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srothstein wrote: So let's agree that this needs to go into your planning for your bug-out bag. Are you the type to hang around or the type that leaves early? Are you expecting some notice of the trouble coming, or planning the bag based on a sudden emergency? Are you planning for a weather ermgency like a gulf coast hurricane, or an invasion a la "Red Dawn"? All of this will affect what you need in a bag.

In my case, if things REALLY got bad, I won't last long due to my medical conditions. Doesn't mean I won't put up a fight, but if it's something that goes beyond 90 days, I won't make it. I'm at peace with that. My priority is to make sure my immediate and extended families are taken care of as best I can.

recaffeination wrote:

Thomas wrote:Also, if someone isn't sure how to assemble one for themselves or wants to go through the trouble, they may be in trouble whenever (if!) they get where they are going.

Survival isn't a knife in your pocket, it's a mindset.

Survival kits are a business opportunity for the seller not a guarantee for the buyer. Caveat emptor.

They're not much of an opportunity for sellers either, sorry to say. Untrained/unprepared consumers never expect a "survival kit" to cost as much as they do. Savvy preppers like to fine tune their kits and go on practice runs to see what does/doesn't work, so they don't buy "premades." I had one customer look at the $169 price on my Essential Survival Kits and say, "Wow...you know, these things really should be at least $100 less." Talk about making me verklempt - I make less than $20 selling one at that price (and people wonder why I don't carry much inventory )

I'm not sure I'd agree it's a mindset, but it's definitely a skill set. I went through many survival schools when I was in the military, and I _remember_ some and _apply_ little, sadly. Skills require maintenance, just like shooting. First aid, knots, finding/filtering water, sanitation, meat processing - these are pretty fundamental skills everybody should have all the time.

srothstein wrote:I think you have all forgotten a major point in a bugout bag. You really need to know where you are going to go and have a decent stash there. The bugout bag is designed to get you to your safe spot and stash.

I recommend a pistol for the bugout bag for this reason. If you need a long gun, go for a 12 gauge pump with a folding stock. Have the appropriate rifles and ammo for the longer term in the stash at the safe place.

Just my opinion, of course.

It's worse than that, actually. If things go very, very bad, your ability to get to an "evacuation place" are pretty slim. Jammed roads, possible martial law, and predators taking advantage of a distracted and understaffed first-responder force. You chances of getting where you need to go are almost completely removed, and attempting to go on foot means you're packing a LOT of stuff, most likely. "Preparation" means you're already right where you need to be when things go bad.

And I'd take a rifle any day over a shotgun OR a pistol. You can carry more ammo and function more effectively with a rifle. If the bad guy is in shotgun distance, you're already dead. Desperate bad guys are smart enough to travel in packs.

Just my $0.02.

Richardc wrote:Mine: TAC vest w/USMC combat load out(I was In for 8yrs so im familiar with it), a day assault pack(Camel back mule) loaded with enough stuff for me for a week including a change of cloths(a set of my old Cammie's)

A day pack with a week's worth of stuff is pretty impressive, actually.

Out of curiosity, what do you pack in your typical loadout and day pack?

hillfighter wrote:I think a 5.56mm carbine is not the best firearm for a bug out kit but it will probably sell good to some demographics.

Actually, it's an excellent caliber. Easy to shoot even for small-framed people. More importantly, rifle-caliber bullet wounds from a 5.56 WILL stop bad guys. This has been proved in this platform for almost 50 years now. It's small, lightweight, and it WORKS. Even a "simple" bullet wound on a person in a "survival" scenario is deadly. Yes, you won't stop a tank or bag guy with 4 plates of thick armor. You have bigger problems is that's what you're facing, and it won't be solved by an AK :)

particle wrote:I personally think a kit built around something backpack size is best - like the Kel-Tec Sub-2000, or the SU-16C in a duffel bag or larger hiking pack.

I'm gonna disagree. If you need to bug out, you need to have essentials on you, not stored in a bag. Use the bag for meals and non-immediate first aid. CARRY an AR (or AK) with you on a sling, preferably with an IOTV or something similar (Blackhawk Elite Tac Vest). Yeah, I know that sounds all "Commando," but the reality is you need to keep important stuff on you and ready to deploy (ammo, emerg first aid, flashlight, multi-tool, slim jims, etc. ).

mrvmax wrote:I am an FFL and am considering selling a bug out kit that includes: AR15 carbine (quality carbine with a lifetime warranty, possibly a S&W), ammo, Pelican case, multi-tool, first aid kit, fire starter, a couple mre's and as an option an EOTech or some other optic. It would basically be a kit of some things needed to survive a couple days within a hard Pelican case. I have seen these somewhere on the net before but I cannot find any for sale right now and I an trying to see what the populous here thinks about it. The problem is that this "kit" would be in the $1400-$2500 price range (depending on optics and AR) and I am not sure how many people would be willing to shell that kind of money out. I am trying to keep a quality AR but one that is not too pricey so I can stay closer to $1400 out the door. So, what does everyone here think? Would you have an interest in a kit like this?

I sell these Essential Survival Kits (http://oldcannon.com/2012/07/essential-survival-kit/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;). If you're interested, PM me and I'll point you to my wholesaler. They will definitely do the job, esp if you throw in a Camelbak bladder.

I think you face a bigger challenge trying to mush everything into one type of kit. It's just too much money for a "one size fits all" kind of approach, but a kit like the one above, a $600 "trunk gun" style carbine with a sling, and a squad loadout of ammo (6 30-rd mags with ammo) would probably make for a reasonable approach. You can probably make a package like that for about $800-$900. Certainly more appealing than crossing the $1000-mark.

Just my $0.02