SHTF setup

[CAglock20c]

I'm trying to narrow down the weapon(s)/ammo I would take in a SHTF situation where I would only have limited time to move. I plan on buying a plate carrier/plates along with a battle belt.

As a primary gun, I would be taking my AR, but as a sidearm, what would you all feel as most idealistic (shootability, reliability, etc set aside):

-SA XDm .40
-Glock 20c 10mm
-HK VP9
-Sig P229r .40
-Sig SP2022 9mm
-SA TRP .45

Also, if any of you could point me into the direction of some good (and not too pricey) plate carriers/battle belts, that would be much appreciated!

[FireMech Dr.Jay]

You have glock 20c in your name so I'm assuming the pistols you have listed are ones you currently own.
I would stay away from exotic or non-standard ammo such as 10mm. Yes it's powerful and a great round but it is not readily available (at least in SoCal). Even if you have 10,000 rounds at home, you can't take it all with you if you have to bug out so you need something you can find anywhere such as 9mm, .40, and .45
I would bring 2 pistols as well as your AR. May be a heavy load but it's good to have a backup for the backup if the SHTF.

You can find plates and plate carriers on ebay.

[ruchik]

I'm trying to narrow down the weapon(s)/ammo I would take in a SHTF situation where I would only have limited time to move. I plan on buying a plate carrier/plates along with a battle belt.

As a primary gun, I would be taking my AR, but as a sidearm, what would you all feel as most idealistic (shootability, reliability, etc set aside):

-SA XDm .40
-Glock 20c 10mm
-HK VP9
-Sig P229r .40
-Sig SP2022 9mm
-SA TRP .45

Also, if any of you could point me into the direction of some good (and not too pricey) plate carriers/battle belts, that would be much appreciated!

I used to think like you, but then I stopped to think about it. I don't know where you live, and I don't know what the general attitude towards firearms are in your area.

Can you think of ANY situation, apart from zombies or foreign invasion, where walking to another destination while holding an AR, with plate carrier and battle belt, would not instantly make you stick out like the proverbial sore thumb? You mentioned that you only have a limited time to move; where are you moving to? Limited time to move means other people are going to be moving as well, and you're planning on moving around in public with all that gear?

And what do you mean by being ideal, if not reliability? At that point, you're going to want to use the weapon you have the most familiarity with, regardless of caliber. If you're counting on picking up or finding ammo somewhere, again, think about it. Where in God's name are you going to find it? I mean really, look around you, ammo isn't exactly growing on trees. Gun stores will have been cleaned out. Forget bartering with/for ammo, most people won't be that well prepared. Not trying to be confrontational, but there's a lot more you need to think about here. Unless you already have, and you have a good plan in place.

[Stanze]

I used to think like you, but then I stopped to think about it. I don't know where you live, and I don't know what the general attitude towards firearms are in your area.

Can you think of ANY situation, apart from zombies or foreign invasion, where walking to another destination while holding an AR, with plate carrier and battle belt, would not instantly make you stick out like the proverbial sore thumb? You mentioned that you only have a limited time to move; where are you moving to? Limited time to move means other people are going to be moving as well, and you're planning on moving around in public with all that gear?

I've thought about that as well. Although, I mainly bought my 6.5" AR pistol for a range toy; it will fit into a backpack full of mags for discreet carry in S.H.T.F. situation.

[ruchik]

I've thought about that as well. Although, I mainly bought my 6.5" AR pistol for a range toy; it will fit into a backpack full of mags for discreet carry in S.H.T.F. situation.

That's a whole different ballgame. If the OP has an AR pistol, that can be easily hidden. But if it's not one of those, there really is just no conceivable situation where one would be walking around in broad daylight, holding an AR with full battle rattle, in an SHTF other than zombies or commies. If it's an armed patrol through a neighborhood of like-minded fellows, that's fine. But if, as the OP seems to imply, you're bugging out, it's really not a smart idea.

[CAglock20c]

I do have an ar pistol too. I know where I would be going and its to a location I can reload at where my family would be. So you're just saying whatever is more reliable?


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[ruchik]

I do have an ar pistol too. I know where I would be going and its to a location I can reload at where my family would be. So you're just saying whatever is more reliable?


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If that's the case, then forget the plate carrier and the battle belt. Go with what you can hide.

I am an advocate of fortifying your home in the event of a serious, SHTF crisis. Think about it; all your best preps are at home. You can control your environment. You have shelter, you have a warm bed, and you can hold out against attackers much more effectively.

Therefore, if you are considering bugging out, then you have to be in quite the catastrophe. Not just your home, but your entire neighborhood has to have gone to hell too. Otherwise, you could have just packed a bag and simply driven off to safety. In California, let us consider what the most likely source of such a catastrophe would be; an earthquake. Or a natural disaster such as Yellowstone erupting. Either way, in the early stages of the crisis, which is what I imagine as you referring to as the limited window to move, walking outside with a plate carrier, battle belt, AR, and a pistol strapped to your side serves absolutely no purpose. Actually, at no point in time during that crisis would such an action be viewed as normal or acceptable by the masses. At best, people avoid you. At worst, they get the drop on you and take your stuff.

Now this is all assuming you're bugging out on foot, because that's what you'll be limited to. Roads WILL be clogged in the event of such a widespread disaster. Imagine 880, 101, or 680 during rush hour. IF you were able to get a hold of a vehicle, and IF you could find an alternate route, and IF you had enough gas, then maybe a plate carrier and belt would be more acceptable, as you can generally stay out of clear sight in a car.

