and you had to bug out -- what gun would you take if you could only take one?

And what ammo would you take?

I'd probably grab my M18.

A 22LR would be good at getting small game, and with the proper bullets, could probably take down a small deer if you were lucky.

I'd carry couple boxes of Stingers or something similar for self defense agains humans.

But, mostly I'd carry heavier bulleted loads for hunting.

One advantage of 22LR is you could carry a lot of ammo even if you had to carry it on your back.

Five years ago I would have said another advantage of 22LR is you could get more ammo anywhere, but that was before 22LR became the hardest ammo to find of any caliber.

If I had one, an even better gun would be a longer barrel 22 like a Ruger Single 6 with both a 22LR and 22WMR cylinder.

The best part of my bug out plan is that there is already a supply of guns and ammo there. Hunting cabins are great places to store some guns, ammo, bows and fishing rods. Quite aways off the beaten path surrounded by nearly 60 acres of food plots. Now I truely hope the **** never hits the fan but if it does my old mans dream that became reality really fits the situation. Darn nice hunting property as well.

Ohh I would just take an ar for the trip.

[Insert sarcastic comment about tin foil hats here]

I wasn't talking about what hat you would bring.

But now that you mention it, a tin foil hat would be good to have.

Perhaps a whole roll of tin foil might be useful.

My initial plan involves different guns in different locations (car, office, home, on me, etc.). I plan to fight my way back to my home if I am not there at the moment. There endeth the plan.

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Wisdom comes thru fear . . .

Tough call between my Mini-14 and Bushmaster M4. I would feel pretty vulnerable with just a 10/22. Okay, I'm taking the Bushmaster. It's lighter and probably more accurate than my pencil barrel Mini-14.

(First response to it happening) WOOHOO!! 'BOUT DAMNED TIME!
Lock and load.
No bugging out for me, unless other options are exhausted.
Small group of people on the move is a vulnerable target.
Load everything, including BP, crossbow, and precharged pneumatics.
Keep head down until the stupidity is over.
By then, the unarmed, "peace at any cost" bleeding heart socialists would all have been eliminated from the gene pool, due to their hatred for firearms.
We don't have to be the hardest targets.
We just have to be harder targets than the self-disarmed, hoplophobic socialists.
Sit back and wait for Darwin's theory to test itself.

Bugging out puts you at risk not only of attack by criminals, but also of being mistaken for criminals by LEOs.

If I'm going to use a poodle shooter to hunt in such a situation, I'm going to use a big bore PCP with an LDC. You don't want gunshots to alert others to the fact that you just killed something meaty to eat.

With a shrouded or LDC equipped PCP, nobody will hear the shot, therefore nobody will know you just shot lunch.
Plus, if you do have to hide and protect your kill, nobody will know from which direction the shots came, because they won't hear them/they won't be loud enough to discern a point of origin/they won't know what it is.
When societies collapse, people start behaving in very uncivilized ways.
Especially those who are already too lazy to earn their own keep, and expect to suck on the tax teat for a living.

My plan is to avoid any unnecessary human interaction.


Oh, and a copper mesh hat is much better for scattering stray electrons than aluminum foil.
Besides, I'd need my aluminum foil for powder coating boolits.

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What would Jim Cirillo do?

G26. And the AR that takes the same ammo and mags. Also a good pile of ammo.

I would be more worried about finding and figuring out how to operate one of these:

That's easy. Farmers tend to operate themselves.
Your big problem is going to be getting him to share his bounty.

BTW, out in the open, plowing a field makes you an easy target.
Becoming Farmer John is not a realistic plan, unless you're already Farmer John-out in the sticks (outside normal driving range of civilization)

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What would Jim Cirillo do?

But the bug out bag that I keep in the house already has two guns in it........

... Not that I need to bug out to anywhere, what with already residing nicely secluded in the woods.

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- The Federalist #46 -

If being a farmer isnt an option then my backup plan would be to find one of these and head south:


Now if I had to choose 1 gun to survive 1 year on a tropical desert island it would be a 12 gauge Remington 870 with assorted slugs, buckshot, birdshot, BB and 12 gauge flares for signaling for help,


If I had to choose 1 weapon to survive on an alien planet for 1 year would be my trusty Springfield M1A rifle.

I'm never away from our place in the country with anything less than a 9mm semi-auto with at least one extra mag. Usually, I have a 9-round 12 ga. Mossberg 590 pump stashed in my truck for serious work.

