Another Bugout Bag thread/ with pics

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"What You Need..........Depends Entirely on How Much you Know" to quote from before, I agree. I've been thinking more about this subject lately, and making my own shopping list. I don't plan on packing my bag with more than I can stealthily carry -will probably keep it under 30 pounds. As for the weapon aspect, I would say that a .357 lever action would be my primary weapon. Why the .357 lever gun? It's real simple. It doesn't scream "Hey, this guy might be a bandito, a spook, or coming to take what's mine...anyway, watch him real close!" And if I have to encounter law enforcement, it doesn't raise questions if it's seen in my vehicle. I prefer to not stand out, until it's too late for a bad guy. The lever gun will still hold alot of ammo, and anything that gets within 100-150 yards of me- and is a threat- is going to be very dead, and fast. Either my hand-built old Springfield .45 or my Sig P239 9mm would be in the pile, along with a BIG knife for chopping/digging if need be - maybe a kukri or a small bolo machete with the fat-ended blade. Something else to consider: unless you're away from every bit of civilization, some things you will be able to scavenge too. High-energy food, First Aid, hygiene, one of those silver thermal blankets,and EXTRA SOCKS makes a big difference. Dry socks is a big psychological factor, as well as comfort. Trust me. I've been in a few scrapes myself, snagged a scary case of hypothermia once, and even been lost deep in the woods for several hours once when my blood sugar got screwed up -why? because I didn't take enough food and water. Yeah, it's very important. That's my two cents worth.
 
What I need...

"What You Need..........Depends Entirely on How Much you Know" to quote from before, I agree. I've been thinking more about this subject lately, and making my own shopping list. I don't plan on packing my bag with more than I can stealthily carry -will probably keep it under 30 pounds. Sometime stealth and speed is what you need. As for the weapon aspect, I would say that a .357 lever action would be my primary weapon. Why the .357 lever gun? It's real simple. It doesn't scream "Hey, this guy might be a bandito, a spook, or coming to take what's mine...anyway, watch him real close!" And also very importantly, if I have to interact with local or federal law enforcement, it doesn't raise as many questions as an AR-15 or what I used to have: a Ruger Mini-14. I actually got rid of my military looking gun because of that reason. 10 years ago, I would have said "No way!". Law enforcement will hopefully be my friend.

If it ever comes a day when as a citizen of this great county, I find myself needing to do battle, I would rather have a high power bolt-action gun and the .357 lever gun as my close-up gun. I prefer to not stand out, until it's too late for a bad guy. The lever gun will still hold alot of ammo, and anything that gets within 100-150 yards of me- and is a threat- is going to be very dead, and fast. No, I'm not a bad %ss, but I'm pretty hard on myself when I practice nowadays. Someday it may be for real. As for the other necessary stuff, either my hand-built old Springfield .45 or my Sig P239 9mm would be in the pile. Phone, cash, High-energy food, First Aid, hygiene, one of those silver thermal blankets,a boonie hat, some rope, firestarter, and EXTRA SOCKS makes a big difference. Dry socks is a big psychological factor, as well as comfort. Trust me. I've been in a few scrapes myself, snagged a scary case of hypothermia once, and even been lost deep in the woods for several hours once when my blood sugar got screwed up -why? because I didn't take enough food and water. Yeah, it's very important. That's my two cents worth. The rest of the stuff that we have in our lists is going to vary a little bit anyway. Peace!... Hopefully for a great while longer...
 
you sure as shootin' can't haul an AR-15 and extra mags with you in the trunk every day.
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Which brings up a good point. How many of you do keep a longarm in your vehicle with your bugout bag? Certainly doesn't have to be an AR-15.
 
.38 Special said:
I guess maybe the delineator between "creepy" and "prepared" is the focus on weapons.

The guy with the backpack filled with food, clothing, shelter, etc. can certainly be thought of as reasonable if he includes a firearm.

The guy who's survival kit is built around a firearm and firearm accessories, with food, shelter, clothing, etc. as afterthoughts, well...
__________________
"Just sitting and looking at a mountain is an act of worship." ~ Edmund Hillary
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I've been reading your posts trying to figure out why you are stressing on the gun and being such an ass

Then I saw you are from CA... I'm *SO* sorry!!!
 
I'm "stressing on the gun" because -- despite the survivalist silliness -- guns are pretty far down the list of things you need to survive time in the wilderness, and it's frankly obvious that most of this "bug-out bag" stuff is adolescent zombie-hunting fantasy.
 
How many of you do keep a longarm in your vehicle with your bugout bag?
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I do, like you said it's not an AR though (too expensive to replace if it gets ripped off).

$175 12 Ga. Pump Shotgun.
 
Okay. Just be careful which leaves you wipe with. And let us know how hungry you have to be before 5.56 NATO cartridges start looking edible!
 
I'm glad to see this thread has some humorous content because I hope myself it never comes to the point where a BOB would be needed. nertheless I have one!
some things I have (in addition to most of the afore-mentioned items)
several foil packs of the alcohol-based small 'towelletes'
DEER hide gloves - stay soft after being wet and very durable, or elk hide if you can get. pig skin will do.
50 ft of .028 S/S welding wire rolled around my fish spear.
a fish spear ready to pole-mount with a screw already in shank.
plastic snuff can with fishing gear in it.
small monocular.
SPARE SOCKS IN ZIP-BAG.
small sewing kit.
compass
small tube of foot salve/antibiotic ointment
eyeglass repair items
sunglasses
wide brim boonie hat.
 
