[FS00008]

My 870 and ammo, 1911 and Ammo, 10/22 and a few bricks of ammo.

I'm looking into getting a Henry Lever Action carbine in either .38/.357 and carrying that along with my S&W model 640J since they could both use the same ammo or a .44 Henry and a .44 S&W. It'd be nice to have a pistol and a rifle using the same ammunition.

[leomort]

Hello Everyone,

Just found this board yesterday. Looks like a great site. I found this post most interesting as I thought about it from time to time, especially after the Katrina incident.

I think I'd take a .22lr rifle with two bricks of ammo and 9mm handgun with 200 rounds. My reasoning is if its a bug out situation, I'd want commonly availabe ammo, relatively light so I could carry fairly large amounts. Note, the wife would aslo be carry two bricks of .22lr ammo and 200round of 9mm for her pistol as---consolidate&common calibers for both of us.

Now if I could stay put and form a community watch, then add a 12ga pump and .223rem rifle.

I'm debating whether I'd take a .223rem rifle on bug out. I know that it would give versatility as "defense" weapon, but if you're shooting at someone at distance then it's going to be hard to justify that it a "defense" shooting if law and order get re-established. Plus as previous poster mentioned, a "shoot first, ask questions" later attitude isn't the right one to have. They maybe just like you, scared and trying to survive with their family and I don't want to do anything drastic that I might otherwise regret. In a survival situation, I'm looking to avoid conflict thus don't need the .223 rem for sniping at my "enemies". Which I figure once I committed to shooting at them at distance then they'll pretty much consider me their enemy as well.

I'm more concern with provide food for my family, finding water, shelter, and avoiding trouble.

Now, I play devil's advocate with myself, and say, why not take a .22lr handgun/pistol for the harvest of small game and try to learn some trapping skills. This would allow me to take a .223rem rifle. Two problems that concern me with this scenario. One, I never trapped before and trying to learn in a survival situation is not the right time to try learning. Two, I'm not good pistol shoot beyond 15yards so I might wish I had the rifle if game is at longer distance as their would be a real chance my family would starve.

Some rambling thoughts. Like to hear some feedback on my post. Thanks,

[damage855]

leomort, welcome to G&G first. secound those are good points you raised but does it matter what firearm you have? I believe what you do with it is the question. I dont plan on shooting at anyone either but it would be much easier to take down a deer or zombies with something bigger than a .22lr.LOL We could go back and forth forever the main thing is to plan ahead train for possibilties and survive. just use what ever you find fits your needs best, nobody knows them better than you.

[tlarkin]

My AK47 in 5.56
My 9mm pistol
combat knife (doesn't ever run out of ammo)

The rest is food and water.

[leomort]

Damage855,

Thank you for the welcome. Yes, the most important things is being prepared and using your head. Just to play devil's advocate some more (besides its fun debating), since it's unlike there would be electricity thus refridgeration, I don't see the need to slay a deer as most of it would go to waste via spoilage. This scenario is of me and wife/family having to bug out. The 9mm pistol would be the self defense issue or taking down the zombies . Remember I'm trying to consolidate the ammo so I've chose the 9mm as it is what the wife would most likely be decent shot with (weakest link theory), plus able to carry more of the ammo (vs 45acp ammo for example).

Now if I'm in a community/neighborhood watch, then yes, harvest big game to provide for the larger group has strong merit. But it sounds like this topic has taken more of Rambo, first blood type demeanor. Look at how many of the post have such a large number and variety of firearms in them. I'd be looking to minimize the weight and consolidate the numbers and use the extra weight savings towards other more vital and necessary supplies (MHO) such as water purifier, MRE, firestarter, adequate clothing, first aid kit and some personal hygenie stuff, personal medicines, shelter such as 3 season tent, cooking stuff such as skillet, pot, grill slate.

[Ferroflame]

Leomort, if you're worried about trapping, don't fret. Just take a class, or, do like I did. Google. Youtube. Wikipedia. I've learned a LOT from those three things, not to mention everyone here. If you like reading, then google or wiki it. Don't like reading so much? Youtube. Everyone has something about everything on Youtube... Just look up survival/bushcraft type things for a while. I did that for... I'd say 5 hours once. I learned how to make like 10 different kinds of traps, 4 different kinds of shelters, how to make a fire 15 different ways, all these random plants to look out for, how to make a signal fire, where to get flint in the wilderness, how to make a fishing spear, how to make steaks (Or spikes, if ya wanna make a trap out of them...), where to look for shelter, ect, ect....

All of that from Youtube alone. I'm sure there would've been even more stuff if you googled it.

Welcome to the site! I hope you find us helpful!

