Why does everyone relate bug out bags to some form of zombie apocalypses or nuclear war and "living off the land?"
Because if you can do that, you can do anything you need to. Packing that much ammo in .22 is mostly because a 500-round brick isn't that much different than a 100-round box. I still only carry the 100, but that's because I prefer to shoot the other 400 on my own time.
Best choice is locking the doors and windows and checking the cabinets.
The BoB is the exact opposite: the ability to grab something on the way out the door in your shoes and a towel, and be able to survive.
You should have a second, less urgent bag for when you have time to open a closet. This is what Floridians call the hurricane box. Candles, flashlight, Sterno or a camp stove, a bit of nonperishable food, a very basic tool kit (a Leatherman, hammer, and screwdriver with bits are great), and the like. The BoB is the "this is going to
suck" essentials that should be carried with any other method of getting out of Dodge.
Anyway, I think that if you put a gun in the bag, it should be a .22 rifle or small lightweight rifle in a medium caliber (.30-30, 7.62x39, etc.) or handgun cartridge. Something common and lightweight. Hunting with a handgun would
suck when your life may depend on it, or if you're not an expert marksman. And trying to hunt when a group of other people have the same thought would suck enough already.
A handgun would be an excellent idea in a case like this, but in my case the bag contains only ammunition in two rifle calibers (in case I have time) and for my daily carry guns; the gun itself is already with
me. I can always drop the .38 for the space or trade the 9mm for a meal or the 7.62x39 for a gallon of gas.
In my area, bugging out means widespread riots or a hurricane that has flooding to the second floor. In both cases, there won't be any food to be had on the way out. A firearm could be essential for that, but I take the shortage into account and tossed enough ramen in to stave off starvation.
As far as I see it, though, having more than 3 days of compact food and the bare essentials, it's more a prepared camping bag. The guys that go further and put in three bricks of .22 and a can of 5.56, a six-person tent, and vegetable seeds don't have a bugout bag, they have a plan to move into the woods.
