There is always a lot of discussion about Bug Out Bags (BOB), and mine stays in my vehicle at all times with clothes, shoes, food, water and odds and ends for survival. That and my carry pistol will give me a minimal chance of making it to a safe location if I can’t get home…
But…
Clarification- You HAVE to leave your house, fire/emergency/tornado, etc… I know in reality ‘most’ people would fort up and not worry as much about the ‘external’ issues…
Clarification- You HAVE to leave your house, fire/emergency/tornado, etc… I know in reality ‘most’ people would fort up and not worry as much about the ‘external’ issues…
If I’m home, and things go South, I’ll open the safe and grab at the minimum my Go Bag. It’s a backpack containing a .357 Python in a holster and 500 rounds of ammo; 200 rounds of hollow point .357, and 200 rounds of .308, 100 rounds of hollow point .38 along with speed loaders for the Python, 4 mags for the SCAR and spare parts to keep both clean and functioning (e.g. springs, firing pins, bore snakes, etc.), a sheath knife, another tac light and spare batteries.
I prefer the hollow point ammo for the pistols to increase the stopping power and minimize the potential for through and through penetration, also, I’ve fired thousands of rounds of both Gold Dot and Federal ammo, and I’m confident that will go bang EVERY time the trigger is pulled. The rifle ammo is a mix of Federal Fusion and FMJ ammo, simply because that is what I have, and again know it’s reliable in the rifle.
If I don’t care about being overt, I’ll also grab the SCAR without a case and just go. IF I have time, I’d throw the SCAR into a carry bag also.
On the way out the door, I’d grab my Colt Agent and drop it in my pocket, or any pocket, it’s easily concealable. With the Python, and a high carry (FBI style) holster, it will conceal fairly well under a light jacket or sweatshirt or similar.
Why revolvers? Two words, simplicity and reliability… I’ve shot many rounds out of these revolvers, and have never had problems with reliability. Both have recently been back to the gunsmith and been tuned up and checked six ways to Sunday. I know I can operate them with either hand or single handedly load, unload or reload as required. I know they are accurate (more accurate than I am), and I am totally confident with them in any situation. Another point is that I don’t have to worry about what ammo to feed them, if it fits, it shoots… And if I can’t get .357, then .38 will work in both the revolvers. While they may not have all the rounds of some of the modern semi-autos, I don’t plan on getting into a running gunfight with them in any case.
And I have a sentimental attachment to both these pistols…
If that happens, that is what the SCAR is for. It’s proven to be extremely accurate, very reliable (it’s designed as a battle rifle), and simple to operate. It also can be operated with one hand, albeit not easily. It has the knockdown power to take any animal I might need to, and with the ACOG I’ve got a 4x scope to be able to reach out at least 400 yards if needed. AND it’s a piston operated action, rather than the gas system available on most AR platforms, so it runs much cleaner that most ARs. It’s plastic and aluminum, so no real worries about rust, wood swelling or any other problems as long as I can maintain basic cleanliness of the weapon and keep the bore clear.
Granted it doesn’t have the cycle rate of an AR platform, but again, I’m not planning on getting in a gunfight, but if I do, assuming I do ‘my’ job and accurately place my shots, the SCAR is a one shot stopper out to any range I need to shoot.
Lastly is the sheath knife, it is not a ‘pretty’ knife, it’s a working knife, and it’s been used to skin out deer before, so I KNOW it will get the job done. It’s thick, heavy steel and holds an edge well. Not that I’d want to do it, but I could fight with this knife if I really had to.
All up, with all the stuff in the bag, it weighs just over 52 lbs, and the SCAR comes in right at 8 lbs. So with 60 lbs of equipment, I’m comfortable that I could survive the initial SHTF situation until I could get to a safe area and hook up with like-minded folks.
So… Do YOU have a Go Bag? And what’s in it, or what would you grab from your safe???
Interesting post, and raises interesting questions.
In the house, I have no ‘Go bag’. At least not right now. If the pear shaped monster was roaming the land, this is the only place I would want to be. That said, the more I consider it, the more I think having the BOB would not be a bad idea.
Now, for my vehicle, that’s another story. There’s a bag there with clothes, money, med supplies, iron rations, spare ammo, fire, small tools, several knives, etc. What’s not in it is a firearm. I’m a teacher, and my car is parked at school all day. Weapon in the car = end of career if found.
I’ll give this some thought, and consider my own post on the topic.
I definitely have a go bag. My firearm “GO” situation is actually pre-loaded magazines for a Bushmaster AR in a vest and rifle bag. The mags in total are ready to go with 240 rounds plus the mag full of Hornady TAP that stays in the rifle. I have a few boxes of each type of ammo in a bag in addition for the handguns that will go with me, which would be a Glock 19 and 23. Since I hunt a lot I actually have a “knife” bag and a hunting pack that would go with me. The knife bag has enough knifes along with sharpening components to last pretty much indefinitely. If I had extra time, I would look to take one of my hunting rifles as well, but since the AR can serve in a hunting capacity (trust me, I know it can) then that would be primary.
