Bug Out Guns...

The Survivalist Blog has a thought-provoking article on what firearms should go in the bug-out bag. It closes with this question:

What are your thoughts or choices for bug-out firearms?

I started to compose a reply, it got lengthy, I realized it was easily its own post... Now, I might be at risk of losing my right wing gun nut cred, but I don't see a lot of scenarios where I'd be bugging out for any significant length of time. Sure, it's fun to game TEOTWAWKI or the Zombocalypse and what would come along, but I actually sat down and tried to come up with a scenario under which I would need to move my family out of the house for an intermediate length of time. I just couldn't do it.

Our house is situated in a location where if we got flooded out, it would literally be the end of the world as we know it. We're in New England, where earthquakes, tornadoes, or hurricanes aren't a realistic threat. We're far enough north of Boston that a "manmade disaster" would have minimal repercussions, and another of the nuclear/biological variety would mean leaving more or less for good - in which case, that ain't bugging out. The Colt Official Police my grandfather carried as a town cop is a lousy bug out gun, but there's no way in hell I'd leave it behind should we move on...

Anyways, for those that might have to evacuate for a short period of time (say a couple days to a couple weeks), here's my firearms suggestions. I suggest manually operated arms - pumps, levers, and revolvers. Granted, you're banking on the situation only lasting a short while, and if you need to use any of your arms long enough to get dirty enough to fail, you've got bigger issues... But simplicity of operation means that you don't have to worry about others who may come to your assistance not being able to figure out how to work the Blastomatic 6000 you've toted on the journey...

I'd suggest a six- or seven- shot .357 Magnum revolver with a 4" barrel as a handgun - this is small enough to be carried concealed if needed, powerful enough to take down a deer or goblin, and light enough to carry on a belt the entire time. 100 rounds of high quality hunting .357 ammo and 50 - 100 rounds of defensive hollowpoints isn't a lot to pack, and offers interchangeability in a pinch - moreso on the defense against two-legged predators using hunting soft points rather than taking deer with Hydra-Shoks, though...

For a rifle, a Henry lever-action carbine would be ideal for small game and personal defense in a pinch, offering 15 rounds of .22LR for rabbit- or small deer harvesting. A thousand rounds of .22LR doesn't weigh all that much for an extended hike, either. A 10/22 carbine with a folding stock would be another option (for those in free states), as it packs down smaller than the Henry and can have dozens of loaded 10 round magazines at the ready for minimal weight.

Lastly, a 12 gauge shotgun (20 gauge can substitute in a pinch) is an extremely versatile weapon to have around in such a scenario. Obviously something with a 18-22" barrel will be easier to maneuver on the go; a collapsible or folding stock will make the shotgun even more portable. Rifled slugs allow for large game to be harvested; birdshot can also be used for different wild game; buckshot keeps the two-legged varmints in their place. A good pump-action Rem 870 or Mossberg 500 would be worth its weight in gold in a bugout situation.

So, as MD says, what's your choice for bug-out firearm(s)?

That is all.