I would recommend ditching the idea of a plate carrier and battle belt. Hide everything. Hide your AR pistol, hide your handgun. Wear a concealable vest if you must. People WILL look at you and wonder why on earth you've got a rifle and full battle rattle on, in the middle of the street, during the early stages of a crisis. Later on, as protection against looters, that's fair game. But not while you're bugging out if you can help it.

As far as handguns go, yes, go with what you know to be reliable AND you are the best with. It won't matter how good you are with a gun if it doesn't work, and it won't matter how reliable or accurate the gun is if you can't hit what you're aiming at.

[bigbearbear]

If I have to move, I'll take whatever that is the lightest and most reliable. Something that requires very little cleaning and lubrication. For the handgun, this means a polymer 9mm.

I prefer to stay put though, where I have shelter, medicine and stored food/water etc.

[Nickgt40]

Not trying to be confrontational, but there's a lot more you need to think about here. Unless you already have, and you have a good plan in place.

Not trying to be confrontational, but there's a lot more you need to think about here. Unless you already have, and you have a good plan in place.

^^ Anyone else notice the "First Post" bots? They simply just take an excerpt from someone else's real writing to make it so they sound like they're part of the convo. Weird.

I realize it's diverting from the convo but WTF is up with these things. I've seen them all over the place recently.



As far as what side arm to use, if you're planning to be mobile then 9mm is the way to go. You can carry 1k rounds of 9mm easily, not to mention its probably the most plentiful, and unblocked mags have the most capacity as well.

With that said, I'm not selling my semi auto .40s any time soon.

[IVth Horseman]

My opinion...

-SA XDm .40 - not my first choice but a contender
-Glock 20c 10mm - ammo is too heavy and scarce
-HK VP9 - winner due to weight and ammo availability
-Sig P229r .40 - as much as I love Sigs, steel framed pistols get heavy
-Sig SP2022 9mm - friends don't let friends carry 2022s
-SA TRP .45 - I'm not a fan of single action for SHTF due to manual safety

Condor makes as decent plate carrier for the money, I've got one with steel plates inside and it holds up well. Certainly not the best on the market, but I can't justify spending 200.00 on something that sits in the closet "just in case".

[sd joe]

Where would you be going to that is safer than your home? Too many people have SHTF fantasies of roaming the streets with their guns. Your home is by far the safest place.

[thorium]

Can you think of ANY situation, apart from zombies or foreign invasion, where walking to another destination while holding an AR, with plate carrier and battle belt, would not instantly make you stick out like the proverbial sore thumb??
.

Bing bing bing, winner.

While anything is possible, the chances of a scenario where it would be WISE to roam around with full battle gear are slim.

The much more likely scenario is the "hurricane Katrina" (eg earthquake), or "LA riot" scenario. Therefore put most your thought into those situations.

A reliable, concealable pistol, that you wouldn't mind ditching as needed is more appropriate. Body armor under clothing. Blending in. Low profile. A wolf in sleeps clothing. That sounds much more survivable...

[kapache]

AR-15, 22LR conversion kit for small game hunting or Zombie killing. 9mm pistol. Machetes, and lots of Come get some.

[ConcealedKalifornia]

If that's the case, then forget the plate carrier and the battle belt. Go with what you can hide.

I am an advocate of fortifying your home in the event of a serious, SHTF crisis. Think about it; all your best preps are at home. You can control your environment. You have shelter, you have a warm bed, and you can hold out against attackers much more effectively.

Therefore, if you are considering bugging out, then you have to be in quite the catastrophe. Not just your home, but your entire neighborhood has to have gone to hell too. Otherwise, you could have just packed a bag and simply driven off to safety. In California, let us consider what the most likely source of such a catastrophe would be; an earthquake. Or a natural disaster such as Yellowstone erupting. Either way, in the early stages of the crisis, which is what I imagine as you referring to as the limited window to move, walking outside with a plate carrier, battle belt, AR, and a pistol strapped to your side serves absolutely no purpose. Actually, at no point in time during that crisis would such an action be viewed as normal or acceptable by the masses. At best, people avoid you. At worst, they get the drop on you and take your stuff.

Now this is all assuming you're bugging out on foot, because that's what you'll be limited to. Roads WILL be clogged in the event of such a widespread disaster. Imagine 880, 101, or 680 during rush hour. IF you were able to get a hold of a vehicle, and IF you could find an alternate route, and IF you had enough gas, then maybe a plate carrier and belt would be more acceptable, as you can generally stay out of clear sight in a car.

I would recommend ditching the idea of a plate carrier and battle belt. Hide everything. Hide your AR pistol, hide your handgun. Wear a concealable vest if you must. People WILL look at you and wonder why on earth you've got a rifle and full battle rattle on, in the middle of the street, during the early stages of a crisis. Later on, as protection against looters, that's fair game. But not while you're bugging out if you can help it.

As far as handguns go, yes, go with what you know to be reliable AND you are the best with. It won't matter how good you are with a gun if it doesn't work, and it won't matter how reliable or accurate the gun is if you can't hit what you're aiming at.

The one thing I would say is if he did it right, he probably could conceal most of that stuff with a large trench coat or something. Get it really dirty too and push a shopping cart around and he'll look like just a random Hobo wandering the street. But he would still be armed and ready to go! Maybe yell some stuff about the Rapture or government conspiracies for good measure

[Thepug99]

It's all useless gear unless you're relocating to a private area. No public disaster assistance facility will let you in to eat or shelter with that gear.