mobile phone.

The control of time and temperature will jointly determine the nitrogen content of the final product.

Nitrocellulose with a nitrogen content greater than 13% is called guncotton. It is extremely flammable and explosive and can be used as a propellant.

If the nitrogen content is lower than this value, the final product becomes PVC foam, which can only be used to manufacture celluloid, paint, or movie film.

As the countdown ended, Gu Lang used a glass rod to remove the nitrated cotton.

At this point, it is no longer soft cotton, but a brittle and hard clump of fibers.

The residual acid in the fiber can catalyze the spontaneous decomposition of nitrocellulose, leading to spontaneous combustion and explosion.

Therefore, it is also necessary to use a large amount of flowing cold water to repeatedly rinse and squeeze.

After testing the pH value of the water and confirming that it was neutral, Gu Lang finely ground the wet nitrified fiber to form a slurry.

Next, let it air dry in a ventilated place, and the resulting powder is the propellant.

It only takes a tiny spark to ignite a rapid combustion reaction.

After wrapping the newly made propellant in paper and stuffing it into the barrel of the homemade gun, Gu Lang began testing.

"Boom!" The first slug using black powder flew out, thick white smoke billowing from the muzzle.

The pungent, acrid smoke stung his eyes and lingered for a long time, while the voice was deep and resonant, just as he knew.

Because black powder is explosive, its burning speed is relatively slow.

A large portion of the energy is converted into a large amount of muzzle flash and thick smoke, rather than being used entirely to generate thrust.

He pulled the second head-shaking switch, and "Snap!" The second crisp, sharp crack pierced Gu Lang's ears.

The powerful recoil made his shoulder feel like it had been punched hard.

Only a wisp of smoke was visible from the muzzle, and the view ahead was clearly visible.

The bullet flew out at an astonishing speed, soaring straight into the distance, completely lacking the downward drop sensation of the first bullet.

The ultra-high chamber pressure generated by nitrocellulose gives the projectile a very high initial velocity.

This means a flatter trajectory, longer range, and greater lethality upon hitting the target.

Put down the homemade gun and inspect the barrel; the difference is equally obvious.

The left side of the barrel contained a large amount of residue left after burning, while the right side was almost completely clean with no residue.

"That's great. Now if we encounter an enemy with standard firearms, we'll have a fighting chance."

Gu Lang nodded in satisfaction, reloaded the ammunition, and hung the homemade gun on the bulkhead.

August 23 is the first day of the seventh lunar month.

The first high tide in the early morning brought the yacht back to life from its stranded state.

Gu Lang also took this opportunity to retrieve the fishing kit he had obtained from the life raft.

High tides push fish that normally inhabit deeper waters toward shallow channels near the shore and between sand ridges to feed, which is the prime time for night fishing.

He adjusted the yacht's position, entered a special sand ridge waterway, and aligned the bow with the direction of the current.

This waterway is full of water at high tide and exposes large mudflats at low tide, which is the path for fish to "follow the tide" to hunt.

The fishing kit does not require bait; it comes with hooks, fishing line, float, sinker, and lure spinner.

This metal plate rotates and flashes in the water, mimicking a frightened small fish and effectively stimulating the attacking desires of large predatory fish.

Gu Lang tied the fishing line to the railing at the stern of the yacht, then tied a flashlight to a rope, turned it to the highest brightness, and immersed it in the seawater at the bow.

Illumination on the water's surface loses most of its energy due to reflection and fog, making it less efficient than underwater illumination. Therefore, flashlights need to be placed at a depth of 1 to 2 meters underwater.

Most outdoor flashlights have some degree of waterproofing. At this depth, not only will water not get in, but it can also effectively improve heat dissipation efficiency and prevent light decay.

The intense light quickly attracted a large number of phototactic zooplankton to gather around the light source.

The main food sources are planktonic organisms such as water fleas and copepods, which are the primary food source for small fish and shrimp.

When plankton gather, small baitfish such as anchovies and sardines are attracted, which is equivalent to creating a feeding area in the sea.

Then various carnivorous fish will follow these baitfish to this illuminated "buffet restaurant".

There's a reason why Gu Lang arranged the flashlight and fishing hook at opposite ends.

Larger fish tend to be more cautious and prefer to stay in areas with slightly dimmer light.

Casting the hook directly into the center of the aperture might scare them away.

The ideal "light path" should be a gradient of light from deep water to shallow water.

The best fishing spot is located at the boundary between light and shadow on the edge of this bright area.

The strong currents brought by the tides will carry the plankton and fish attracted by the lights downstream, forming a natural "bait belt" and thus increasing the probability of catching fish downstream.

However, by 3 a.m., the fishing business in Gulang was still not open.

Seeing that he was about to become an "air force" member, he decisively decided to change positions.

Using the flashlight's light, they found a nearby underwater ditch.

This type of terrain creates whirlpools under the impact of tides, making it easier for bait and schools of fish to gather.

This is the boundary between high and low tide, the so-called "tide eye".

If you don't act when the fish are biting the hook most frequently, you'll have wasted your time.

Another half hour passed, and just as Gu Lang was beginning to consider whether to "fish with explosives," the oval buoy finally made a move.

He picked up the fishing line, felt the struggle of the underwater creature, and then controlled the fish to reel in the line.

A 3-pound bass was thrashing about on the yacht deck.

"The first one, unfortunately, isn't big enough."

Gu Lang happily removed the fishing hook and threw the bass into the bucket.