Image courtesy of M.D. Creekmore
As Most of you know, I’m not a big fan of the bug out bag survival strategy. In a nutshell you’re voluntarily becoming, a refugee, but looking at the recent disasters in New Orléans and Haiti it is obvious that a bug out bag and strategy are not only needed but required for anyone who is prepared.
A few days ago we talked about bugging out with children and several months ago, I went into detail about my bug out bag contents and get out of dodge survival strategy.
When reading such lists it is important to keep in mind that any list is only a suggestion. Everyone should look at their skills, situation and location planning accordingly.
No two bug out strategies will be the same nor will the contents of the bug out bag. Your bug out bag should be put together with your personal situation and needs in mind – only then will it be effective.
Today we will take a quick look at choosing firearms for the bug out bag. Anytime, I mention firearms or survival guns I get flooded with comments from readers giving their suggestions and advice.
I hope this post will elicit such a response. If you have suggestions or questions, by all means feel free to post them in the comments below. Please keep in mind that we are only discussing the head for the hills concept, and not the other possibilities available to the survivor.
Most will suggest a .22 caliber rifle and often this is a prudent choice. A .22 caliber rifle can take small game as well as larger game such as deer with proper shot placement.
For foraging purposes, firearms such as the Remington International 410 Ga/22 LR Over & Under are difficult to beat.
With the addition of the 410 Ga shotgun being a significant advantage over having just to 22 LR. ammunition is cheap and lightweight when compared to other rounds and packing several thousand rounds in a bug-out bag isn’t out of the question.
Another advantage is relatively low report especially when using CB caps and the ability to be effectively silenced with a homemade sound suppressor.
Just remembered that such a device is illegal without proper government approval and will land you behind bars if caught, and is suggested here for a worst case scenario only.
The downside of the .22 Long rifle round is limited range, penetration and stopping power when used in a self-defense mode.
I suggest a backup handgun chambered for a cartridge suitable for self-defense. I would not go below a 9 mm or 38 special here. Anything less powerful isn’t enough.
Even with a 9 mm and 38 special, I would seriously consider using only the + P rounds such as the 115 or 124 grain JHP +P in the 9 mm or 158-grain lead semi-wadcutter hollow point .38 Special +P for defensive purposes .
Your location would also determine weapons choice. For example those bugging-out in grizzly country should definitely consider something more powerful than the aforementioned 9 mm or 38 special.
My first choice for protection against such large game would be a center-fire rifle chambered for 30.06 or larger. My second choice would be a magnum revolver with a 5.5″ to 7.5″ barrel chambered for .44 Magnum or larger.
I think it is wise to avoid any armed confrontation if possible. Trust me you are not a coward if you avoid the possibility of being shot in the head. You are not expendable – neither are the lives of your family or those in your bug out group. Those with the macho kill ‘em all attitude will not last very long.
With that being said, a semi-auto military type rifle could be considered especially if you are trying to get from an urban area to the country, where facing organized gangs or other threats attempting to block your exit could be a possibility.
An AR-15 with collapsible buttstock or folding stocked AK-74 could help get you out of a dangerous situation.
What are your thoughts or choices for bug-out firearms? We would love to hear your thoughts in the comments below…
84 comments… read them below or add one
Due to where I live and the fact that I look at my back as a Get-Home-Bag, I have a 16″ barreled 357 Magnum lever action rifle. Shot shells work well for small game; 125 and even 158 gr loads for larger stuff; 180 grain loads as my “You need to keep away from me”. load. If a 180 gr 357 Magnum won’t take it down, well, I probably shouldn’t shoot at it.
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Add a Ruger SP101 5-shot revolver (357) and you’re set…..easily concealable yet now have dual-firearms, same caliber………..
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Glad I’m not the only one leaning towards a lever-action .357 set up. I do agree with TC on having a revolver chambered in the same caliber.
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I want to keep things light in case I have to walk to my BOL. I have 4 full days of walking ahead of me so need to calculate weight pretty closely. I have a .45 SA 1911 as primary and .32 mag revolver as backup. I also keep a razor sharp lockblade knife close to hand.
If I’m lucky enough to be able to drive to the BOL I’ll get there faster with the same weapons.
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You might consider getting a hand golf cart to pack your gear. It will reduce your need for food and water.
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Don’t overlook air guns for small birds or close small game. If you are on the move and hiding, not much time for skulking about. Shoot overhead perched bird (Sorry Tweety), process and put into your heated canteen cup with Ramen.
Pneumatic pumps are lightweight, ammo is VERY compact and due to non powder burning, a stocked pistol is legal. Crosman 1377 or 1322 – a niche firearm but something worth considering.
That lever .357 above sounds really good – great suggestion.
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After some soul searching I’m doing up a get out bag because if TSHTF I think I need to go. I am in the city but have a location on a farm a days hike (avoiding large populated areas) away. So then if I think a day, 3 days LOL. I’m getting a bag with some molle type attachements to the back of it, then I’m getting this rifle scabbard that has straps that can attach to a molle style pack:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0050KFHMG/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B0050KFHMG&linkCode=as2&tag=thmiofsp-20
My plan is to carry my .22 in it and possibly carry another rifle or shotgun, and still be able to put more modular mollee stuff on it or around it to make a good pack.
Carrying one in the scabbard and one in the hands is only going to happen if my plan of arming a small group of my friends with their own gear doesn’t pan out for whatever reason – I have enough to arm 5 people including myself.
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All good advice.
I have an Henry, AR-7 in my pack with 100 rounds of .22.
I also keep a single shot 12 gauge shotgun.
I have adapters for various gauges and calibers that allow shooting a large variety of ammo through that gun. What ever can be found in S.H.T.F.