[LEE3370]

Quote:       Originally Posted by Ferroflame

Leomort, if you're worried about trapping, don't fret. Just take a class, or, do like I did. Google. Youtube. Wikipedia. I've learned a LOT from those three things, not to mention everyone here. If you like reading, then google or wiki it. Don't like reading so much? Youtube. Everyone has something about everything on Youtube... Just look up survival/bushcraft type things for a while. I did that for... I'd say 5 hours once. I learned how to make like 10 different kinds of traps, 4 different kinds of shelters, how to make a fire 15 different ways, all these random plants to look out for, how to make a signal fire, where to get flint in the wilderness, how to make a fishing spear, how to make steaks (Or spikes, if ya wanna make a trap out of them...), where to look for shelter, ect, ect.... All of that from Youtube alone. I'm sure there would've been even more stuff if you googled it. Welcome to the site! I hope you find us helpful!

+1

[leomort]

FerroFlame,

Funny you should mention youtube and trapping. I've did exactly as you said, did a google search which had several things from youtube listed. It seems the snare type traps would be the best in the scenario discussed here as I don't think I'd want to haul box traps and such in a bugout/SHTF type thing. But some 20gauge wire and string takes up almost no space and practically no weight---that's a pretty big advantage IMHO. Also like the "hobo fishing kit" idea as well.

So perhaps I could down grade to a .22lr handgun if I got profecient enough at trapping game. It'd be a step learning curve at first and you'd have to weight that against the other options in the survival situation.

In a bugout situation, could not carry enough 12 ga ammo (most commonly available reason) to justify taking a shotgun.

This site has been most helpful and if nothing else gets one to thinking. Plus having others to share in their ideas and get feedback is great!

[andrew cochran]

You could carry 3 or 4 # 1 1/2 traps also. But you'll get more traps out of snare but have a less likly chance of sucess.

[leomort]

andrew,

are those box traps? Got weird results when I googled 1 1/2 traps. Looks like their those spring trap/leg traps?? Well these type traps work on rabbits and squirrels?

[Mike Franklin]

If you're planning on going out 'into the wilderness' you'll have a long walk. Most places within a reasonable distance are inhabited with people like me. No you're not gonna make camp in my backyard and help me eat my garden or animals!
If you're seroius about believing you'll need to survive in the future, get together with a couple of families, relatives work best, buy some land and live there. You can learn all that hunting, trapping and other outdoors stuff as you go. We call that stuff living.
BTW, raising a few chickens and putting in a garden every year will go way futher in keeping you alive during 'hard times' than learning how to hunt squirrels with a blowgun.

[tommy]

i just recently got me a benjermen pelet rifle and i can see where this thing would come in handy for takin rabbits and other small animals and the best thing is i can shoot and nobody would even hear me.i would like to get the pistol version.i got the .22 calliber one. in all the post i don't think i have read anyone talk about havin a pellet rifle .lmao but hey they got some takedown power for small game they even got diferent size pelets flat nose/round nose/and the pointed nose pellets . they are the ones i got they are the most accurate and deadliest. plus you know how many pellet you can carry on you ??one pellet for every kill man you can eat for a while. i think every one should get a good air rifle. plus if something does happen you can take a car battery ab=nd cut it open and heat up some lead and just roll a lead bb it ain't gotta be pretty just enough to make it down the barrel.i got 40 car batteries outside right now and 9 lawnmower batteries.das alot of lead my friend.if you ain't got lead heck chip off some stone or rocks and shoot that . but a gun powder firearm is limited to what you can fir through it plus it goes !!BANG!! why waist ammo on a little rabbit?

[bellx1]

hmmm.....
I think I'd bring my 870, berreta 9mm, M1 carbine, ka bar, and a utility knife.
my brother would carry his shotgun, .22lr, .45s&w, and his knife
little brother would carry his shotgun, mini 14, .45 colt, knife

we'd also be sure to bring supplies for traps, and plenty of para cord, prolly my fav survival book too.

[mym1a]

T-62??? seriously! if only one fire arm? that would be the 12 gauge

[LEE3370]

Quote:       Originally Posted by Mike Franklin

If you're planning on going out 'into the wilderness' you'll have a long walk. Most places within a reasonable distance are inhabited with people like me. No you're not gonna make camp in my backyard and help me eat my garden or animals! If you're seroius about believing you'll need to survive in the future, get together with a couple of families, relatives work best, buy some land and live there. You can learn all that hunting, trapping and other outdoors stuff as you go. We call that stuff living. BTW, raising a few chickens and putting in a garden every year will go way futher in keeping you alive during 'hard times' than learning how to hunt squirrels with a blowgun.

I have tryed over and over to give this advice to the folks that live in the city. There is no "wilderness". The land out here is owned by someone and is not going to be free to be taken. There have been lots of conversations in the babershops and gunshops about what to do when SHTF and the flood of hungry city people come.
If you all are planning on surviving out here if SHTF comes, you could start by taking a vacation in the area during hunting season and go hunting do this every year. Let the folks that live there get to know you and your family. That way if you ever need to go there, you MIGHT be accepted.

