[SwedeSteve]

It's amazing how getting out of the slightest breeze can really help. Sleeping in a snow cave is pretty freeky the first night.

[Lex1785]

Sorry to chime in but something I'd like to point out this is listed as a "Survival" kit, but when given the Instruction on it, this kit is actually a E&E Kit, thus the reason no weapons are listed and is typically designed for the soul purpose to use for escape and evasion behind unfriendly lines with out using your weapon to attract attention to your location by hostile forces.

It as a tracked item, only time I was ever issued one was during hostile operations in a open conflict environment.

This may be different then what others are saying/reading on the net and such but thats what my Platoon Sergeant passed on to us when we where issued ours. When we demobbed back to the world, we turned them back in as controlled items.

If you can get your hands on a full kit, they are a good piece of gear to have.

[larmus]

Ok, now i understand...

Dont bag on me to much, I am a civilian after all... but lets say your were a marine and in a group (squad?) on a helicopter behind enemy lines and were shot down, your heliocopter goes down out side and many miles from initial hit by enemy fire. You have lost primary and secondary weapons because of the impact of the crash... So this would be the kit that you were issued and would use to get back to allied forces, Correct?

[Cyrano]

sv, I have 3 articles on this that are too long for the forum. PM me if you'd like to have me send you a copy.

[thrillbilly]

Quote:       Originally Posted by larmus

Ok, now i understand... Dont bag on me to much, I am a civilian after all... but lets say your were a marine and in a group (squad?) on a helicopter behind enemy lines and were shot down, your heliocopter goes down out side and many miles from initial hit by enemy fire. You have lost primary and secondary weapons because of the impact of the crash... So this would be the kit that you were issued and would use to get back to allied forces, Correct?

No...what ya'd do in that situation is grab the M60 off the door mount and go on a Rambo Rampage back to your lines!

[testhop]

oldjarhead
maybe no war have been won by a politcian BUT WARS HAVE BEEN LOST BY THEM.

[Lex1785]

Quote:       Originally Posted by larmus

Ok, now i understand... Dont bag on me to much, I am a civilian after all... but lets say your were a marine and in a group (squad?) on a helicopter behind enemy lines and were shot down, your heliocopter goes down out side and many miles from initial hit by enemy fire. You have lost primary and secondary weapons because of the impact of the crash... So this would be the kit that you were issued and would use to get back to allied forces, Correct?

In my squad if we were issued these kits, yes in that case this is what we'd use when unable to get to friendlies and resupply. Alot of times during scout missions we where issued these to carry with us. All around a great bit of gear. there are five for sale on Ebay right now for 125 bucks.

[YugoM59/66]

well i have to agree with oldjarhead, ive been in the Corps for over 3 yrs and i have never seen, nor needed 90% of that stuff. but i DO have a lot of it in my personal survival kit. rifle, ammo, knife, multi tool. and i actually used safety pins as hooks when we were in AP Hill, i caught a little croppie with it and was eating good in about 5 minutes. i've truthfully never even seen that list. but i understand what your saying. for regular survival situations, a gun is not needed. i would just rather have one, any day of the week

[samuel]

I don't know about some of that stuff,but a pizza delivery telly# sounds like it might be handy. ,,,sam.

[LarryO1970]

Quote:       Originally Posted by oldjarhead

Funny, I served 25 years in the Corps and my survival kit consisted of a rifle, ammo, bayonet, shelter half, blanket, clean set of clothing, canteen with cup, and compass; and a KaBar. Some of us carried a sewing kit for whatever purpose we needed it for; good for mending clothing and stitching up wounds. Oh yeah, we had a compression bandage on our cartridge belt. As Thrillbilly said...we learned how to shoot for food. Survival is to do what you can with what you have at hand. Don't think for a second that a military person will willingly give up his weapon and ammo for a little packet of goodies...these are of primary interest in staying alive during an emergency. You go ahead and try to survive on your little packet of goodies without a weapon...I'll keep my weapon and ammo thank you. Looks to me like there is a lot of civilian influence on the military these days.

oldjarhead ... I tend to agree with you. I'll keep my weapons and improvise where I need to. In my opinion, applicable clothing, shelter and a water source is what really matters.

Larry O

[Sam Ruger]

Interesting list but it seemed rather lengthy and difficult to carry. I got my list from the pack list for a USMC sniper, then lightened the load where ever I could. The basics they carried began with the first thing left off the E&E list of this thread:

1) Rifle
This was a bolt action NATO round with sniper scope and a night optics unit that could be attached to the front. It was fitted with both a shooting sling and a bipod and 20 rounds of ammunition. My version is a lightweight .22 LR also with illuminated sniper scope, hasty sling, bipod, and about 500 rounds - Not that I expect to fight a war with a .22 LR but packing 500 rounds is like a packing a roll of socks.

2) Handgun
This wasn't specified but probably a Glock and two clips. I substituted a Ruger Mark II.

3) Optics
To these guys, optics ranged from binoculars to range finders to a hand held ballistics computer and wind gauge. My scope has a rangefinder and I carry flouresecent range stakes and a gunnery/windage table with wind speed estimate.