A 12 gauge rifled slug should bring down just about anything in North
America. I have an adapter for .410/.45 Long Colt.
I suggest looking into getting a Mechtech conversion unit for your primary self defense semi-auto pistol. This quicly converts your handgun into an effective pistol caliber carbine. These work great. Higher capacity magizines were availbale until recently for use with them. You may yet get lucky and find some, at much higher prices.
These conversion units are A.T.F.e. legal. I have a copy of a finding that says that converting back and forth from pistol to rifle, and back is not a violation.
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A ruger mini 30 , is a great pack gun .
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We are a family of three and fortunately our daughter is old enough to carry her own supplies. Leaning next to the bags in a downstairs closet are a Ruger Scout (.308) for me and an AR-15 (5.56) for my wife. The bags are packed with ample ammo for each. Hopefully no one here needs the merits of the AR-15 explained and the Ruger strikes a nice balance between weight, power, accuracy, distance and capacity for the trip between here and our bug out location. We both carry a 9mm daily, so spare 9mm goes into both packs as well. At night, our holsters stay attached to yesterday’s pants, laid out and ready to go should we need to wake and run. Our daughter packs the .22 ammo for a threaded pistol ( in my pack) and some spare for the other 3 calibers to spread the load a little. While we lack a shotgun in the mix, we also lack a person of sufficient age to carry it openly. Like everything else in this world, it’s a trade off, but the less attention we call to ourselves, the better.
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TBC,
Good ideas re the guns. Having the holsters on yesterday’s pants shows you understand trouble comes on its own schedule. Bravo.
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Kel-tec sub2000 or su16 for rifle and Glock 26. Carrying a pack or bag over 50 lbs is not doable for most and these choices have reliability and lightweight going for them. Specifically I like the su16b but most reviewers seem to favor su16c.
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Once again, JP and I are on the same wave-length.
The .357 caliber in revolver and rifle are, IMO, two of the best one can get for a B.O.B. or G.H.B, or even daily carry. I will iinclude the .44 mag in this category as well, for very similar reasons.
Smaller than rifle or shotgun ammo, one can carry more. (This is not to say they’re ‘lighter weight’, since a .223 round weighs less than a 158 grain .357. Volume has a quality all its own, so far as I’m concerned. BUT- the weapons themselves are somewhat lighter than most AR type.)
The weapons themselves are ‘ubiquitoous’ and ‘unobtrusive’ and somewhat ‘romantic’ in the eyes/mind of a majority of people. This alone gives one an advantage in not being ‘war-like’ when encountered. Too, in CQB they’re light and nimble, fast shooting and accurate.
Which brings us to avoiding others, which is a primary concern in bugging out or getting home. Avoid when we can, so long shots are not a requirement. Still, large enough to knock down medium and small game up to 100 yards, or more, away, and powerful enough for injurious and harassing fire at greater distances.
Surprisingly, in rifles, the .357 isn’t a whole bunch more noisey than a .22 Stinger, and the rifles are extremely light recoiling- the revolvers just less so but manageable for most people, even weak-wristed wussy me.
For longevity, components for reloading can be carried in a B.O.B. as well, including a bullet mold. And, if push comes to shove, even black powder can be utilized in .357/.44 to get reasonable 1800′s rounds- which the rifles and revolvers will fire without problem.
“But there ain’t nothin’ wrong with a good .22LR, neither. That round can speak for itself as a defender of persons and getter of game.”
I’d avoid the shotguns like the plague, even with all the buckshot in the world.
My two-bits (inflation’s a b….) take it for what it’s worth.
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MD,
is this the same article that started out yesterday with “Best Survival Guns for Women”? I can’t seem to find that one today and yesterday was unable to pull up anything except the title and introduction. Thanks!
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Speaking from my experience as an ER nurse I just want to add that the lowly .22 cal. can cause a tremendous amount of damage as it enters the body and tends to ricochet off internal structures leading, oftentimes, to lethal injuries. Just sayin’…
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22LR can cause damage and death…eventually. The problem is stopping power, it lacks the ‘slam’ needed to knock ‘em down. You want to be able to keep the bad guy from hurting you, if they are injured, even fatally, they can still kill or injure you. The round you use needs to be powerful enough to cause shock to the nervous system or organs to shut down voluntary movement. Minimum would be 9mm or .38spec both with a +P or +P+ ammo. However, after saying all that THE most important thing is hitting your target, and hitting it where the most damage will be made. 22LR, 32 ACP, 380, all will work if you hit the right spot. If it’s all you have or can shoot it well then ‘lesser’ calibers will do. I’m carrying a Walther P22 in 22LR when I’m out on the local hiking trail, or as a backup.
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I always have my Springfield XDs on me(or in my car) with extra ammunition in my trunk. At home my go bag contains two hi-point 9mm’s, and a Chiappa Rhino 60ds in .357 with sufficient ammo in all three calibers to possibly be called “overkill”. In my safe I have a mosin nagant(7.62x54r), Springfield 1903(.30-06), Remington 870(12g), and a savage model 11(.30-06). All with custom Molly mounts to attach to my go bag and my two ammo bags that are also in the safe. A scenario where i am alone and can’t get back in my car is unlikely but that’s what I have a quad for.
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We teach all new preppers to our group what has been recommended to us by SWAT Team trainers and excombat military personel. That is two weapons only is all you can carry, both light, both common being a Glock 17 or 19 and an Ar-15 sometimes called a combat equalizer. They have been tested time and again and proven very reliable plus the ammunition is used by all UN troops and have a great deal of commonality everywhere. Keep it simple folks!
