Bug Out/Kit Gun Recommendations

[TruthTellers]

First, I'd like to give you guys a little background information here. My original idea for this was an NAA Black Widow with both LR and Magnum cylinders. Well, I recently found out .22 Magnum is crazy hard to find, at least the defense loads like Hornady Critical Defense, Winchester PDX1, and Gold Dots are. So, I'm looking at alternative options.

My criteria for this gun is it:

1. Must be as light as possible. Preferably nothing over 20 ounces.
2. Have a good trigger and good sights. Nightsights are a plus as are light/laser accessories.
3. If a pistol, must be a single stack and have good extended magazines either after market or factory.
4. Must have a 3" barrel or less.

From what I've found, the Ruger LCP Custom and Ruger LCRx .38+P are grabbing my attention, but in the back of my mind the LC9s is there, but it's the absolute biggest option and I'm not confident it can be pocket carried, which is the preferred carry method here however, I am open to a fanny pack.

The LCP Custom has me interested the most. It's the lightest option, very small, great sights, and Promag (>_<) makes 10 and 15 round mags for it.

The LC9 also has good sights, a great trigger, and 9 round mag with grip extension, but like I said, it's a big boy.

The LCRx is touted as a "kit gun" but it's large option for only 5 shots. I like the SA/DA option and being able to use light .38 loads up to .38+P is nice.

I'm open to other options, but I will not accept .25 ACP. .32 ACP is a maybe; I had a Kel-Tec P32 as an option, but it and most other .32 pistols have awful sights. .357 revolvers will either be too heavy or too jumpy, so they're out. Not interested in .32 Long or .32 H&R revolvers either as I think the LCRx is better then them for the purpose I'm looking for. If Ruger would make the LCRx in .327 then I wouldn't have made this thread.

 

[rcmodel]

If I personally had to 'bug out'?

I would take a .22 target pistol like a S&W Model 41, and my S&W 317 Airlite revolver at 11 ounces.
Along with 4 or 5 boxes of CCI Mini-Mag HP's.
(400 - 500 rounds.)

I could probably live off the land and defend myself for months if I had too.

.38 & 9mm ammo gets real heavy, real fast when you try to carry a long term supply of it all at once.

Never underestimate the .22 Rimfire when it comes to down & dirty living.

And it goes without saying that hardly anyone can shoot a pocket pistol like those you mentioned well enough to feed yourself after bugging out!!

Now, countdown to thread lock.

5-4-3-2-1!

rc

 

[bannockburn]

I remember many years ago reading an article by a well known survivalist at the time and he recommended taking a .22 revolver or semi-auto (he preferred something along the lines of a S&W Model 17 or a S&W Model 41). Very accurate for the job at hand and you could carry a lot more ammo than something comparable in a .38, 9mm., or .45 caliber handgun.

 

[tallpaul]

A ruger 22/45 lite with a suppressor... and a trigger job

for a true bug out pistol the ability to hit something is worth a lil weight and an extra inch of barrel to me...

There is a difference between self defense/trail and bug out pistols I would likely carry a true CCW piece in addition to the ruger for the self defense role though but in a true bug out role the ruger would suffice if it had to.

A suppressor just adds "options"


YMMV

 

[X-Rap]

My preference would be an accurate 22 LR. Aside from the weight I can't think of one better than a Ruger MKI or II. A good compromise for me is my Kimber Pro Raptor with a 22 conversion. Light, accurate but a bit finicky about ammo but I have taken grouse out past 60 yds with it. Benefit would be the option of packing along the 45 barrel and a few mags of quality defense ammo.
Want to give one of the Glock conversions a try someday.

 

[WhyWaltzWhenUCanR&R]

S/D

My Bug out bag is set up for multiple people. It has been set up more with the idea of living of the land without the use of firearms. Snares, traps and such.
My reasoning is that if needed, I would rather not give away my/our position by using a firearm to obtain food. But to answer your question, my bag sits next to the gun safe. With the thought of not only hand guns, but long guns as well. If the need to ditch one or two in the field arises so be it I still will have back up.

 

[LUCKYDAWG13]

I gotta ask bug out from what and are you leaving you house or car / work
is this pistol to defend yourself or to get food to me a bug out gun is things
just got real bad and a 22LR with a 3" barrel is not on my list if your looking for a pocket gun for C/C look at a sig p938 or a m&p shield

 

[BSA1]

My Taurus M931 22 Magnum is a excellent self-defense gun. It has adjustable sights, 3" barrel and holds 8 rounds. As you note ammunition is hard to find at times as supply comes and goes.

The 22 magnum just simply outperforms what is expected from a rimfire. I guess somebody forgot to tell it that it because it is little it should not perform at well as centerfire rounds.

I would not give up on finding 22 magnum ammo. Just stock up on 1,000 rounds first before getting the gun. Speer Gold Dot is a outstanding performer in my Taurus.

I saw a hammerless S&W 7 round snubbie in 22 Magnum the other day at a LGS. I don't recall the model number but it is stainless steel with no lock. As a fan of my Taurus the S&W is very appealing to me as a back-up and pocket gun when working outside on the farm.

Alas...all I need is more money.

 

[ROCK6]

I have an LRCx 3" barrel .38 that is a great gun to fill that "kit gun" role and then some. My S&W 317 .22LR with 3" barrel is another. Defining the role of your kit gun is what's important. If this is pretty much a game-gun and last ditch defensive tool, that allows lighter weight and smaller calibers.

.22LR is by far the most effective as a kit gun when it comes to ammunition weight and performance.

