I've been working on my bug out bag for several months now, and I have some ideas I'd like to share.
I like the idea of redundancy for emergency situations. I, and the members of my group, all share the same caliber weapons. I am letting one of my group hold one of my own do accomplish this, but I'd rather we all shared the same ammunition box as long as possible. We all have other weapons, but we each have weapons that can use each others ammo.
This obviously makes supplying easier, but also develops inter-group trust, a necessity in any mutual support situation.
I do a cowboy load out with my personal weapons though, especially in .22 caliber. Its too handy, and ubiquitous not too. I have a rugged .22 pistol I have modified to perform better, a 10/22, and a bolt action .22. I have several different rounds also, sub-sonic, snake shot, and yellow jackets, for taking different game.
I not only carry matches in water proof containers, but also have magnesium and steel, and several butane lighters. I'll likely use the butane the most , but in some conditions, I want to be able to choose.
I have bunches of 550 cord, but I plan on adding some web strap instead of rope. For those that don't know, strap is stronger than rope.
I have the ever present heavy duty tarp, and space blankets, but am trying to add a light weight 1 person tent. I'll add my sleeping pad later, and I have a packers hammock. The hammock can double as a fishnet/seine.
I carry a tomahawk, folding saw, and a machete. If you think this is too much, you've never found yourself in a briar patch several acres, and 8 feet tall, in size. Or tried to sharpen a piece of wood with a saw, or drive tent pegs with a rock.
Not all of my electronics run off the same batteries, but my flashlights, and radios do.
I guess I'm trying to comment on a philosophy more than anything. We have no idea when it will happen, or what IT is, but we do know that something is going to hit the fan, and we should be prepared for massive errors because by definition no one knows what the event is going to be. So have backups for your backups.
We don't plan to bug out, but rather...stay put. We have everything we need here and "here" is where most people will be trying to get to, if/when the feces hits the oscillating mechanism.
ReplyDeleteOur biggest issue other than powering the well with a generator to periodically get potable water (the river nearby is not very potable and would take more energy to boil and sterilize with bleach than just pumping into a holding tank would), will be protection for ourselves and our community against outside forces. Fortunately we are so far out from urban areas and most everyone here is also very self sufficient.
HA...I'll bet you'll eat venison tongue (and liver and heart) when push comes to shove :-)