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While I cannot argue with the wide availability of parts and ammo for both the Glock 17/19 and the AR-15. There are set backs with both. As most military and para military personnel will tell you, the 5.56 mm standard ammunition lacks the significant knockdown power of the 7.62 that is loaded in AK’s. While having an AR-15 beats the hell out of not having any form of MBR (main battle rifle) if it comes down to needing to pick up spare rifles to scavenge for parts and ammo why not just use that rifle. I personally am not in a position to spend 1.5 – 2k dollars on a rifle. I was however able to obtain an AK-47. This fires 7.62 ammunition which will also chamber and fire .308 caliber rounds. Both types of rounds and very common and available at all gun stores and even walmart. Or it used to be at walmart….it seems they do not like to carry bullets anymore. lol
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Daniel,
I may have misunderstood what you’re saying – but an AK-47 will not fire both the 7.62X39 and the .308 rounds.
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M.D. you are correct however I have my Saiga AK Chambered at a 7.62×59 which will fire and is nearly the same as the .308 winchester civilian round.
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The 7.62×54 is in now way compatible with the .308. Different case sizes, shapes, and pressures. Trying to use one as a replacement for the other is a recipe for failure, explosion, or both. That’s like saying that the .223 (or 5.56) is the same as the 5.45×39 that’s used in the ak74. After all, it’s the Soviet response to the 5.56 NATO. So, by your logic, couldn’t you just swap ‘em out because they’re similar? No. You can’t. The same way you can’t swap Russian 7.62 for 7.62 NATO. The 7.62×54 was the Czarist response to the modern smokeless cartridges typified by the American .30-06, the British .303, and the German 8mm… And NONE of those cartridges would ever work in a platform designed to fire the any other cartridge without some serious gun smithing/machining/head spacing work. To recommend that it would work is dangerous and irresponsible.
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Also add that an AK47 or AK74 are both made to just put lead down range not always the most accurate unlike the Ar15/m4/m16 yes the 7.62 has more knock down power this fight has been going on for years power doesn’t matter if you know how to use the weapon!
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My favorites for my BOB consists of: A Henry survival take-down rifle in .22 LR; and a Judge in 410 bore/.45 colt. On my belt is a Ruger SR 9 in 9mm (I’d much rather be carrying a 1911 .45 ACP but arthritis in both my wrists causes much pain when I fire the bigger .45.) In my vehicle or, slung on my shoulder if walking, will be my CZ bolt action rifle in .223 Rem. Along with at least fifty rounds of ammo for each firearm, I consider myself well armed. My son will probably be with me and will be carrying a 1911 on his belt and having a Spfld. M1A slung on his shoulder. If we are in a vehicle, we’ll have at least one Mossberg 930 12 ga. shotgun. Ammo for the 12 ga. will consist of
No. 7 1/2 bird shot and then if a slug is needed, use a cut shell. If you are unfamiliar with cut shells, pull up You tube and type in cut shells.
Best wishes to you all.
Jack
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I would not recommend anything smaller than #4 shot for personal defense.
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Been a while since my last post, Several event’s have limited my time for blogging, I and my family are well and I pray the Good Lord has blessed all of you and your’s as well.
IMHO I think the .22lr format is the best choice and I shall attempt to briefly explain,
At 1 time or the .22 has Killed every 2 or 4 Legged animal on the N, American Continent. I carry a Ruger 10/22 as well as a Single 6 in .22 lr/.22 WMR, The ability to aquire small to medium sized game is paramont in a survival situation, Also the ability to do it as quietly as possibility can mean the difference between life and death,
CCI CB longs can be easily and quietly fired to kill small game out to 25 Yard’s from the Single 6, The 10/22 will take care of the intermediate range shot’s out to 75-100 yard’s.
I carry also a Glock 23 in .40 cal for let’s just say up close and personal use.
Between me and my wife we can easily carry 2,000 rd’s of .22 making it the easiest and most efficient round to carry, After all if we are forced to Bug out who know’s whe or if we will be able to return, And .22 can alway’s easily be found as well as used for barter.
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a shotgun is a good option as you can fire slugs, .410 to 12 gauge. buckshot is multi pupose and all readily available.
with the availability of ammo, a .22 mag seems to be the only available bullets in .22 cal. .17HMR are sitting on the shelves as well.
all common rounds are gone.
Even reloading is limited to what is available for purchase, about nothing now.
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Let’s see inside of my bag is the Ruger 10/22 take down and a small, two shot .22lr derringer. Depending on the what I’m doing for the day I’m carrying a snubnose, hammerless Taurus .357 or a Glock 26, so about 40 rounds of ammo in 9mm, .38 and .357 each, plus extra .45 for the Glock 21 riding in my glove box.
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As M.D. said, every situation is different, and Hawaii, aka the People’s Republic of Paradise, has it’s own twists. While there is a provision in law for the police chiefs to issue concealed carry permits (open carry is illegal), in real life no permits are issued. None. Not to anybody. Period. Also, it is illegal for anyone to have a gun in their vehicle even unloaded unless driving to or from a shooting range, gun store, or gunsmith. There is also a ban on any magazine which holds more than ten rounds if there are any handguns which use that magazine. That means that in addition to regular pistol mags, AR-15 mags which hold more than ten rounds are illegal. If you have one inserted in a gun it is a felony. Ruger Mini-14 mags are OK though as there are no pistols which use them.
It is totally maladaptive to be constantly committing multiple felonies while waiting for a breakdown, so I think stainless Mini-14s or Ranch Rifles with plenty of 20 and 30 round magazines are clearly the light battle rifle of choice for bugging in here. Getting arrested, going to jail or prison just does not enhance one’s survival chances.
Just because a major breakdown has occurred does not mean that some hardworking law enforcement officer won’t arrest you for carrying a gun, and shooting a cop is also highly maladaptive, so trekking around with a Mini-14 is a problem, too.
