SHTF - 2 Long Guns and an Alice Pack on foot???

[P12]

Primitive metalsmithing, blacksmithing and forgework.

Done some knife smithing a few years back.

Auto mechanics.

Ah, my field of expertise.

Primitive carpentry/woodworking

Woodworking, carpentry hobbiest. May not be pretty but hey, it will not fall apart.

master electrician

Always done my own electrical work. Hey, 110, 112 what ever it takes!

Construction (can you build it?)

Built my backyard hobby shop. Still standing after a couple years. Made modifications to the blueprints (the roof-had to shorten it) to meet my needs. Hasn't leaked as of yet. Or sagged.

Medicine/First aid

16 hours of first aid training.

Just took a safe food handling class for my wife's restaurant. Don't know if that would count.

Always had a high mechanical aptitude.

So might I be marketable?

 

[larry_minn]

Lots of good stuff. I don't plan to bug out. IF I was forced (at gunpoint) to live in major city I would try to set up a place in country to aim for. Preposition the rifle there and ammo/food/other supplies. Then consider if you made it half way by car could you hoof the rest of they way? In rain? Snow? If not you MUST get out before everyone else tries.
Keep enough fuel on hand to fill your car/truck at all times. Every other month use it and refill. Or add sta bil and go 4x a year. Heck I have a gun, MREs,water, clothing, shoes, FRS radios in FL in case I am down there and things go South. Plus working on equip supply place down there. Basicly if down there I am stuck if SHTF

 

[P12]

Oh, almost forgot!!

Me be a ham radio operator. (tech class)

Also me can fly a plane. Taildragger no less. Haven't flown in several yearn. No one may want to ride with me until I put in some solo time and not kill myself. But, I've got about 300 hours. About 200 of that was in a Cessna 185. Man that is one plane!

I've built a model airplane. I could afix it with a downward looking camera. For surveillance work of course. I could even build you a few remote control items.

(just caint speel warth a dern) So no writing assignments for me please!

 

[Trisha]

It's a good start, P12.

Foraging and real backcountry skills (all 4 seasons) would be my next suggestions, along with something diversifying like basic microbiology (is this water safe/is this soil fertile/is this food clean).

Trisha

 

[P12]

Trisha

It would all be a waste of time and energy for me in this post-apocolyptic world anyway. Bein' how I'm such high medical maintenance. If I don't have daily medicine for asthma I quit breathing and it's over anyway.

So, give me a field of fire! I'd be screwed no matter what.

Now to hunker down for a few days. No problemo.

 

[Soap]

ALL of the skills that you have listed are skills that my father has taught me. I'm far more well versed in some more than others of course. But I just realized that in today's society, parents normally don't teach their children skills such as the ones listed. While school is all fine and dandy for learning the three R's we still have to pass on certain skills to the youngest generations. Not only will it be "quality time", it will also help make them better people.

 

[Trisha]

smiling warmly

That's why I believe so strongly that we must all be teachers, leading the way by example; and I believe we must do a much more visible job of teaching, too, as this new generation isn't present and active in their millions.

We can light their way through dark times, and kindle light in their hearts such that they inherit the future with calm legitimacy and competence.

Trisha

 

[ahadams]

uhm, I think what Trisha said about not expecting to be welcomed with open arms in any random small town needs to be emphasized even more. My wife and I wont be bugging out, but that's because we moved here so we wouldn't have to. We, and most of the folks here in our little town will be expecting relatives, but that's going to be about the limit of our hospitality. You see those of us who live here aren't rich and we simply wont have the resources to support large number of refugees. It mostly wont matter what sort of skills you're bringing with you, since unless there's an extreme immediate need within the community, resource conservation and security concerns would again mitigate against taking in any total strangers.

The best way to 'bug out' is to move now, so you have time to become a member of a local community; not wait until everything goes down the tubes and then expect to be welcomed with open arms.

 

[riverdog]

This is one of the best "bug-out" scenario threads I've read. Excellent points about bugging-in and about having some previous ties to your destination if you choose to bug-out. Choices in armament are way down the list of priorities.

 

[Frohickey]

Look at it this way, the US Army only equips their mainline infantry troops with ONE rifle, and this is when they have a steady supply line.

Weapons are down on the list.

Food, water, shelter, clothing are first.
I would substitute the shotgun with a small 22LR rifle that can be broken down and put into the pack. That can be used for small game hunting (food). A skinning/butchering knife, and sharpening stones is more important than a 2nd rifle.

If you have an AR15, I would still pick a self-contained 22LR instead of a 22LR upper only.

Training and improving you skillset is probably better than shelling out money for the next wondertoy/firearm. One of these days, I'll spring for the COAGS training. Anyone else out there know of a good program?

 

[Blain]

"You'd stick out like a fool, have no on-site resources, and have nothing inherent about you to be a contribution. You'd be one in a horde of refugees, and we won't welcome resourceless strangers."



That's just speaking out of plain ignorance. Manpower is good no matter what. Men are not stupid robots and even the most unknowledgeable person can be helpful and be taught to do any number of needed tasks relatively easily.