I second(or is it third) using the lever action as my Bug Out Gun. Oh the AR15 or Ak will hopefully be close at hand if need be, But for the walk up to LEO's or apparent friendlies, it's a .357 Puma with a Butt pouch full of .38's.
 
If you need a backup firestarter, nothing goes up like putting a 9volt battery to steel wool. It'll burn in a hurricane!
 
dryer lint

take an old coffee can and melt some parrafin wax in it. pour the wax over dryer lint stuffed in the cardboard egg-crate pockets. break off each individual egg pocket and each makes a WONDERFUL fire starter! burns for quite a few minutes! and some steel wool is great too. Also one of those magnesium fire starters is nice.
 
My old bug out bag was much different.

I had:
Aluminum foil
Two blankets
Fish hooks and fishing line
knife/saw
bacon
four cans of beef stew
.22 rifle
.22 handgun
Extra large black garbage bags

EVerything in my area could be covered by that, but I was in Kentucky and we had lots of caves and areas to hide in, making a lean-to was easy.

Bacon (the preserved kind) was fast fatty food to suppliment any lack of game and the dangers of eating too many rabbits.

With the knife and fishing line, I could make a box trap, fish, and hunt.

Aluminum foil was good for nearly everything, from frying bacon, to making flashy things to arttract fish. It was also good to use to signal rescuers. Light weight, easy to fold and save, and worth every ounce it added to the pack.

The two blankets were light weight enough to dry quickly, but heavy enough to keep me warm and keep the bugs off. They say less to a casual observer than a sleeping bad does. Ripping them is good for bandages and slings, and if you add some garbage bags (I took a few), then they keep suprisingly dry in wet weather. Lastly, a wet blanket is still warm if you hold still and put the garbage bad between you and the blanket.

The knife was long. Not a cheap thin bladed one, but a Rambo look-a-like. Nice, hefty, sturdy, with an edge that will not rust easily - but NOT stainless steel. Nickle plated, or steel that can be covered in fat from a cook fire.

The stew is a concession of mine. Beef stew is fatty, and filling. It's excellent as a back up for daye shwn game is scarce, but the truth with it was that I could live four days on four cans - and that is just about how long it took me to fashion a camp, set snares and traps, and find a place to fish.

As for my weapons. The .22 ammo is easy to find, light enough to carry a LOT of it, can be put in wax blocks for preservation, will not go bad easily, the sound of a .22 in the distance is enough like a firecracker to not startle anyone, and it is cheap. I also consdiered that in an emergency, the "real men" would be searching out 30-30 stuff, and not even bother with the little stuff.

Now, knowing what I know today, I would add three things.

A set of maps.
A black powder handgun and supplies for it.
If things got really strange and scary, I would secrret a couple of caches of food and ammo for a larger gun of a common caliber.
 
I don't have a BOB, but I have done a bit of camping on a solo-no-hotel cross country trip. I think you really need something to address sleeping, yes I know a "real" man would just sleep on dirt and a rock as a pillow. And YES I've done that too, for fun and other times because I had to. You can do it a few days but you never really get quality sleep after 3-4 days and with uncomfortable, insect riddled, night animal creeping on you for your heat, mosquito crazy nites, your productivity during the day gets shot. I suggest one of those parachute hammocks, small lightweight and you sleep like a rock. And a mosquito net too especially in a wooded area.

If you don't want to bring toilet paper get a package of baby wipes, thats for #2 and "showering" and cleaning if you need it. For a flashlight I'd recommend a crank or kinetic flashlight that basicly last forever and no batteries. Maybe a crank radio too. As for cellphones maybe a solar charger, small and cheap. Unless you plan to spend the rest of your days in the woods being able to call home, friends or relatives, or 911 is kinda big deal in an emergency situation.

And as cliche as it sounds, add a shemagh to your kit. I used one overseas and it really keeps your neck and face from being sunburned, can cut it up for TP, pillow, wrap up small clutter, makshift bandage, helps with skeeters or flys in your face, wash rag, keep your head warm, etc. It really is a do-all. Add a multi tool, spandex shorts, really you can wear them for days if you have to with no chaffing, they don't stain or wear thru so fast, dry quickly if you get wet, don't stretch or get ratty, and are a god send if you are somewhere hot and dry.

**Oh as for a long arm, I'd bring my AR, versatile rifle for hunting to SD, and I wouldn't be "afraid" of approaching law enforcement with it, just take out the mag, hands where they can see them and just explain your situation. I can and do own rifles I'd use regardless what others think. I don't assume every person with an AR or AK or FAL is a bandito or spook or BG just from what rifle they are carrying, I don't wear ponchos, gangsta clothing, or face paint camo. A cop or military isn't going to shoot you with out cause or questioning first I do not look like a thug nor would I be stupid enough to approach an LE with a loaded gun in my hand or creep up on him. If I approached someone out of uniform if I was forced to "bug out" I will damn well be the one armed and with the upper hand.
 
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I guess maybe the delineator between "creepy" and "prepared" is the focus on weapons.

The guy with the backpack filled with food, clothing, shelter, etc. can certainly be thought of as reasonable if he includes a firearm.

The guy who's survival kit is built around a firearm and firearm accessories, with food, shelter, clothing, etc. as afterthoughts, well...
Click to expand...

Ever see that quote some guy had in his sig line?
"My bug out bag is a (random accurate rifle and scope) and a list of all the people who post their bug out bag contents on the internet.":evil:
 
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