With the exception of people, and feral pigs in the valley bottoms, there are no dangerous animals here, nor any big game, so there is no reason for hunting weapons. Handguns in stainless steel strike me as best suited for this situation.
We have a Smith & Wesson Model 60 .38/357 magnum with 3 inch barrel and Crimson Trace laser grips, and a Kimber stainless 1911 Eclipse Target II .45 ACP, which comes with adjustable Tritium sights. For our situation they seem best suited for a local bug out scenario, although bugging out is something we seriously want to avoid. They are also our primary home defense handguns.
We have matching .22s for cheap and fun practice: a S&W Model 63 and a Sig 1911-22 (a Kimber 1911 in .22 was just too much money on top of the others). The practice guns are similar enough to the primaries that practicing with one is practice for the other, and give us two more handguns for defense, even if not in ideal calibers. We could have gotten a .22 conversion unit for the Kimber, but for about a hundred dollars more the Sig gives us another gun.
For non-local bugging out we would have to get in an airplane to the Mainland. We do have some guns in storage with a friend there, including a tricked out Remington 870 (deer hunting length barrel with open rifle sights, extended magazine, shoulder stock with full pistol grip, oversize safety, after market magazine follower, and a sling), stainless Mini-14s, S&W .38 snubbies, and Colt 1911s in .45 ACP.
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PS: Since we can’t have guns in the vehicles, we do carry pepper spray on us, and have emergency knives or machetes in our Get Home bags, which are always in the vehicles.
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Better than pepper spray is wasp spray, easy to carry and very legal and much cheaper, accurate and painful than pepper
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use bear repelent like peper spray for bears so strong and 30 to 35 foot spray sorry dont know ur laws but bows and crossbows are also a good idea nobody is talking about them silent and just as deadly
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One of the reasons I picked up a 410/22 over under is because a 410 slug packs the same punch as a 357 mag out to about 75+/- yards. A lot of people don’t realize that it packs that type of power and makes a pretty decent self defense option if you pack out some slugs with you.
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Glock 23 (EDC)
Mossberg 590 (in vehicle)
BCM AR-15 Mod II (in vehicle)
Keltec PMR30 (in BOG)
Henry 22 (in BOG)
Crossbow (in vehicle)
Nuff said?
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Daniel, I like that choice a lot, especially if you bug out somewhere with available game. You didn’t mention what kind of .22 ammo you include, but some of the quietest possible shorts or CBs would let you hunt very small game without alerting the countryside to your presence.
A lone person or a family just cannot afford to lose members in a gun fight, so the best strategy to me is doing everything possible to avoid a confrontation.
Back during the Kosovo war one of our pilots got shot down, and as he later testified to Congress, he spent his time until rescue hiding like a bunny in the bushes.
It looks to me like your choice gives you sufficient options for hunting, without getting one into a mindset which promotes foolish risks. Lay low and live!
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I like the .357 rifle a lot.
However.
Stick with ONE bullet weight. 158 grains is kind of standard–but the lightweight 125 grain loads shoot VERY high, as much as 18″ at thirty yards. The 158 grain 38 special load shoots to essentilally the same point of impact as the magnums. The Marlin does not lead with cast plain-based 38′s, either–so practice is cheap.
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I keep my Bug Out Bag (mainly food and clothes) and my rucksack (survival/camping items) in my SUV at all times. I also carry a few firearms, mainly for survival, not so much as defensive weapons. This stuff is there to get us home. Anyway, as far as Bug Out Weapons are concerned, I have a Rossi Circuit Judge .410 GA/.45 LC and an S&W Governor (my CCW). My wife is assigned a Savage 24J .22 LR/.20 GA and SIG Sauer P238 (her CCW). My oldest son gets the Ruger 10/22 Takedown and a Ruger Security-6 .357 MAG. My youngest son has a Henry AR-7 and Walther PPK/S. When we get home, there are more powerful long guns to defend our property. We keep the same pistols, but I opt for a Ruger Mini-14, the wife has an Bushmaster M4, son#1 takes the Mossberg 930 SPX .12 GA and son#2 uses the Remington 870 .20 GA (7 shot). We believe that when the SHTF and the area is WROL, the “Have-Nots” will come for the “Preppers”.
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I would consider using a German Tiger Tank instead. You will need to get through some towns and it maybe unavoidable. Have no fear as you blast though town in your own personal tank. Your family safe inside as your wife and children man the guns.
When you leave your tank and need to hike a bit make sure you bring plenty of grenades for those pesky deer. If you are afraid someone might be following you set the past ablaze with a flamethrower.
Keep in mind, some people might not take too kindly of you walking around with your arsenal. A breakdown 22 would be nice and decent pistol even a 22lr 22 mag should be OK. If there is more in your group I would say 44 mag or 45 acp would be nice for other members to carry. After all you are with family ( hopefully ). Try not to let too many people see what you have. They just might have something they can take it away with.
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XSVEN, The Tiger Tank option sounds nearly ideal, but don’t forget the .22 subcaliber inserts for the main gun for hunting small game.
As for deer hunting, the best authorities eschew grenades as too destructive to the environment and the protein source. Softening up the hunting area with several mortar rounds before moving in is preferred, especially if you use white phosphorous rounds: they have added advantage of cooking the meat before you have to fire a shot.
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PS: Xsven, with the simple addition of a standard trailer hitch you can also use your Tiger Tank to haul a vintage Airstream trailer home/retreat with you. Any reasonably handy type could add sponsons to the sides of the Airstream like a WWI tank for the gunners in the family.
And of course don’t fail to consider adding a ball turret to the Airstream for anti-drone defense and the occasional flock of passing geese.
Into every serious discussion a wee bit of humor must appear.