Quote:       Originally Posted by bellx1

hmmm..... I think I'd bring my 870, berreta 9mm, M1 carbine, ka bar, and a utility knife. my brother would carry his shotgun, .22lr, .45s&w, and his knife little brother would carry his shotgun, mini 14, .45 colt, knife we'd also be sure to bring supplies for traps, and plenty of para cord, prolly my fav survival book too.

Who is going to carry the food and water?
Sounds like all the weight is taken up in guns and ammo.

[tlarkin]

Quote:       Originally Posted by LEE3370

Who is going to carry the food and water? Sounds like all the weight is taken up in guns and ammo.

LOL, that is why I said, my AK, my 9mm, about 4 full mags for each, plus a few hundred extra rounds for each, a combat knife, and the rest is food and water.

My AK has a lanyard, so it would be easy to carry.

[leomort]

Well, it would be nice if one could stay put and form some sorta of community watch type thing. That would allow the .223rem rifle and 12ga shotgun.

Also be careful in staking your claim to your land as private property as starvation will cause desparate times. Are you going to be willing to kill someone? Remember when law and order becomes re-established you're going to be in serious trouble. Remember Katrina? "Looters" of grocery stores and such were not allowed to be shot/killed for trying to acquire things such as water, food, etc. for their survival. Now when they began robbing electronic stores for their 52" plasma screen HDTV, then you have justification.
Have you noticed how many of these posters are armed to the teeth? With most of them having the mental attitude of "shoot first, ask question later"? Many of them wanting/willing to snipe you off at longer ranges? They might also be traveling in a group as well. I doubt its going to be as simple or easy as you make it out to be. I don't think "no trespassing" signs are going to mean much in that dire time. Scout and scavenge then move along trying not to attrack attention.
I hope SHTF never comes, because it's not going to pretty time not matter how much mental gymnastic and armchair theorist will do here on the website. Hopefully there can remain some humanity in the chaos and we pull together instead of trying to rip each other apart like animals. Perhaps I'm naive and too optimistic.

[TACAV]

Between me and my bug out friend

Rem 870,
5.56/.223 AR15 (whenever RRA gets around to finishing buiding it)
Two .45 cal handguns


We can hunt with both those long guns and both can be used for defensive purposes if we really needed too.

This set up gives us as a two man team both versatility, practicality, and portability, as we each could have a long gun with sling, and one belt gun as secondary weapon. Hopefully we arn't in a total war zone scenario then the set up could change with other options. Its not practical especially if you have to hoof it, to have to carry 6 guns, and 80 lbs of ammo along with all your other supplies.

Besides our survival packs and water each of us has a MOLLE system shoulder pack which would supplement which ever weapons load out we have weather it be shotgun, carbine, or bolt action rifle whatever it may be.

These packs hold loaded magazines/ammo, cleaning supplies, tools, flashlights etc.

In a true SHTF scenario we are going to try to avoid everyone else as much as possible. Or at least stay in small groups of close friends who each have their own load outs. True a lot of us might be ammo hoarders in our homes but if we have to abandon our homes, unless you have a vehicle, (and even then) you cant take it all with you.

[Muddog]

Getting through 5 miles of town and getting through 100 miles of a rural/country setting would take 2 different guns. Moving through residential areas and across boulevards and avenues, I wouldn't think your gun of choice has much to do with taking any game. I would take an AK with both jacketed and soft points, maybe 2 30rd mags of both. Multiple rifle reports, if not a lot of other activity, would draw attention right now, which would be bad. If everyone was trigger happy then they can play all they want, I'll count on stealth and evasion. For a pistol I'd take what I have, a CZ 83 in .380 with another 3 metal case mags. I have a Springfield 1911, but 8 rds compared to 12 and more through the CZ and less total failures (0-3 and running). Also, its a backup, not primary, to be used when my AK goes quiet, so smaller and more easily packed/concealed is another plus. Not to mention the fact that if I cant find anything after 120 tries with the M70 then my christmas light ghillie suit theory is somehow flawed...

[tommy]

well i live in the country so i would go up to the front of the street and park a car in the middle of it and blow the tires out to block off the road that way the only way in is through the fields and then i would set fire to the fields and clear them out for atleast 400 yards maybe more then i would sit and wait for them to come out of the cities because they will come when the food runs out but as for as leaving why leave the most familair ground your on. to go to some land you know nuthing about???? stay where your at and make your stand get your buddies to come and jojn you and all get together and thats where you make your little town. if there is someone in the neighbor hood you don't trust or like now is the time to keep ane eye on them and if they do anything funny pop a cap in them and go set them out by the parked car in the road as a reminder for anyone else who tries to come in.