Setting traps, getting firewood, being a lookout, reloading ammo, fetching errands, fishing, or just being a hired gun for defense etc.

These are all useful skills that are easily taught to a 5-year-old.

In a post SHTF world numbers are what's going to matter. You'd be a damned fool to reject some good honest hard working people. Think you're home grown family of 4 could hold up to a horde of 20? I don’t think so, all your survival skills won't mean diddly then.

The most prosperous post SHTF areas will be those of local communities where there are small "towns" in the wilderness of 50-300 people who all have jobs and roles and all look out for each other. Think of the movie "No Escape" where there is a living working community where everyone has a part in. Such a community could a lot more easily survive by pooling talents and manpower. They are also a heck of a lot more likely to ward off hordes of looters and invaders than your little family of 6.

You don't like that idea? Then go it alone and in small numbers and you'll see what I'm talking about. I plan to do the smart thing, group up with a bunch of likeminded people, and we'd welcome anyone in who wanted to work and help us out. More manpower can only help us, both with defense from invaders and for getting extra resources.


Since the dawn of man, humans have naturally shifted toward the protection and benefit of groups.

 

[itgoesboom]

There is a bunch of good advice here in this thread.

One of the best bits of advice that i could give you is to find other people who are like minded, and also have good skills. I already know who i would want to be with in case of SHTF, and i have made sure that my skills make them want me to be with them too. Do you have any friends that shoot? Hunt? Fish? Any Doctors? If so, those are the people that you should make a plan with.

Also, are you married? Any kids? Realize that even if you are capable of survival, and capable of hiking 12 miles a day with 70 lbs of gear, your wife/gf/kids might not be able to.

Its good that you are putting thought into this process, but i would also seriously consider staying put if SHTF. There are many good reasons why staying in can be safer than being on the move.

--You know your area better than you know some forest 500 miles away.

--You may not have enough gas to get to your bug-out-location

--You might be injured, and moving could be very hazerdous.

--You can keep more supplies at your home than you could take with you.

--Everyone and their dog will be trying to bug out, and (1) there is likely to be a massive traffic jam out of town and (2) there will be massive crowds competing for food, water and land, and (3) the people who live in that area might not be too friendly about sharing their resources, and they will know their environment better than you will.


My recommendation would be to make a plan to stay where you are. Have food and water, medical supplies, waterpurification, and other disaster supplies.

In my opinion, bugging out should be a last resort, only if your home is uninhabitable.

With that said, it is a very good idea to have a small bugout kit available if you do need to run.

I.G.B.

 

[Frohickey]

Think about the flipside...

Here is an unknown person, asking to be let into the group. You do not know the person's background. He/she could be a plant of the group of looters. Bringing a new person into the group is introducing an unknown variable, and if the group already has ample numbers to protect themselves with, here would be another mouth to feed.

Besides, there are going to be hundreds of others wanting to join in too. What makes you think you'd be picked over any of the others?

Best is to gather other likeminded individuals and start your own group.

 

[riverdog]

I think the point Trisha and others are trying to make is that you need to establish ties to your chosen bug-out community now rather than later. Relatives in that community would be huge to your being accepted.

Just showing up after the SHTF will probably get you shot because you will look like the type a community will be protecting themselves against. Particularly if you show up with an assault shotgun and a MBR.

 

[itgoesboom]

There is a bunch of good advice here in this thread.

One of the best bits of advice that i could give you is to find other people who are like minded, and also have good skills. I already know who i would want to be with in case of SHTF, and i have made sure that my skills make them want me to be with them too. Do you have any friends that shoot? Hunt? Fish? Any Doctors? If so, those are the people that you should make a plan with.

Also, are you married? Any kids? Realize that even if you are capable of survival, and capable of hiking 12 miles a day with 70 lbs of gear, your wife/gf/kids might not be able to.

Its good that you are putting thought into this process, but i would also seriously consider staying put if SHTF. There are many good reasons why staying in can be safer than being on the move.

--You know your area better than you know some forest 500 miles away.

--You may not have enough gas to get to your bug-out-location

--You might be injured, and moving could be very hazerdous.

--You can keep more supplies at your home than you could take with you.

--Everyone and their dog will be trying to bug out, and (1) there is likely to be a massive traffic jam out of town and (2) there will be massive crowds competing for food, water and land, and (3) the people who live in that area might not be too friendly about sharing their resources, and they will know their environment better than you will.


My recommendation would be to make a plan to stay where you are. Have food and water, medical supplies, waterpurification, and other disaster supplies.

In my opinion, bugging out should be a last resort, only if your home is uninhabitable.

With that said, it is a very good idea to have a small bugout kit available if you do need to run.

I.G.B.

 

[AZTOY]

I have everything i need at home i am not leaving my house or land.

The only way i will leave is if every thing get destoyed! :banghead:

 

[ctdonath]

Know your goal

Different people have different goals with their bugout bags, ranging from full-blown survival to beat the crowd.