Look up USRSOG; a survival instructing group who have been training SERE, pilots, SF types etc. over the years. They're pretty much narrowed their survival gun down to a semi-auto .22LR pistol with optic and light. Adding a suppressor provides even more effectiveness. Although it doesn't meet your weight requirements, I'm quite please with the Ruger 22/45 LITE model with threaded barrel. I've added my red dot optic and it will bring down small to medium game easily and accurately out to 30-40 yards all day long.



ROCK6

 

[Tallball]

If I want to carry a small, light handgun in a caliber I feel comfortable with for SD and will easily conceal in my pocket, I carry a micro 380.

If I want to carry something that is well-suited for shooting small game that I am hunting purposely or happening to walk up on, I carry a good 22 revolver or semi-auto with a barrel somewhere around 5" long.

I am not aware of any handgun which would be excellent for both of those jobs. They are pretty close to being mutually exclusive.

 

[ROAshooter]

As a "bug out" gun I would NOT pick any of those listed in your criteria.......

 

[huntsman]

Stick a .22lr in the bag and keep the .380acp in your pocket, ALWAYS.

 

[JTQ]

I'm not completely sure I understand the scenario you're using this gun for, but 50 years ago, I'd have picked a revolver in .38 Special since guns were common and the ammo was available nearly everywhere.

Today, I'd pick a Glock G17 or G19, or a G26 if you really have to have something really small. They are lightweight, reliable, durable, parts are everywhere, and 9mm is now the round that is readily available. I say this as somebody that doesn't even own a Glock, and doesn't really care for them, but they apparently work and are everywhere.

 

[bannockburn]

I have to agree with those that advocate something along the lines of a medium size .22 Kit Gun (my Beretta Model 70S comes to mind), and a small .380 or 9mm. for the self defense role.

 

[TruthTellers]

I'm not completely opposed to a .22 pistol, I like the Ruger SR22 for it's lightweight and there's a company in New Hampshire called TandemKross that makes a +5 extension for the mags and so far that's would make it the only .22 pistol I know of that basically has a 15 round magazine.

The thing is if it could be done, I'd already have a .22 rifle with me. So, a pistol that's really a last ditch defense gun in rimfire is uhh... questionable for reliability.

I appreciate the input, the number of replies saying not to write off .22 LR has me thinking, which will get me to the answer I'm looking for eventually. Besides, this was just looking for an alternative to the NAA because of the .22 Magnum being MIA when I try to buy some.

 

[jonnyc]

I think along the same lines as 'bannockburn'.
In my "Get-Home-Bag", which I consider a bit more realistic, I have a Series 70 Beretta .22LR, and a Romanian TTC with 3 or 4 mags. If those can't carry me through 36-48 hours on my way home where all my 'stuff' is, I have a VERY serious problem that a different choice of handgun won't solve.

 

[Leanwolf]

Bugging out, huh? TSHTF! TEOTWAKI! That means there will be myriad bandits, freebooters, road agents, and nefarious cutthroats out there all seeking to plunder your survival goods. You'd best be prepared for them. Forget that measly .22 LR.



If you gotta bug out, bug out in style, I say.

L.W.

 

[TruthTellers]

For as trolling as Leanwolf is, he did roll off a lot of different people that might be in the way of keeping me from getting home or wherever my "stash" is. What is one likely to encounter at the beginning of a bug out situation?

Asking because I can make a plan and acquire the big out gear accordingly. If it's hostile and frightened people I'm likely to encounter, I don't think .22 is the single best option in that instance.

 

[Leanwolf]

TRUTH TELLER " For as trolling as Leanwolf is, ..."

Yep, just "trolling" away ... after having nearly 2,000 posts and been here for ten years.

By the way, in a genuine stressful situation, psychologists tell us that a sense of humor is a very valuable asset.

L.W.

 

[gbran]

rcmodel

Never underestimate the .22 Rimfire when it comes to down & dirty living.

22WMR can be suitable for SD. Many 22WMR's and 22LR's can be found in lightweight guns, but a Single Six convertible, while not light, does off the best of both worlds and IMHO would make a great bugout.

 

[tallpaul]

Its been years since I have seen an assault wheelbarrow or gunkid reference... thats funny at least for those of us who lived through his escapades...

 

[Manny]

I can't picture finding a NAA Black Widow desireable for anything other than lightweight, compact carry. For actual shooting I believe it'd leave a good deal to be desired. If you're to incur the weight penalty to carry a gun in my gear, I'd at least want it to be shootable and effective. Sacrificing that for the sake of a little weight strikes me as a bad trade.

The Ruger 22/45 Lite that has been mentioned several times in this thread would seem to be a great choice if you're comfortable with a .22lr in this role. Myself, I think I'd probably want a 9mm for such a role, and would put up with the weight penalty in exchange for much better effectiveness and shootability. A Glock 17 is about 30oz + the ammo, more weight, but still reasonable.

 

[JTHunter]

How about 2 Keltecs - the PMR-30 pistol and the CMR-30 carbine? They can use each others magazines, 30 rounds of .22 Mag per magazine, integrated rails, and are polymer guns. They both have threaded barrels (an "option" for the pistol) for suppressor use (not legal here in Illinois).

 

[Deaf Smith]

Bugging out, huh? TSHTF! TEOTWAKI! That means there will be myriad bandits, freebooters, road agents, and nefarious cutthroats out there all seeking to plunder your survival goods. You'd best be prepared for them. Forget that measly .22 LR.

View attachment 743488

If you gotta bug out, bug out in style, I say.

L.W.

Yes, the famous Gunkid 'Assault Wheelbarrow'©

And with his .25 second pocket draw with a Star BM converted to .357 Sig.

Deaf

 

[Tallball]

OT, but I was intrigued enough to Google gunkid and gecko45 posts. Wow. That is funny and surreal and sad all at the same time. Wow.