Seriously? I would have NO plans to go anywhere.

Between myself and the well armed, local police officer who lives across the street with his wife and two sons, we should be able to maintain a small bubble of calm for a reasonable period of time.

Sadly, if it really becomes the "End of the World as We Know It" our individual actions will probably not have much impact except to preserve our dignity. I am old. I can put up with that.

But, I will miss this forum.

I can see big city folks wanting to bug out. But for millions of us, staying home would be the best bet.

I remember the aftermath of Hurricane Andrew in south Florida years ago. If you have GASOLINE and PROPANE, you were OK. Gas let your generator run, which in turn gave you outside communications and kept your food cold. Propane to cook and sterilize water.

It was $25 per day to keep that generator running and that was gas prices from many years ago.

When the SHTF, you need lots of gas, propane and CASH. Ain't no working ATM's with any cash in them.

I live in a small town surrounded by a national forest. If society would collapse I'm not going anywhere I have guns, ammo, food, shelter and nearby springs for water. I would be hardening my shelter to keep out all the city folk who are bugging out. I have friends and relatives right here that also have guns, ammo, canned food, etc I would team up with. My parents have a very large old house with 3 fireplaces and room for 20 people or more. Between them and my 2 sisters and their families we could turn the place into a fortress. We all live within 15 minutes walking distance so teaming up wouldn't be hard. A person alone on the move isn't going to last. Theres no one to watch your back, stand watch when you sleep or help if you get hurt.
Yep I'll stay here where I don't have to pick 1 or 2 guns and a measly couple hundred rounds of ammo to lug around. The woods in the area are full of deer, turkey and all kinds of small game. Heck, my back yard is full of rabbits, squirrel and the occasional deer or bear.
Anyone bugging out that wonders into my neck of the woods looking to pilfer and loot for food and ammo just may find themselves in the crosshairs of someone like me that has hunkered down and is protecting their family and supplies.

Another vote for staying put. I got everything we need for the 1 st month. I can arm a squad/ raiding party. Lots of game/fish/ cattle in walking distance. Way better than eating every rat in NYC (which would start before the 1 st month). I guess I should get a couple more rolls of tinfoil, don't want the .gov to scan my thoughts and thwart my plan. Joe

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Wisdom chases me; I'm faster

hunker down with the family and my stuff. my daily pack holds enought to get me to my castle. once home, the ole' remington police tactical with a 2 shot ext. 9 rounds of 2 3/4" shells of various nastiness. with a side saddle +4. also have a bag of the aguila short shells that allow for about 3 more in the tube. indoors? G41 with a light, arredondo ext mags, and my thigh rig. we aren't going anywhere if/when it happens. my in-laws live down stairs, and down the block. we have our OWN neighborhood watch program... the beach is close and i know how to dive and cast. we are prepaied for the first couple months.

This one and a few friends.

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U.S. Navy - U.S. Army, ret

Logic that works for me with thinking on different calibers I have.

Hand Guns

.22 good for small game fairly quite can be use for SD in emergency.

.380 good conceal pocket firearm, not the best for hunting or SD but will work.

9 mm should be able to get ammo anyplace as military and LE use them and plenty on the market. Good SD if you like the smaller round not good for hunting but could be used.

40 S&W, good SD might be hard to replenish your ammo supply not good for hunting.

.45 acp proven SD round. Not good for hunting but could be if necessary should be able to find more ammo as it’s been around since Moses.

Long guns

.177 and .22 pellet. Can hunt small game not overly loud should be able to scavenge pellets from stores as most won’t be after them. No good for SD unless you just want to P someone off.

12 ga Can use for hunting Good for close up and personal SD. Have bird shot and buck shot and slugs. Ammo should be around.

.22 rifle good for small game fairly quite can be use for SD in emergency thou not my first choice.

7.62X39 can hunt and can use for SD, proven in combat but not long range not hard to carry.

7.62X54R longer range to reach out and touch someone, battle proven can hunt and works for SD but long

8mm Mauser longer range to reach out and touch someone, battle proven can hunt and works for SD but long

.223’5.56 battle proven, can hunt, good SD, battle proven easier to carry for a long gun. Can carry lots of ammo and should be able to replenish ammo supply as in use with government agencies.

Cross bow quite, can hunt with it, can use for SD, not good for long range could make bolts if a last resort for close range without fletching.