OK. That’s enough.
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A Tiger is way too heavy. A better choice would be the M-4 Bradley. Granted, the 25 mm cannon would probably be a bit hefty for small game, but you’ve always got the 7.62 machine gun if you have to face down an angry squirrel. Plus the TOW missile capability should discourage most bears from attempting to raid your food stocks. Not to mention the Bradley can be outfitted as a wonderful motor home for two.
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Willy peter is a nice idea to cook your meat..for my bob am ar7 and .44 mountain gun….u can get brass rounds for pesky grizzliesor engine blocks :) also 328 grain alloys can be found..as well as shot shells in .44
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I noticed you wrote on the .410 gauge. Man I really like that little gun. I can remember when i would go out with my grandpa rabbit hunting. I tried to use a 12 gauge and he just laughed. Said i could use his .410 and it just was the perfect gun for that.
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My bag consists of a ruger 10/22 takedown with threaded barrel, a Hunterstown suppressor (legally owned) and a ruger 22/45 w/threaded barrel about 500rds of .22. That is for getting game quietly or worst case scenario getting out of a bad predicament relatively quietly. On the hip is a Glock 30 with the 3 magazines for knockdown. The rest is gear and food and water filter/camelback storage. Worst case is I am bugging from work to home which is about a 35mile hike. If I need that much ammo I am doing something wrong.
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I suggest duplicating firearms. We have 1 Mini 14 in 5.56, which is the oddball, but 3-10/22s, 3 Tarurus.44 mags (even my wife can shoot .44 specials and .44 shot shells), and 3-12 GA Mossburg pumps. We have several .22LR bricks, and sufficient 12 GA and 5.56 rounds. All duplicate guns are identical models and calibers which allows for minimum spare parts and types of ammunition on hand. After considering, it seemed that keeping as much the same as possible would be beneficial for our circumstance.
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I have planned to arm myself and my misses. For arms I would carry my auto ordinance m1 carbine with a Remington 870 in a scabbard on my patrol bag, she favours her m-14 no joke I also have two Henry arms ar-7′s
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my theory is go lean and efficient..my first option is stay in place and not changing location since i live in a rural area(the kind of area people bug out to) but i do have an alternate location in case Stuff REALLY hits the fan. .if i have to go to the alternate, it already has Ammo stockpiled and a scoped.22lr for small game hunting etc(and some other heavier hitters for long term defense)…i will not need that(.22) while in transit from A to B since enough rations are in my bag for a week so w/regard to the weapons of choice while moving my personal choice is leaning towards defense because people a lot less prepared will be on the road as well and well, desperate people do desperate things…..i have a couple of AR15′s but my ak folder (7/62X39)is what sits next to the bag…folded its only 26 inches long and packs a reliable wallop, also a .40 semi auto pistol at the hip and just in case things REALLY REALLY go bad, a small .22lr 7 shot semi auto pocket pistol that is small to the point i could be in shorts and flip flops and you wouldnt know i had it…w/regards to ammo in your BOB, you always have to much if you dont need it and always have too little when ya do
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First rural resident “blog” (where did that word come from?) I’ve run across. We may need to move further out @ some juncture so we stay prepared. Learned some things from checking out all this BOB info and prouder than ever of my.22LR. It’s all about practice, practice and more practice.
My CC is a happy little .38 Ruger LCR DA. Hubbie has his own practical favorites.
Moved out here to get away from the clutter, clusters of people everywhere and general awful business of city living. And you are so right, “out here” is exactly where the terrified, helpless city dwellers will head. (to pillage the food substances we have provided for ourselves with our own labor).
I continue to pray a lot, take care of my farm and practice so I may rid my yard of squirrels bringing fleas for my dogs or anything else that happens to be bringing unnecessary disturbances to my wonderful little world here. The fact my gun is pink used to bother me a little -I now have to go hunting for squirrels off of my property if I get the urge to hunt- so, I am no longer bothered by my pink guns. They work just as well as any of them. Might even buy one an extra second or 2, as intruders of any kind might be prone to take that pink rifle a little less seriously than say a brown one. Stay safe, informed and practice!! May God Bless our wonderful, terribly torn and upset ,America.
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Absolutely an AR-15 with a Taurus Raging Bull on my side and a Glock 27, .40 cal as the last stand firearm
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I have an ak47 (I keep an extra firing pin in my cleaning kit) the 100series style, so it is a side folder its shoots a 7.62×39. Its half the price of 5.56 (.223) and is easier to find then .22 now a days. I also have a Sig p250 which I would highly recommend since we are talking about multi caliber weapons. Its cheap and has the name Sig behind it so u know its going to work when you need it to. The whole kit is about 700-800 which isn’t bad considering u have 3 diffrent possible handguns to choose from if ammo is scarce for your caliber of choice, mine is .45. Consider this though ammo is by no means light. I know some people talking about carrying extra ammo on your back. I’m telling you 3 days of hiking around with all that ammo you will be doing more harm then good. I would recommend a combat load no more 180 and no less then 120, for an ak47 8 30round magizenes (loaded) weighs 12pounds!! Thats 1.5 pounds a mag. Unless your an army ranger ;) or some special operations soldier…. Good luck. You have to consider everything you will be bringing including your bug out bag which can weigh anywhere from 50 to 100 pounds. Trial and error. Once u think u have everything the way u want it remember this is worst case scenario so automatically assume you will be on foot. Put all your stuff on as if you where going to do it today, run up and down stairs 50 or so times and your looking at about a half days work. I bet you w
ill change your mind. I’ve changed my chest rig about 15times and I always seem to run into a dif problem or a way it could be better, do I need this? What if I put this here, what if this happens ahh shit I can’t climb a wall cause I have to many mags sticking out from my gut. Its a never ending battle.