There’s one for everyone in the house.
Each has lightweight camping gear for one person to go three days (or more) in any weather conditions, with no other resource than a supply of water, and that doesn’t have to be potable.
They all come in at about 50 lbs each, with room for some clothing and any guns and ammo they might care to add.
I blogged about my bags a while back, so I’m going to shamelessly link the page in your comments.
http://museshank.blogspot.com/2011/11/am-i-prepper.html?
There is “stuff” in my vehicle based on many years of traveling for business (food, water, tools, shovels,etc.) that over time I’ve either used or needed and didn’t have. Bug out “fishing” vest, tan in color, with pockets full of basic survival stuff. Going out the door, a small fireproof box with papers and thumb drives, a .22 rifle, and a .44 Special. There is a brick of .22 in the vehicle and 500 or so .44 rounds next to the fireproof box along with firearms cleaning supplies all stowed in a plastic file folder box. Other than the rifle, everything is innocuous. Knives are two K Bars, one short and one military. Gerber multi tool in the vehicle.
Yep. Bag contains everything that I might need for three days other than water but there’s a filter in the bag. It stays in the vehicle at all times and it’s basically a “get home” bag. If I’m home and have to go, I have separate load-bearing gear containing loaded mags for my preferred rifle and pistol and I will grab those as I’m leaving. If I’m already out, I’ll have whatever weapon I’ve previously chosen to take with me as a carry handgun and I’m seldom if ever without at least a handgun. It the threat level is raised due to specific threats or current events in general, there will be a rifle stowed in the vehicle somewhere as well.
So, if I couldn’t get to my truck?
My truck is set up for a minimum 5 days for 4 people. My revolver, for a story similar to yours, is a model 29-6 inch. My rifle is a Marlin 1894 in 44 also. 10 plastic boxes of mixed 44 home loads.
Are you really saying I can’t get to my truck? But I love my truck….
Carteach- THAT is part of the point… And I was assuming one had to leave on short notice…
45er- Understood, always helps to know the ‘tools’ work. 🙂
MSGT- Missed that one, in this one I’m specifically looking at what guns you’d augment the BOB with.
WSF- Yeah, having a vehicle already containing ‘most’ of what you need helps! 🙂
Murph- Understood! 🙂
Danny- If your truck IS your Go Bag, so much the better… LOL
We maintain 72 hour bags for everyone in the house, with most of Boo’s stuff split up between everyone else. As he grows older, he’ll pack most of his own stuff. Those are for when we have to high tail it to the basement in a tornado. If the house gets blown down, we’ll at least have something to take with us.
I’m in the same boat as Carteach. I work on an airport, so carry of even a pocketknife is verboten, and I can’t keep a gun in the car. I do keep a “Get Home” bag in it with food, first aid, meds, clothing, and a couple of pocket knives in case something like a tornado sweeps through and I have to hoof it because the roads are unusable. A friend of mine lives across the river in Indiana, and he has his three day pack in his trunk because that’s how long he estimates it would take him to get home if he couldn’t use the car or if the usual bridges were out of the question.
It’ll take a lot for me to leave the house in an emergency. So long as I can still get water, defend the house, and it’s structurally sound, I don’t see us leaving. If we had to go, we’ve got some stuff pre-packed for easy loading in the van and the truck, including supplies for the animals. We also have a checklist of the things we’d take in a bug out and where and how they’d be packed in the vehicle.
I’d take the Mossberg 835 shotgun, the Mosin, one of the scoped hunting rifles, the Garand, my new 1911, the CZ-82, the 10/22, Savage Mark II .22, and as much ammunition as I can stuff in the crevices in the load of food we’d be taking. I don’t have a defensive carbine (yet), but like NFO said, I’m not planning on getting into a firefight. The pistols would be carried on my and Irish Woman’s bodies, with the the shotgun and small rifles packed. The shotgun, the Mosin, and the Garand would be handy for use in the event of trouble or dinner popping its head up.
Oh, also getting away from the firearms, Mrs. 45er has put together “go boxes” that are stored under the bed with everything we might need since we have two little ones. It’s amazing that I have gone from one pack-sized go bag for me to three plastic Rubbermaid for two kids.
Nce post. I follow you example and have a substancial kit in the Jeep at all times. I also have two fully packed backpacks with “the usuals” – sleeping bags and mats, shelter, stove and fuel for 2 weeks, water filter, eating utinsels, first aid kit, TP – feels like a post I need to do. My weapons are a Springfield 1911 with Critical Defense ammunition, a Glock 17 with the same, toss in a couple Ruger .22/45 for food resupply, 2 weeks of dried meals and we are rockin’. The real trick with this is to punch the button a couple times a year and go use the stuff in the wilderness. Make sure you hit all 4 seasons and adjust as necessary.
