whats your Bug out gun for?

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What part does your firearm play in your bug out kit? I'm trying to select the best firearm for the job but I'm runnig up against some problems. I realy don't see any problems in a "bug out" situaton that justify running around with a long gun and a bunch of ammo when I need to use that wieght/space for water and meds.

The only reasons I can see for leaving my home is a chemical attack/spill, nuclear plant failure, or rioting. If I need an AK too boogie out of the hood I think I didn't leave soon enough and in NBC I'm not going to be trading shots with my fellow travelers we'll all be too buisy running away.
 
I think handguns are good for bugging out. If you have to go to a shelter they will not allow you to bring in a rifle. But if you have a handgun well concealed you might get in the shelter with you.
 
Let's consider exactly what could make someone leave, as you've mentioned chemical spills, nuclear accident, rioting and yet despite recent events ignore the weather. I guess you don't live in hurricane country. But even failing that a big enough earthquake, and they can happen anywhere, history of quakes or no. (The great Missouri quake is estimated to have killed a million people, was felt in Boston.)

The whole point of having a bug out gun is as a part, an important part, but just a part of a bug out plan. We plan for likely eventualities, however remote and then old fickle fate steps in and throws something completely unexpected at you.

So, something unexpected happens. You have to make the decision to bug out or bug in. Adding up the factors in your decision you decide to bug out. So do most of your neighbors. Most of your unprepared neighbors. You are sitting in an endless traffic jam for hours and hours. People may be hot, running air conditioning to keep cool and using up their gasoline. They feel they've got to leave everything behind and go. After hours and hours they're out of gas. You're prepared, you've got gas. Assuming somebody else has a gun and they want your gas, how do you plan on keeping it?

Or you've decided to bug in. As Katrina shows, a depopulated city with minimal law enforcement still suffering from disruption of essential services is ripe pickings for vandals and looters. Maybe you've got a generator, or food, or for that matter drinkable water. How do you plan on keeping it?

And again, Katrina showed us that once you enter a shelter you are no longer captain of your own destiny. The gummint has you in their clutches, may not let you leave and certainly doesn't want to let you do anything to improve your condition.

No, they'll be playing hockey on the river Styx before I go into a shelter.

For that matter why are we talking about A bugout gun? If you feel the need to carry a longarm a sidearm is reasonable for most people. Not to say I'm lusting to bust caps at some bad guys real or imaginary. A modest display of firepower may convince the goblins that there are easier pickings elsewhere.
 
Define the Mission

Define the mission the weapon will serve before you start selecting it.

Assuming rapid relocation is necessary, the mission for a firearm will be to allow me to obtain food when a hunting opportunity presents itself and defense.

Keeping the firearm is critical, so it must be concealable to minimize the arbitrary judgement calls made by potential "rescuers". This limits me to take down long guns or handguns. I have chosen the latter.

Hunting will consist of game ranging from small (rabbit/squirrel) to medium size (deer/hog). My practical handgun hunting limit on deer size game is around 50 yards, so I need one of the more powerful handguns. This pretty much means .357, .44, .45 Colt with heavy SWC profile bullets.

Defense needs can be adequately met by the above calibers by switching to JHP bullets.

Easy concealability and carry dictates a 4-6" barrel revolver in a shoulder holster with 5 speedloaders stashed in my pockets and 300 total rounds in my kit.

My first choice is a stainless 4" Ruger GP100 .357 mag.
Second choice is a stainless 5.5" Ruger Redhawk in .44 Mag due to the wider selection of factory loadings commonly available in stores. (Assuming I get to a place where I can restock.)

Other folks will make the same assessment and come up with their own reasons to justify their choices. Some folks will decide their 1911 is adequate for both hunting and defense, and I would agree with them. It is just not MY choice.

The reason I chose .357 over the larger calibers, is weight savings on ammo. Just comparing bullet weight alone:

300 .357 caliber 158gr bullets = 6.8lbs
300 .44 caliber 240gr bullets = 10.3lbs

That is before you add on the weight of the cases, primers, and powder. Personally, I would prefer to spend the 3lbs I saved in ammo on other critical consumables.
 
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If you have to go to a shelter they will not allow you to bring in a rifle. But if you have a handgun well concealed you might get in the shelter with you.
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If we learned anything from Katrina it is do not go to a government shelter no matter what!!!

They will confiscate your guns, lock you in with the dregs of society, and not let you leave when you want.

I would rather die of exposure out in the woods somewhere than pinned in with the seething mass of inhumanity that was in the Superdome.

As far as guns are concerned, remember that long arms can't be concealed, and the government will confiscate them as soon as they see them. I would keep one, but try to keep it stashed in a vehicle, house, or temporary living quarters.