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I’ve got a Ruger SR22 rifle .22lr with around 2000 rounds, and a Sks 7.62×39 (.30cal) upgraded with tapco t6 collapsable stock. 700 fmj rounds and 50 lead hunting rounds. If youre looking for a reliable cheap priced rifle, it would definitely be one to consider. surplus ammo is cheap aswell.
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Former tanker and attack helicopter pilot. Even when just about any sort of firearm was available to me, the final option was a .22lr. Today, wife, daughter and I have a range of options from .308 (Ruger GSR), .223 Ruger Ranch, three pistols in .380, a Glock 26 in 9mm, a Savage 93 in .22wmr, two shotguns in 12, a couple semis in .32 and even a Savage 110BA in .338 LaPua. If it hits the fan, the .22s still get the nod. Quantity of durable, light weight ammo, low recoil, ease of shooting with reasonable accuracy (even from the little Taurus, Berreta and NAA mouseguns) all combine to make the .22s usefull. The Glock 26 has been 100 percent reliable and is easy to fire for each of us. Our new, scoped, Ruger takedown .22 fills the range gap for the small pistols and the bag holds a lot of handy extra stuff. I still have my old Vietnam era seat pack AR-7 but much prefer the new Ruger takedown. The scoped GSR in .308 would go with us; the bolt action is simple and rugged but no competition for for the real threat, well armed , arrogant bureaucrats.
I do not see a role for the .338; too big, odd ball ammo, wicked expensive to shoot and intimidates even the good shooters in the family. Oh, wife and daughter each have new Ruger SR22 pistols..quiet, accurate, reliable and great fun to shoot. Though bigger than our mouse guns by Taurus, Beretta and NAA, wife and daughters have high confidence over greater range with the SR22s and do not plan any departures without them.
We live in high crime urban setting. Even so, we are less concerned with the predicted breakdown of civility among citizens already living on the fringe than we are with the unpredictable actions which may emminate from overzealous, high authority, low accountability non-military armed agents of government. The, “I’m only following orders,” script from WWII Germany is of more concern than some guy who wants your chicken.
Pack light, travel fast, stay alert.
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At present I’m sitting on a Ruger 10/22, a Ruger Mini 14 (5.56 Nato) and a Beretta PX4 Storm (.40 S&W). I keep thinking about adding a shotgun – the question here is what gauge, 12, 20 or 410 – and a 30.06 bolt action. The thing is, I like being able to just have three different types of ammo. I figure that with my hollow point 5.56 I can use this as a deer rifle as well as self defense. I don’t really want to have to invest in two more long guns and a bunch more ammo unless I feel I’m seriously deficient without it and at this stage I’m not convinced I need to spend that money. I would appreciate any input. Thanks.
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I personally am sitting on a savage 111 .270, Modified Mossberg 500 12 guage, a full size SIG P250 .45, a Khar P9 9mm and a ruger 10/22. This is just what I am carrying and my lady has a similar setup.
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I have a ruger p345 on hip berretta pocket 22 and ruger 10/22 and always sharp knives my personal plan is travel light travel quick I have a bug out location armed heavily but getting there is half the battle as someone mentioned above carrying something your comfortable and accurate with is far better than carrying a larger caliber gun your afraid to shoot or nothing at all myjust my opinion
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All your ideas are fantastic and its all on your preference, I have my set up well planned and thought out for my situation. I live in a medium populated urban area. I have a nice brand new Chevy 2500 hd for bulldozing thru it all with a solid push bar. Go for speed that’s what Im aiming for. On my side I will have my very trusty Taurus raging bull 44 mag 8 1/2 inch barrel on the other side I have a heritage 22 mag/ and lr combo for those light duty situations. In my arm slings I have 2 matching springfeild xd 9mm both with 2 16+ 1 mags packed full of hornady hollow point critical impacts and gold dot hollows just the way the boys in blue roll. I have a completely customized saiga ak 47 style 12g that will take up one strap of my tactical pack and along side it is going to be seated a built from scratch ar 15 I designed from bottom up. A lot of you think it’s 2 much weight. Ain’t no way. But It is true. I have some pretty serious quad trails and knarly woods behind my house I’ve packed the. All up and each with 100-150 rounds per gun worth of ammo and made it thru about 7 miles of terrain and had no problem with it. But honestly if there is one gun I’m leaving this house with if I am forced to flee with having no chance to grab them all. It’s the old Dirty Harry 44. Packs nasty punch. Dominates In hunting scenarios if you are trained. Argue if you must i can’t shoot birds and small game. Which I will beg to differ do to my extensive Colorado survival trips with very minimal gear. But honestly boss if its that bad 99.7 percent of all ya”ll ain’t gonna make it anyway from very extensive lack of true survival skill. There is a small percent who is gonna have the right state of mind and will power and drive. I have seen many of big bad men not be able to truely rough it in the nasty of the nasty with out there camper and there cases of beer. I’m getting off subject but anyhow before you deeply consider the caliber ammunition and the way you will use this gun. Sincerely go put yourself in a situation out in the woods for 2 days in your back yard and survive with the gun you intend on running out the door with. If you can manage to make the firearm one of your greatest attributes you will most likely be able to build a mind frame around it when your lost in the woods or in bum fugged Egypt and at least have the piece of mind you are as good as you think you are. It’s all about mind frame whe. Your out there boys and girls and if Mother Nature don’t get you. Then going crazy will. I hope a few of you get this. A lot of people have big game till there out there with all the creatures that go bump in the night. A few of my runs I have found men Hinding under a logs in a feverish sweat becuase they got turned around In the wrong direction before the sun went down. Grab the biggest baddest son a of a bitch in the gun case and lock her down boys. It’s gonna be a bumpy ride the day it happens.