Now for my decision from my supply would be all, as I can’t carry them all and 20-30K rounds of ammo I ain't going anywhere unless I have to. I have a roof, food, water and my clothing I have a good open area and field of fire along with, deer and cows and horses around me for food, a generator and long hose to get gas from the bottom of the gas station tank, but if gas ran out candles work, why go anyplace until it runs out. Too old can’t run and hard time walking ya gotta die someplace and at some time. I’ll take a lot ofém with me.

My logic is by the time city folk get out here they will most likely be on foot as the traffic jams and blocked roads will put them on foot. they will be looking for easy pickins which won’t be here. Were not close to any large cities and with them on foot they will be limited to carrying food and water weapons and extra clothes which they will look to replace by picking up along the way. Why take the time to try to take a barracked place when there are easier places to go. If I’m wrong it won’t matter to me as I be gone. Not everyone will live after a EOTWAWKI.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3cQNkIrg-Tk

BTW I'm retired so I won't be far from here anyhow.

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Psalm 23:4

I'd really wonder how I managed to sleep through it

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Retired Career Security Guard

I am staying on the farm and defending it. Plenty of guns, ammo, food, supplies. Probably set some trip wires with a couple of shotguns.

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Riding, Shooting, and Truth

This is good advice. Bugging out? Only if in the middle of a huge metropolis filled with unprepared scared people, AND only if you already have some place to go. Otherwise, might be best to "bug in."

Well if the Packers keep beating the Eagles the Cowboys would end up co-leaders of the NFC East.

I would test those mini shells for reliability. Few report that their weapons function problem-free with them.

I'd be beyond caring. I'll probably starve to death before my choice of weapon became relevant.

Anyone remember James Burkes Connections series 1, episode 1 ,
The initial 10 part series of how we are so dependent on technology to survive was conceived in 1978 after the 2nd big NY power failure in 1977
Enjoy !

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4sb7bOljBAQ

If your in a hurry ff to 3:15

^ Exactly why we all have a vested interest in making sure society doesn't collapse in the first place.

My Ar15, a Colt 6920 Magpul.
I could take small game, large game with it. As well as
feel perfectly safe using it for defense.
Bullet would be a good 55 gr. HP if limited to one round.
Great thing about this gun is there's lots of 5.56 and .223
ammo around since it's a Military standard round and i could
always (scrounge) more ammo up one way or another.
I've shot AR's for a long time so it's comfortable and accurate
to me anyways.

Chuck

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They hold no Quarter

All these discussions about SHTF and Bugging Out just remind me of what happened during the Blackout of 2007. The VERY FIRST thing to be shut down was Gas Stations. Not a single station in the Greater Detroit Metropolitan Area had a standby generator to power the fuel pumps. I have yet to see any indication of that changing because the Gas Stations still go down during a local power outage. So, think about this, you have a "cabin in the woods" 500 miles away but the fuel in the tank of your bug out vehicle will only provide 350 miles of range. Better plan on a long walk, in the dark, in an area where strangers will NOT be welcomed. My plan is to shelter in place, where I know the area, the neighbors, and folks I can rely on.

The people who are going to rebuild society are going to have to organize, stick together and form a well regulated militia based on Christian/Judeo values. Humans are social animals and the only way they will thrive is in groups. Unless it is some sort of global natural disaster, our society will be able to rebuild it's infrastructure and get going again. If it is a global catastrophe then God help us. Only the young and the fit will survive for long.
I would make sure I had an AR-15 with plenty of ammo, a 12gauge shotgun and a 22LR. I flintlock rifle wouldn't be a bad idea. You can make gun powder, flints and shot. A bow wouldn't be a bad idea either.

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Have Gun Will Carry

Roll over, scratch my arse and go back to sleep. Keep dreaming.

Since the purpose of a handgun is to make sure that you always have a gun within arms reach, in your scenario, I would want a reasonably sized semi-auto in the most potent chambering that you could handle. The reason for the semi-auto is you can usually conceal a 45 auto easier than you can a 45 revolver.

In your scenario, you might have to use a handgun for personal defense. While no one wants to be shot, if I have to shoot someone, I want a bigger hole in the target. Granted you have to have good bullet placement but if all else is equal a bigger hole kills something faster.

I would only bug if it was proven that I couldn't survive at home and I figured that out before I died.

Then I would be forced to be a Road Warrior with my guns and cans of dog food in my mini van and loot the countryside.

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"He was kinda funny lookin'"

If it is that bad, then this is really a useless topic.....