For handguns, I think considerations for hunting are kind of far fetched. If society has broken down to the point that you are having to hunt for food, you need your rifle and not a handgun.

So I would pick my handgun based on mainly self defense against other people. About anything would really work fine in any caliber from 38 special to 45 Auto.
 
I don't think that hunting will be viable for me during a bug in or bug out scenario. That brings to the point that the main reason to have a pistol is to keep what is mine that way.
 
I think that having a gun in a bug-out situation gives you options but it would not necessarily let you protect what was yours. The "War of the Worlds" scene comes to mine . . . .I don't view that as being unrealistic in a real bug-out where people are in a panic. (but I'd rather have one than not have one)

Just my .02

Regards,
Dave
 
A bug out gun for me is what I'd use to get me the 16 miles from work to home where I'd be "bugging in".
 
I think that having a gun in a bug-out situation gives you options but it would not necessarily let you protect what was yours. The "War of the Worlds" scene comes to mine . . . .I don't view that as being unrealistic in a real bug-out where people are in a panic. (but I'd rather have one than not have one)
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Agreed. But in War of the Worlds, tom cruise was not thinking "tactically". He allowed himself to be in the middle of a crowd of ruffians. I don't think many on THR would make such a mistake. A handgun combined with some good sense and good tactics I think will help with most problems.
 
Well that is what he typed, if he meant that he would use it to protect himself while venturing out to get supplies then he should have been more specific ;)
 
First off its she or granny.

Yes it is. If my survival is at stake I will have no problems taking the actions needed to insure said survival.

If you haven't made the mental preparations to deal with SHTF then all the guns, food and water will do you no good.
 
Posted by DRMMR02
He allowed himself to be in the middle of a crowd of ruffians. I don't think many on THR would make such a mistake.
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You'd be surprised on how many people, no matter how prepared, would make such mistakes when faced with such situations.

In a bug out situation a handgun is a must. But personaly, I would take a longarm with me as a little extra insurance. If exposure and getting it confiscated is an issue, I would not think twice about sawing of my shotgun to make concealment easier.

Quote:
My bug out weapons would be for personal protection and acquisition of supplies.

How noble. Steal from the weak at gunpoint.
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I'm sure she meant to say; for protection for when there's a need to go out and get supplies. But this brings up an interesting question. First off, this thread is about bug off weapon, so I'll assume, that we all agree that we would protect ourselves and our supplies from others. Now, how far would you go to survive say in the case of a devastating natural disater? Or in the worst cases such as a nuclear strike and you were unfortunate enough to have survived the blast?
 
No buddy "she" said that is exactly what she meant, she would take, by force if need be, anything she needed to survive, which is one of the most pathetic statements I have ever read and only proves that some people in the great country of ours have no ethics or morals.

Everything you need to survive can be gathered from mother earth, you don't have to resort to looting and pillaging to get what you "need" to survive
 
Morals. Ethics. With SHTF, social chaos and no order people with morals and ethics will be preyed upon and will die.

If it comes down to me or you I pick me and I find no moral or ethical violation in that decision.

I'm talking survival not 3 days away while they clean up the streets.
 
For the emergency kit, I'd stick with an accurate, portable firearm that can take game or defend you. A .32 H&R carbine or .22 LR survival gun would be fine.
 
Bug out or or not when it comes to a major SHTF you need a good long gun .
In a city enviroment you could be faced with attackers smart enough to use cover , your 38 , 45 and even 44 maggie isn't going to intimidate them or do enough damage to stop them .

Hard targets "cars , building walls" require some punch to get through and still inflict damage on an attacker .

If you go to a shelter they may be using metal detectors so even a handgun will be taken away by LEO's leaving you defenseless .

I would include no less than one solid semiauto long gun , an SKS in 7.62x39 will do the job though a 308 such as an HK 91 or M1A is much better .
 
Hanzo you are confused. You think I'm taking something from another human being. I'm not. I'm acquiring whatever it is I need for my own survival. You are going to do the same thing if it means your own survival or you are going to die.
Its that simple and the sooner you realize that the better your chances will be when the SHTF.

You do what needs to be done to survive or you die.
 
Everything you need to survive can be gathered from mother earth
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Ha! Have you tried? I've been to that edge and seen the elephant. She ain't nice and she doesn't give you milk and honey at the asking.
 
Perhaps I was confused by your statement. It sounded, according to your statement, as if you would take food and/or water from your neighbor at gunpoint if need be.

That is a far cry from going to local stores and gathering supplies and using your weapon to protect yourself along the way
 
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