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I have respect for the weapons selections submitted on this site. Each person knows their individual situation far better than the strangers that read this blog. However, I hold disdain for the immature losers who make entries here with the sole purpose of knocking someone else’s opinion down, or mocking an entry as though the author is stupid. If you are so starved for attention, but lack the survival knowledge to make a sensible contribution to the current topic, go buy a blow up doll and spew your humorless garbage to her. Guns and survival are serious subjects.
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New to this. As far as sd guns on bug out Springfield 1911 45, ar 15 5.56 on me, wife with 9mm kahr cw9…she is just much better with 9mm than 380 or 40 cal. Would like to have my Browning 30.06 and browning buckmark 22lr with us for hunting etc…hope to bug in not out like every one else. Prepped here…not elsewhere but have a plan…folks with respect IMHO have a plan. Best to all and respect to all who offer advise. The idiots will remove themselves from the equation.
We practice regularly shooting. I carry my bob and exercise with it regularly…even on my treadmill, which is a bitch. Heart rate monitor didnt enjoy the beats per min. Im an old 56 yo dude i push a little to stay in shape as best i can. I am hoping for best for us all…i am planning for 6 months of not so fun stuff. Minimum.
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i pack my custom mauser rechambered to .260 remington(necked down 7.62 NATO) and a couple hundred rounds for that and a hi-point .45 pistol and a couple hundred rounds for that. I would put my life in the hands of either of those and my mauser is a persision rifle that i make 1000 meter shots with regularly so i feel extreamly safe with them and i dont doubt my accuracy.
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I would highly suggest that you consider changing your 9mm +p idea. A 9mm is a fine round but has a long history of over penetration. Going to a +p or +p+ round only exacerbates the problem. I would get 9mm premium defensive rounds or a JHP variant so the bullet expands on impact transferring its energy to the target not punching through the target and maybe several unintended targets behind. Just a thought from someone who has studied ballistics for years and is a firearms trainer. Ps: 40 S&W is probably the ideal pistol round for personal defense in my professional opinion.
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I’m gonna hit the ground running with my BOB and,
* AMD 65 (AK 47 variant) with a folding stock and optics rail, 200rnds of 7.62×39 FMJ
* Smith and Wesson M&P .40, with 100 rounds of .40 Federal Hydro shock.
I am going to want to be light and mobile. I do not want to be dragging everything but the kitchen sink with me. Adapt and overcome. I will have some small tools(leather man “M.U.T., hatchet, folding shovel, steel wire), 2 days food/h2o, some clothes, tarp. I will find/make whatever I need from there. Think of how other animals survive in nature, they move, quickly.
Semper FI.
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My grandson’s first rifle is a Savage Cub Child’s single shot. Short, light and can be carried IN ADDITION to any other firearms you might be carrying. Will function with all the different types of .22 ammo, unlike the semi-autos. And is easier to hit with than a handgun in a stressful situation. Worth thinking about.
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Isn’t the idea of a BOB or GHB to be light and inconspicuous in case you have to travel a long distance? Too many people here are talking about carrying AR-15s and shotguns….How are those weapons going to stay concealed or help with the weight issue?
In a SHTF scenario, you want to be the “gray man” No camo or tactical backpack …no AR-15 or shotgun scabbards on your side or strapped to the pack. “Tactical” gear screams out…This guy has some good stuff….You might as well paint a huge bullseye on your chest or back because you will likely be sniped. Afterwards they will steal your weapons and steal your BOB Preps.
In a BOB Or GHB I think you need to consider weight and size, but also hitting all areas of the survival triangle…1. Food and water (at least three days worth of freeze dried meals) and a way to purify water since you can’t go more than a few days without it. 2. Heat and Shelter, most importantly a way to start a fire and a small stove for cooking (a good one is a swiss army stove, coupled with a “nested” 1litre Sigg water bottle, and for shelter a tarp and/or a mylar waterproof bivy bag. For Protection I would suggest any pistol of 9mm or larger with JHP rounds. If you want a rifle, hands down the .22LR is the best option due to lightweight and ability to carry a lot of rounds. To CONCEAL in your inconspicuous BOB I would suggest a Ruger 10-22 takedown. The Henry AR-7 is lightweight alternative and compact as well, but it is made like crap and likely to fail on you when you need it most. Every ounce is important because they turn into pounds. In a crisis situation you need to be able stay light, inconspicuous, and be able to hit all of the areas of the survival triangle.
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Wife and I both have bags. BOB BOL or GHB. Always in our vehicles. Hers has a Taurus PT92 in 9mm and a Rossi 6″ .357. Mine has a Henry survival rifle 22lr and a Ruger Super Blackhawk 7 1/2″ in .44 Magnum. 2 is 1 and 1 is none.
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it will be some hard choices when it comes time. the ak for sure and probably a savage 24 and a camp 45 and a pistola or two might even find room for osker the grouch.lol!
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being where i am i can take pretty much what i want and go. far different than city folks! i should have at least a days warning! but am prepared nevertheless. eyes open people!!
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The most versatile weapon is the 12 ga. pump. Slugs will stop almost anything man-made, and you can hunt everything from rabbits to grizzly’s with it. F.Y.I., as I recall, the Rangers at Glacier National Park recommend that hikers carry a short barreled 12 ga. loaded with slugs. “Bear spray” will just piss off a bear…especially if it’s been sprayed before by some yuppie bleeding heart liberal. Since it’s not always what you shoot them with but where you shoot them, the choice of a handgun(s) should depend upon how accurate you are with what you have. Personally, I prefer an “easily” reloadable semi-automatic (I wouldn’t turn-down a select fire G-18 if I could get ahold of one) with a wheel-gun in my pocket for backup. There’s not to much that can go wrong with a wheel-gun, and they are available in small sizes with big bullets.