In working on my own BOB, it rapidly became clear that unlimited survival was not a reasonable goal. 95% of the time I am within 40 miles of home (rural setting), and the most likely bug-out scenario is a need to walk home from the city - either because the car is unusable or roads are impassable. I figure I can make the hike in 2-3 days, so I need just enough stuff to keep me going long enough to reach my long-term survival stash.

TEOTWAWKI/SHTF likely will only extend so far as making me hunker down at home or (should home be unusable) run to someone else's. The BOB must then facilitate 3 days survival. Anything beyond that opens up too many possibilities requiring too much stuff to haul fast.

 

[carp killer]

ahadams uhm, I think what Trisha said about not expecting to be welcomed with open arms in any random small town needs to be emphasized even more. My wife and I wont be bugging out, but that's because we moved here so we wouldn't have to. We, and most of the folks here in our little town will be expecting relatives, but that's going to be about the limit of our hospitality. You see those of us who live here aren't rich and we simply wont have the resources to support large number of refugees. It mostly wont matter what sort of skills you're bringing with you, since unless there's an extreme immediate need within the community, resource conservation and security concerns would again mitigate against taking in any total strangers.

I whole heartedly agree. Some areas, even if you buy a place now, it takes years to be accepted into a community. So plan now, if you want some place to "bug out to". I still believe Americans are generous people but I will look out for my own family first. So expect small towns to circle the wagons against big city refugees.

 

[sixgun_symphony]

Blain,

That is no plan at all. My advise is to put in some overtime at your job to purchase a bit of land so as to build a cabin.

You could get together with family and friends to purchase this retreat for normal use as a summer cabin & hunting lodge. When it comes time to run for the hills, you will have a place waiting for you.

I would advise keeping a motorcycle in good runing order and with a full tank of gas ready to go.

 

[scotjute]

Long-term SHHTF scenarios:
For those who are contemplating living off the land via hunting and fishing : you also need to give some thought to FARMING.
Just like the pioneers did. In fact it may be even more important now than then as there is not the super abundance of game as when this country was young. If everybody is planning on subsisting on venision and other game, that will get scarce pretty quick. Perhaps a "hoe", "shovel", and "axe" should be part of everyone's getting-back-to-grubbing-off-the-land basic gear. Not very portable, but definitely useful. Also a few pounds of seed every year should be part of your annual replenishment . Won't cost that much if you buy bulk from a Co-op.
As for land, perhaps large farmers close-by would agree to you share-cropping 10-20 acres. Particularly if you have seed and/or put in the manual labor as he may not be able to afford or get gas/diesel for the big tractor. Something to think about anyway, might work for some.

 

[NewShooter78]

Good info all around so far. My bug out plan includes between a squad sized to platoon sized group traveling together if the plan is to not stay where we are. I'm basically the one watching all the "warning" signs right now, but I do have an "overzealous" (thank goodness) uncle who keeps the family updated on other happenings. I'd try and make it up to him if SHTF, but since I'm in La and he's up in WA, that would probably be really hard to do.

I guess I should start making myself more skillful though, if I do have to travel. I'm pretty good at surviving and have some other useful skills, but nothing to make me stand out.

 

[12.7x99mm]

"it's the social panic and the-sky-is-falling mob that is of some concern. . ."


What do think will happen to you if your seen walking around with a long gun.

More than likely you be in the cross hairs serveral times over.

The only way I’m leaving my home is if a entire city is decimated by a nuke or some other god awful thing and my home is burning down.

 

[M1911]

Bug out? Where to? How many of us could reasonably expect to walk with a large load for a long distance? There was a time when I could hike 14 miles a day with a 35 lb pack. A 70 lb pack? No way. Couldn't do it then, can't do it now. And with my bad feet, I couldn't do 14 miles a day without a pack. My 105 lb wife couldn't carry even a 35 lb pack. And once you got there, do you really think you could be self-sufficient for a long period of time?

I'll bug in. Hole up in our suburban home. We always have food, water, and other essentials in the basement. And lots more guns and ammo than we and a dozen neighbors would ever need

 

[labgrade]

We're already there & if worst comes, we've buds with private planes to take us away to further pre-positioned "a coupla" areas.

Blain,

you thoughts of anyone being "understanding" is fatal, I believe. They won't be. Them getting to "understand" that you have any skill-sets might be the hardest thing you've ever done.

Best bet is to already be there. Second best is to get there (with pre-positioned stuff).

Guns won't matter all that much.

If you need 'em, you're already in harms way - not the place to be, IMHO.

 

[ahadams]

Blain - labgrade is essentially correct. Even under a best possible world scenario (sort of an order of magnitude above a best case scenario, so to speak) you get some place and form a group that gels into a community with no major problems; then start accepting outsiders...and what you're setting yourself up for is the first sociopathic predator who gets y'all to let your guard down.

Newshooter76 - if that's your plan, you need to make plans in advance to have primary and alternate routes which completely avoid small towns. since you have desert immediately east of you that might be something to consider in your planning. The reason I say this is that no small town is going to be friendly to a platoon sized unit with vehicles. You might be able to force yourself through one or two confrontations, but your goal is to get to your safe location - *not* burn up ammo and take casualties. Just a thought...