If you live in the rural/farm/ranch area carrying an easy-to-get-to rifle to dispatch predators is norm. It's been discussed and there are many options.
But I live in an urban area. Stopping to dispatch a predator, unless it's threatening someone's life, is frowned upon. For bugging out I've identified several in my safe that would be first to go in the car.
What I need is an emergency gun for everyday carry. One that I can take on road trips more than a days walk from home. One that I can carry in the car and that I can use if stranded away from home. One that would be for that 1-in-a-million event of being caught in a riotous or a disaster situation. (My friend Kevin was almost enveloped by the Ferguson riots. It does happen.)
I started with an AR Pistol and a carrying case. The case came from a 1 man tent. It makes a small but complete package that I can also carry into motels without attracting the attention a gun case would.
As is evident I cut down the grip so the lower is <5" tall. I used quick take-down pins to facilitate assembly. And the upper only has iron sights and a full length fore end to protect the barrel.
In the bag I also had 4 20rd mags, a sling and a tool kit. The tool kit has the tools necessary to fit everything on the gun but the barrel nut. It contains a cleaning rod but no swabs nor oil, or other things that are easy enough to find anywhere.
I like the tent bag but it didn't seem professional enough and I worried about the pistol vs rifle while traveling in some jurisdictions. I converted it to a rifle and now use a Yoga mat bag. Looks much less like I'm carrying a gun.
Still the overall height of the lower is <5". I can wrap a piece of yoga mat around the upper and lower for padding, but I'm going to try a 6" sonotube to give the whole package some stiffening.
Also notice that the upper is a side pull. That too may change back to a traditional rear one soon. I like the side pull but a rear one would a slicker package. The muzzle device is just an improvised muzzle nut made by cutting the bird cage off a $5 flash suppressor.
But I live in an urban area. Stopping to dispatch a predator, unless it's threatening someone's life, is frowned upon. For bugging out I've identified several in my safe that would be first to go in the car.
What I need is an emergency gun for everyday carry. One that I can take on road trips more than a days walk from home. One that I can carry in the car and that I can use if stranded away from home. One that would be for that 1-in-a-million event of being caught in a riotous or a disaster situation. (My friend Kevin was almost enveloped by the Ferguson riots. It does happen.)
I started with an AR Pistol and a carrying case. The case came from a 1 man tent. It makes a small but complete package that I can also carry into motels without attracting the attention a gun case would.
![IMG_0557-L.jpg IMG_0557-L.jpg](https://www.thehighroad.org/data/attachments/751/751676-60a4a495ec3bc850e062ddbf25784989.jpg)
As is evident I cut down the grip so the lower is <5" tall. I used quick take-down pins to facilitate assembly. And the upper only has iron sights and a full length fore end to protect the barrel.
In the bag I also had 4 20rd mags, a sling and a tool kit. The tool kit has the tools necessary to fit everything on the gun but the barrel nut. It contains a cleaning rod but no swabs nor oil, or other things that are easy enough to find anywhere.
I like the tent bag but it didn't seem professional enough and I worried about the pistol vs rifle while traveling in some jurisdictions. I converted it to a rifle and now use a Yoga mat bag. Looks much less like I'm carrying a gun.
![20181029_132127-L.jpg 20181029_132127-L.jpg](https://www.thehighroad.org/data/attachments/751/751677-c358ea531d91c3b80cd64db6faec139e.jpg)
Still the overall height of the lower is <5". I can wrap a piece of yoga mat around the upper and lower for padding, but I'm going to try a 6" sonotube to give the whole package some stiffening.
Also notice that the upper is a side pull. That too may change back to a traditional rear one soon. I like the side pull but a rear one would a slicker package. The muzzle device is just an improvised muzzle nut made by cutting the bird cage off a $5 flash suppressor.