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BOB firearm choices are as personal as the stuff you pack into your Bug Out Bag. I choose as a couple folks have also, a .357 magnum lever action saddled with a fiber optic green dot sight, backed up with a 7 shot Taurus 66 revolver in the same ammo. Lightweight, short barreled at 18″ making it an ideal brush gun, powerful and the ammo that works for both, is stuff that all the AR’s and AK’s won’t be fighting over.
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Using +p ammo is a good suggestion, but folks should make sure that their firearms are rated for +p ammo. If they are not, the gun could easily blow up upon firing and cause serious injury or death.
Another good concept is carrying a rifle and hand gun that shoot the same ammo. I have a 9mm pistol as well as a carbine 9mm rifle. For more fire power, especially in hunting applications, you can carry a .357 mag or a .44 mag revolver and a lever action rifle that shoots the same ammo.
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Silencers are legal in many states. They can not be bought or sold without federal approval. Making and keeping your own silencer is an appropriate Bug Out Bag goal. Check http://www.silencersarelegal.com/ to learn if your state allows possession of a self made silencer.
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To all you 9mm fans, you can get shot shell in 9mm. It can be found on Cabella’s web site. Pack 10 rounds for taking down pigeons for an easy meal!
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I daily carry a s&w 9mm. My fiance carrys a s&w 38 special +p airweight. With out bug out bags I have a Mossberg 500 pistol grip pump 8 shot shotgun. And for her, a Mossberg 22lr with a scope. If we had to bug out we only have go make it 7 miles to her parents house. Where he father has over 300 guns from small daringers to high power rifles, with a walkin closet completely full of ammo. Talk about well prepared.
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I have no desire to start a conflict so take this as something to think about long and hard.
When you have a tooth ache do you grab a pistol, a bag of potatoes, a space blanket and hide out in the middle of a woodlot?When your kitchen stove catches fire do you grab your bug out bag, shot gun and camo make up and flee to the forest?
On and on.
What exactly makes all these bug out bag survivalists that spend every day of their life in civilization where life works best, think that when something happens the “thing to do” is grab a bag of apples and hide out in a foxhole somewhere?
I guarantee you that the first people to perish will be the bug out bag survivalist crowd. Those that have enough sense to drive over to the distant Walmart for supplies and hole up in a Motel 6 will be watching the evening news showing the authorities rounding up all the vagrants holing up in the woods threatening to shoot anyone who even looks at their leaf hut and bag of potatoes.
Really? Are the bug out bag and survivalist crowd for real or is this just some sort of lets play paintball and pretend we are Army kind of thing? I WILL SHOOT YOU IF YOU TAKE ONE MORE LOOK AT MY EXTRA PAIR OF SOCKS! REALLY?
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http://www.thesurvivalistblog.net/bugging-out-vs-hunkering-down/
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No sh*t Sherlock but what happens if you had to leave your pampered hotel room? There aren’t enough holiday inns for everyone. They actually stay pretty full as it is, without some type of evacuation sending hundreds of thousands of people their way. I enjoy staying in the woods for days where I live like a king. Less people like you up there.
P.s. socks can be washed and only an a-hole like you would suggest killing someone over a pair.
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I’m still working on my load-outs but have a Sig 716 (.308) and a Sig 226 in .40, for myself. My wife has a 30-30 lever and a Glock 30 SF. I might also carry a HK P2000 in .40, a Glock 27 in .40 and her shotgun in he Jeep, unless I am humping it.
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I have an AR as my primary bug out rifle. I have an AWC 10/22 with an integral suppressor that slows standard high velocity .22 ammo to sub sonic speeds. Still packs a whollop though! I attach that to my pack and carry the AR. I know two rifles is a heavy way to go but I have hiked miles uphill with this setup already and the benefits of that super quiet 10/22 could be a life saver. The wifey would carry our mossberg 930 spx.
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Has anyone used the Aero Survival Rifle in 40 S&W? Was thinking about purchasing one to go along with 2 S&W MP 40′s and a JIC500 12 gauge. Interested in the Aero in order to reduce ammo requirements.
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I personally haven’t but I have always thought it would be a great idea to need only one type of ammo.
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Not good with pistols of any type…so SKS and 12 gauge autoloading shotgun with multiple chokes. 22 caliber crack-barrel pellet rifle for game birds. I admit, not concealable and the ammo is heavy but sharing the load with several others makes it easier walking.
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I’m a proud owner of a Cobray M 11, 9mm, Semi automatic, with a 32 round clip, a red dot scope, and a suppressor. I also have four magazines, which I carry, in a small bag, with my cleaning kit, and extra ammunition, etc… I have a holster, and my hunting Bowie survival knife on my belt, that I can strap to my leg. Also, I have a bungee cord, attached to my M11, that goes over my shoulder. I don’t have to stop, to change magazines, if I’m on the run, and someone is shooting at me. Also, I don’t have to aim that carefully, due to the accuracy of my red dot scope.
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THIS IS SOMEHTHING VERY IMPORTANT!!! If you plan to take firearms you also need something to clean them with. Take the AR-15 for example, a great gun but it needs to stay decently clean. You wouldn’t want your gun jamming when you need it most.
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I have to agree with the choice of the .22 the AR15 and whatever side arm you’re most comfortable with. That’s what we included in our bug out bag checklist:
http://theprepperproject.com/bug-out-bag-checklist/
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I currently have 40cal hangun, 12ga shotgun & 22lr. I think I may need just one more gun for my arsenal. Maybe a 30-06 or 308 with a nice scope. Any suggestions?
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