Good post!
I update mine every 6 months…
But really, you need water and food and shelter as well as firearms…(Unless you are planning on using those firearms to take someone elses stuff?).
My bag looks like this (with a few minor changes):
http://middleoftheright.blogspot.com/2010/05/bob.html
Oh, and the truck and car each have get home supplies as well as small takedown rifles in locked and sealed cases in vacuum sealed bags.
Best thing you can carry is a water filter and food.
even the prius carries enough food for 2 people for 4 days and a filter
for water.
AK and rounds (dependable, accurate, affordable) and a couple hundred rounds (need to re-stock)
Ruger Security Six .357
Ruger SP101 .38 for the wife.
Kahr 9 for the pocket.
Food, tools, blanket in the truck, I live in Michigan). Will put sleeping bags in now that I think about it.
Wife’s meds.
Park on street at work, no weapons on premises.
Meet-up locations in case wife, son and I are separated.
He’s armed.
This subject came up on the radio last year.
A guy called in and said that he had guns and his neighbors had food, so they’d work together.
I called in next and said I had guns, and my neighbors had food…
There was a pause before the host got it.
Seeing as you know my situation, we all just leave our stuff in the house no matter what happens! But when it is time to repel boarders there are a disproportinate number of we “gunnies” here on this Island who are ready willing AND able to take up defensive positions. Been talking about it and readying “things” in case TEOTWAWKI arrives on our doorstep! Hope it never happens but—-.
DB- Understand the situation you are in… And good point about the kids/animals! Not a consideration for me. Interesting selection too! 🙂
45er- Yeah, that happens doesn’t it 🙂 I was there 30 years ago…
eia- Good point on the four seasons, and I also ‘cycle’ the ammo on a quarterly basis
MrB- Good points, and I was specifically ‘aiming’ at weapons, assuming the BOB was already in the vehicle
Ed- I see you went dependable too 🙂 LOL on the radio comments!
Ev- ‘I’ would not want to show up un-invited 🙂 Just sayin…
I need to get a .357 for this reason. I’ve been meaning to do it, but haven’t found one I like. But yeah, they are a great grid-down gun.
You take what you got, not what you wish you had.
BOB stands for “bug out bag?” : )
Andy- Yep, that is why I chose it rather than a 1911.
DB- Point!
Brigid- Correct, I’m separating the two, as ‘most’ of us already have a bug out bag of some form in our vehicles. Go bag (weapons) may not be the right term, but that’s what I came up with 🙂
Bag contents – revolver with ammo and basic cleaning/ tweaking gear. Hunting knife and whetstone, back-up pocket knife, speed tape and duct tape. No rifle, but shotgun with both slugs and other goodies. My “oh sh*t” kit has three days of gear, chow, no water this time of year but I’m getting a new filter today, plus basic field med kit.Also have a spare “third leg” that could double as a shooting stick in a pinch. I always carry an extra very heavy coat in my vehicle this time of year, and I’m thinking about adding an avalanche pole.
LittleRed1
Your BOB is similar to mine. Dual S&W K-frames (M19, 4″ for me, M13, 2.5″ for my wife), dual S&W snubbies for me and my wife, a M1 Garand for me and an AR for my wife.
In reserve are 3 1911s of various sizes all in .45acp. I like to consolidate my caliber ammo requirements as much as possible to calibers that can be found just about anywhere in the country.
I keep a case of .223 on hand and a minimum 500 rounds for each of the others, just in case.
Interesting timing. Being laid up has given me time to work on lists, and one of the lists is the “go bag” I need to put together – looking for recommendations for a good knife that will hold an edge. I’ve only got a couple small pocket knives.
It and major first aid kit will stay in SUV, but will have to grab guns (definitely the M1) at the time – too many trips in and out of MD, which frowns on such things.
@ Old NFO: You DO know that if the balloon goes up, you’re welcome here for the duration.
And if you meet any hot chicks desperate to survive on the way out, bring ’em.
LR1- Yep, that works!
Crucis- I see what you’re doing, since you’ve got to plan for 2, not one, that makes sense.
PH- If you’re looking for knives, go here http://www.bladeops.com/Fixed-Blade-s/60.htm
And look at the Benchmade, Buck and Gerber fixed blades. Next time I’m out to shoot, I’ll bring a couple of examples for you to look at.
Murph- You’re on my ‘short’ list, trust me! 🙂
Interesting that you went real old school with the wheel guns and totally new school with the SCAR. Not saying any of them are bad choices at all. Just not a combination I would expect to see very often.
I would probably go Glock 19, AR, my wife would have her .38 and I would bring a .357 mag just because I’m hauling around wheel gun ammo anyway.
-TOR
TOR- The basic reason for the SCAR was the optic and semi-auto. I ‘could’ have gone with my 1940 Model 70 in 30-06 or the M-1, but the combo of optic and semi-auto made it (to me) a no brainer! 🙂