Sooner or later, you'd run into this guy though...



And whatever you do, stay far FAR away from Thunderdome.

Reflecting on when I woke up this morning...society had ALREADY collapsed. 12 gauge.

Oh boy! Another "what if" thread! OK, here's a "what if" for all you bug out advocates. Suppose the SHTF scenario begins with an EMP? Unless your getaway vehicle is old enough to be equipped with a mechanical distributor, breaker points and condenser, you're not going anywhere except on foot. Your shiny, new Ram/Silverado/F-250 will be a two ton door stop. Said it a dozen times, unless you're at your bug out location when the dreck jumps off, chances of getting there are slim and none.

I'm staying in my cul-de-sac. If the nuclear smog from the plant south of me starts blowing my way, then I will have to make new plans. BTW I will have "what I have" to defend me and my family.

A straight, direct answer to the OP question: Colt 6920 with a 4x ACOG.

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Wait....... What?

"If you woke one morning and society had collapsed"

You mean like the morning I woke up a few years ago and there was no coffee in the house?

"and you had to bug out - what gun would you take if you could only take one?"

Since your question is very specific - "you had to bug out -- what gun ........you could only take one."
I'll play along. I would choose a 5.56x45 carbine. Probably an Arsenal AK SLR 106-F with folding stock or a SCAR-16. Either fits in a back pack. Second choice would be an AR-15 carbine.

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Scoundrel & Ne'er-Do-Well

2nd only to what gun for bear threads!

I'd bug out 1 mile away to the gun store. It is very secure, having bars on doors and windows and they have plenty of guns and ammo!!!

1st - I'd bug out to nowhere. If people can't drive normally during rush hour traffic what makes you think that the roads are going to be obstacle free in a large panic. If everyone is going somewhere at the same time and in a hurry I sure wouldn't want to be in the middle of that epic traffic jam.

2nd - every time this question comes up everyone answers the same thing...."I'm going to the woods/mountains/forest". Soooo.....guess where everyone is going to be? The deserted areas today will be overpopulated tomorrow. A that hunting people talk of doing is going to dissappear very fast. There are only so much rabbits and deer in those woods where everyone is trying to get to.

So unless it's an immediate threat....ie...nuclear/flood/fire that is near me and I'm in danger right now this very second I'm staying put. I have food at home, weapons, ammo, and shelter. Of course this doesn't make me any more or less safe but if my neighborhood is moving out that puts me in a position where everyone is trying to get to...ALONE! I know my area and I can defend my home.

Only to be shot and killed by one of the hundreds of people who had the exact same idea.

My wife and I are not young and in no shape to BUG out anywhere except by car. The "by car" plan is 40 minutes away, in normal traffic, to a log house owned by friends who are similarly prepared with a creek and garden in the back with one way in. We live in a cul-de-sac. Bugging in. We keep 50 days of food, water, lighting, batteries and a generator with fuel. Wood burning stove with 2 cords of wood. Dog food and meds. A short wave solar charged radio. A .12 gauge, a .22 and an AR with 2000 rounds of ammo. Lots of lights and batteries. Plywood to board up windows and our 90 lb. dog who hates everyone but us. The biggest concern for us is social unrest for whatever reason and someone hacking the grid or utilities, which we feel is the more realistic scenario and is shared by some of the more credible intelligence folks. It's actually been kind of fun to get to this point of readiness but we hope of course, it never happens.

Same goes for any other idea where someone else shown up before you

That raises a good question.

What happens if society collapses and you are charged by a bear on the same day?

Or worse still. Society collapses BECAUSE the bears have united and declared war on humans!

If society collapses, and a bear charges me on the same day, at least
I'll be able to render the bear fat for cooking grease.

Also will have bear meat for sausage. Most of the one I shot years ago
went into homemade sausage. It was great on pizza.

I plan on staying right here in my rural setting and banding together with neighbors. If I was away I'd try and get back here and bring my wife back here too. We'd likely have family members too and planned for that.

Last year visiting my niece and her boyfriend in Vegas he showed me his bug out bag and his intentions for getting out of there. I have to admit his intentions were good and he prepped well but did give them little chance in spite of his good plans.
Thankfully they've moved back to Michigan and near family and their support now.

I don't think it like they movies and TV shows either and think few of us will survive such a scenario. I've lived my life and that is fine but would do what I could to help the rebuilders survive.

I'd fix a pot of coffee and let my dog outside to pee.