4) light source
Looked like they carried a standard flashlight. I don't have one. I figure to be deployed before it gets dark.

5) camouflage
Generally a camouflage suit. For me, it's a camouflage tarp that fits in my pack.

6) water
Camel pack and a one quart canteen for them. I have a two quart canteen (This is actually the heaviest thing I have besides the rifle.). No purification tablets.

7) helmet
No commentary provided on this but I also have a helmet and it's nice to have.

8) Communications system
They got stuff you wouldn't imagine. Me? I've got a cellphone and no bars.

9) Waterproofing
This was a "how do keep all this stuff dry" problem. See my camouflage tarp.

10) Bedroll
Foam rubber roll. Mine looks the same as theirs at 5/8" padding.

Pack
They have freaking huge packs and it still must take an engineer to figure out how to get all that stuff inside them (If you laid it all out, it would cover a king size bed). Mine is a smaller pack but leather. Everything that fits in it would cover a single wide bed.

Stuff they left out:

cookware:
Not shown in the video but I use a 1 ounce camp stove and aluminum "Boy Scout" cook kit with a pint of fuel.

Telescoping fishpole: Casting rod that will collapse into my pack.

Medical kit:

This stuff gets severely overrated. I picked out out a sports medicine sideline medical kit I already had which is loaded for every injury except snake bite. Had an RN go through it and she eliminated 90% of it. The rest I could carry in my pocket.

Safari vest:
This vest has 13 pockets and carries so much I can't fill it. It's great. I put all my fishing tackle, matches, and bait in this plus 100 rounds. It's still mostly empty.

100 feet of rope:
It fits in the pack. What I'd ever use it for is anybody's guess.

A roll of TP.

A walkman music system.

Leather gloves. Gotta have 'em.

13" survival knife

Shoulder holster

Tropical mummy sleeping bag with zip in winter liner

I probably forgot something... It's all pretty light and comfortable to carry except for the canteen. Water weighs a lot though.
I know I was off topic with weapons included but I always like to compare my pack to that of others. Anyone see any additions? I'm finnicky about weight.

[larmus]

Sam Ruger, that is a nice set up you have there... what is it intended for, is it a 72hr pack or is it to get you from point A to point B or is it a long term pack for an extended outting...

[Dragunov]

Sam Ruger,
Why the walkman? music? Aren't your ears one of your best allies in a survival situation? I can see a small, portable radio with a single earpiece though. When I put together a camping trip, I don't allow music or alchohol. There are bears, mountain lions, rattlesnakes and two legged varmints to consider. To me, these require ears at all times.

I'm not criticizing, just curious.

[ZombieHunter]

Quote:       Originally Posted by sv_libertarian

stuff off this list according to the manual... (2) Game. -Snares *Commercially Manufactured *Aircraft Cable *Tie Wire/ Comm Wire -Bait *MRE Cheese Spread, Jelly, or Peanut Butter Package *Fishing Bait -550 Cord for Gill Net and Trap Construction -Engineer/Marking Tape -Sling shot rubber and pouch -Large treble hooks

Sling-shot rubber and a pouch? Please! I've got all this stuff beat. Norinco "breakdown" .22LR and a dedicated brick of ammo. I can literally run with this setup in the pockets of my jeans, tuck it away into a backpack, or keep it damned near anywhere else. It's capped all manner of stuff that I've eaten, just for the heck of it...including a few catfish, believe it or not.

[Deersniper]

A good list to go by. Large mouse traps make good snares.

[buzznod]

"The only thing that's as fun as shooting guns, Is talking about shooting guns"
A.B.Chaillet III

[buzznod]

Quote:       Originally Posted by sv_libertarian

The point here, is not every kit has to include enough firepower to fight the 2nd World War. The manual I took this from is about Arctic Survival, which presumes lost in the woods or tundra way up north. This kit and a blade may very well be what is on a person at the time. Anything extra would be a bonus of course. And when you consider the standard 5.56 NATO rifle, and a 9mm pistol that is again standard, those are not guns that I would choose for being lost in the arctic with. The idea behind posting this was to get people thinking about *not* having their guns, ammo and combat inspired loadout.

I agree with the 5.56 and 9mm Thars bars up en them hills. Give me a 12 gauge and a .454 . Ever shot a bear with a 9mm or a 5.56 ,better file them sights off is all I can say.

[aimhigh46]

Not sure for the reason of this original post. This is a "gun" forum...the original poster appears to be anti gun (?)...what's the point of his comments? On the other hand, I do appreciate the list of survival equipment to go along with my 9mm and all the ammo I can carry.

[BarryHalls]

thank you, thank you very much.

[Lcpl Martin]

Quote:       Originally Posted by thrillbilly

Sure I have a pack like that...and I keep it right next to my rifle. I don't care what Marines do...my Army Dad learned me to use a gun! LOL

Guns break, get lost/stolen, ammunition runs out. Its a tool like anything else and depending on a single tool to save your life is a risky choice.