Dedicating A Weapon To Your BOB

[Ken]

After debating this question in my own mind, I've decided that I'm going to keep a firearm packed in my BOB at all times, and that it's going to be my Walther P-22.

I rarely walk out of the door without carrying, and if I had to bug out for anything long-term I'd likely take a few options with me (New Orleans Police be damned) IF I HAD AN EXTRA MINUTE TO GET THEM. However, I'm thinking more in terms of the necessity of bugging out immediately with no notice, due to events such as a house fire, a toxic cloud descending on the neighborhood, or a similar event.

Realizing that we may have only seconds to react and get everyone out the door, I want to be able to just grab my BOB and not waste even 15 seconds getting anything else.

I've never kept a firearm in my BOB before now, because I've always assumed I'd just grab my regular carry, a shotgun and a rifle, and some extra ammo and get out the door fast enough. But in the event I don't have the luxury of those extra few seconds, my P-22 and a few hundred rounds of 22LR ammo is already in my BOB, ready to grab and go in a split second.

How do you folks feel about keeping a firearm ready to go in your BOB, rather than taking the risk of not having sufficient time to grab your weapons? For those of you who keep a firearm in your BOB, which is it and how many extra rounds do you feel is the minimum you should have packed?

[Rick]

I think if you can dedicate one to the BOB it's a great idea.

[Alaskan Survivalist]

I keep my guns locked in a safe except one I keep handy but I don't carry. The sfe will be the first stop and I'll grab my BOB next. Both are ready to go and in the same room. I leave room in my pack for extra 22 and ammo but my BOB is staged in levels and one of those levels is a sled that carries extra ammo not with weapon. I have it broken up into MOLLE pouches that can be carried numerous ways keep weight down to less than 8 pounds each (all I want to carry) and even color coded to idendify type ammo at a glance. Between the two sleeping bags and bivies I have two pouches holding 120 rounds each of 270 Winchester and sandwiched between them 3 pouches holding 150 rounds of 44 mag each, one pouch holding 450 rounds of 22 mag and 2 pouches of 22 LR holding 1000 rounds each.

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I am working on the next level that will be carrying even more ammo and gear. I have painted and sprayed my ATV with bed liner that will carry more and these sleds will sit on a deck/lid that seals it. Then I will just grab guns and twist key to go. Until then I will be draging a sled out the door.

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If I could figure a way to lock up the whole thing guns would be with them but I want to keep my guns out of the wrong hands. Crimanals don't buy guns they steal them.

[Ken]

Nice set-up, AS.

I agree with the way you store your guns. That was part of my deliberations. If mine aren't within arms length away, they're triple locked.

[2dumb2kwit]

If I have to leave here, it will be in my truck. I'm not sayin' that I do this,, but most countryboys trucks are well armed.

[Ken]

If I have to leave here, it will be in my truck. I'm not sayin' that I do this,, but most countryboys trucks are well armed.

Can't do that in the Peoples' Republic of Massachusetts.

[2dumb2kwit]

Heck...it wasn't that long ago, that pretty much every pick-up truck you saw around here, had a shotgun and a rifle hanging in the back window.

[hunter63]

BOB's each have a Ruger MR III, 550 rds of ammo.
Clothes carry bag, Walther PPK .380, 50 rds.
Hunting bag, Jennings 22 auto, 100 rds.

Other assets are deployed, in various places, and generally packages includes, 12 ga pump, large cal rifle, large cal. hand gun, Ruger 10/22.

[Alaskan Survivalist]

2dumb2kwit...Fitting.

[Ken]

Nah. However, I do kinda' miss my Colt .45 Combat Commander, everytime I read Pal's signature.

[Pal334]

Here in the Peoples Republic of New Jersey it is not a viable option. However when I move to Upstate NY, I think it would be a good idea. I would tend towards the Ruger 22/45, Keeps with my 1911 theme. And a couple hundred rounds of the .22. I won't have small people to worry about so securing it would not be as big a problem.

[Rick]

Why wouldn't a Rossi Matched Youth Rifle in .22/410 fill this role? It's small and light, gives you the .22 with a .410 gauge and is dirt cheap. Able Ammo has it for $161. You can probably find one even cheaper.

http://www.ableammo.com/catalog/prod...ducts_id=94475

[Ken]

One major concern I had was concealability.

[aflineman]

I keep a Comanche .410/.45 Colt pistol in my BOB. Single shot, and works well on small game with the choke that takes the rifling twist out of the shot pattern. I can also shoot .45ACP out of it by using an "O" ring as a rim. Ant it shoot .45 Colt well for larger stuff.

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[canid]

i'm not the least bit hesitant to be limited to a .22.

a larger caliber and a higher kinetic energy is certainly a vast improvement, but i don't anticipate subsistence hunting large game or having to kill somebody an any of the likely scenarios.

i like a larger firearm, and like to keep one around, but i also want that firearm handy without having to go fetch it from the BOB.

a firearm in the bug out equipment is just a measure to make sure that if i've got the bag, i've got at least one firearm handy.

[Alaskan Survivalist]

The question is to keep gun in BOB or not. The OP is more about readiness. My priority would be to grab gun first and the BOB second. Weapon first, ALWAYS! The idea of grabing BOB with a backup weapon is not my first choice. Weapon first, ALWAYS!

[canid]

that doesn't work, for example if your bugout bag is with you in your trunk and your gun-safe is at home.

a weapon in your bugout bag does exactly what i said; it makes sure that if you've got your bag, you've got at least one weapon.

there will always be a question both of where your equipment is and where you are at a given time, unless you keep every thing you own on your person at all times.

[Alaskan Survivalist]

You got me there.

[Pal334]

I would lean towards a .22 handgun for several reasons.

Cost: Weapon and ammo. It would be a bit easier to "stow and forget".

Usability: The female members of the household are more proficientin its use.

versatility: In the area that I will be, can do most tasks adequately

Of course if I was in an area like SJJ and Sourdough and you folks out in the wilderness, I think I would tend towards a breakdown shotgun (or combo) and or a large caliber handgun (bet ya can't guess what type )

I am enjoying seeing the various "solutions" being presented

[crashdive123]

While I like the idea of having a weapon in my BOB, I don't store one there. I keep all but one weapon locked securely in safes. The weapon that I normally carry daily is a .40 S&W. That same weapon sits on my nightstand while I sleep (no kids in the home). My biggest concern, and reason for not keeping one in my BOB is the possibility of my home being burglarized while out. It is unlikely that the safes would be broken into. I just have a weird sort of "what if one of my weapons fell into the wrong hands" feeling or way of thinking. Given time, and the need to get out - I would have several weapons with me.