SHTF setup

[DRM6000]

I'd carry a glock 22 since it's one of the most popular LE handgun.

Since you don't have one, carry something in .40. It'll increase your chances of finding ammo along the way.

[BigPimping]

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.

Very true. And something to consider if you bug out.

[Bizcuits]

Of what you listed, I'd take the 229r. I'm not a fan of the 2022, but would prefer a 9mm. It is also the only one of the group that I have extensive experience with. Good gun.

XD? No thanks.

As another poster stated, I'd recommend rethinking your approach to self defense and "SHTF". When I was younger, single and spent more time watching stuff like Jericho, instead of working my *** off to support my kids and disabled wife.

Before you worry about a bunch of battle rattle for bugging out, I challenge you to ask yourself these 10 questions.

1) Can you run a consistent mile without stopping, within 8minutes?
2) Can you bench press at least your own body weight?
3) Is your body fat below 25%
4) Do you have a basic understanding of at least a handful of defensive holds or techniques? Choke holds, rear wrist locks etc.
5) Have you ever completed any formal instructional training on any of the firearms you own?
6) Have you ever called in a predator or hunted down a deer?
7) Have you ever looked into the eyes of an animal and killed it. Gold fish do not count.
8) Do you have an alternate source of electricity for your house or apartment? Wind up radio/generator/solar
9) Have you ever had any form of medical training? Something beyond "Check/Call/Care" of the First Aid bull****.
10) Can you tie a snare, fishermans knot or do anything else with a rope?

If you can't answer "YES" to all of these, then I'd recommend pursuing them first before a bunch of battle rattle that will likely only collect dust.

Life isn't always a "bug out" situation. In fact, I can't think of a single time in American history where people ever even HAD to bug out in the capacity where they had to live off the land. ****, even during the Civil War things didn't get that bad.

Now all that being said, in your case you know where you're going. If you can make it by road, I'd buy the vest, maybe some discounted 90's flak vests. Use the flak vests to pad your car/truck doors. Put one on the seat. Wear your good body armor/plates, hell even buy a Mich or old Kpot. Get a duty bag to throw in the passenger seat and as many magazines as you can carry, then GTA that ***** to your destination!

[CAglock20c]

Of what you listed, I'd take the 229r. I'm not a fan of the 2022, but would prefer a 9mm. It is also the only one of the group that I have extensive experience with. Good gun.

XD? No thanks.

As another poster stated, I'd recommend rethinking your approach to self defense and "SHTF". When I was younger, single and spent more time watching stuff like Jericho, instead of working my *** off to support my kids and disabled wife.

Before you worry about a bunch of battle rattle for bugging out, I challenge you to ask yourself these 10 questions.

1) Can you run a consistent mile without stopping, within 8minutes?
2) Can you bench press at least your own body weight?
3) Is your body fat below 25%
4) Do you have a basic understanding of at least a handful of defensive holds or techniques? Choke holds, rear wrist locks etc.
5) Have you ever completed any formal instructional training on any of the firearms you own?
6) Have you ever called in a predator or hunted down a deer?
7) Have you ever looked into the eyes of an animal and killed it. Gold fish do not count.
8) Do you have an alternate source of electricity for your house or apartment? Wind up radio/generator/solar
9) Have you ever had any form of medical training? Something beyond "Check/Call/Care" of the First Aid bull****.
10) Can you tie a snare, fishermans knot or do anything else with a rope?

If you can't answer "YES" to all of these, then I'd recommend pursuing them first before a bunch of battle rattle that will likely only collect dust.

Life isn't always a "bug out" situation. In fact, I can't think of a single time in American history where people ever even HAD to bug out in the capacity where they had to live off the land. ****, even during the Civil War things didn't get that bad.

Now all that being said, in your case you know where you're going. If you can make it by road, I'd buy the vest, maybe some discounted 90's flak vests. Use the flak vests to pad your car/truck doors. Put one on the seat. Wear your good body armor/plates, hell even buy a Mich or old Kpot. Get a duty bag to throw in the passenger seat and as many magazines as you can carry, then GTA that ***** to your destination!

This has been the most helpful reply to this post for me thus far and I can honestly (and easily) answer YES to every single one of those questions

[Lightstrider]

Well I've gone down this route like many others and if you have your own land or somewhere to go that is rural, you can consider getting all the gear.

But in reality, if I were to start from scratch or have a chance to go back I would really just get an AR/AK pistol (300yds+ with the brace), with a compact 9mm. True SHTF scenario here in CA is earthquake, tsunami, fire, civil unrest. So you need to be as light as possible, able to defend yourself IN CASE of looting or the unrest, but really a lot of our ideas for SHTF gear are unnecessary.

You should invest in a nice water filter like the Katadyn Pocket with extra filters, a good first aid kit, and dense food ready to eat like trail mix and jerky. A backpack with water bladder and a shoulder bag combo to carry clothes, filter, food, electronic, hygiene, misc stuff. Then you can have your AR/AK pistol and compact pistol as well as extra ammo. Besides that, if you are REALLY concerned or want to be fully prepared, go ahead and get a L3a concealable vest since you might be out and about in these SHTF situations.

To have a full military style loadout is just going to bring too much attention to you in these types of the most likely scenarios. I live out in the hills so I do have camo and all of it, a couple of rifles for different situations and a heavy 45.

[Justintoxicated]

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.

This, you don't want to be lugging around an AR, it will seriously hinder your beer looting potential.

[L84CABO]

Does weight matter to you? If so, you can carry more 9mm than 45.

What about popularity and availability? Is one caliber more popular than another and could this make a difference when it comes to a) finding more of it and b) trading it for other things?

What will the rest of your party be carrying? You may want to align to share ammo.

[Oceanbob]

Well......I'am staying home if SHTF and you're all invited to my house for BBQ.

[Beendare]

^^ Anyone else notice the "First Post" bots?

Wow good catch

My dream is to have a remote place off the grid someday- self sustained solar/wind/wood power, fresh water,good soils, farm type setup......but that will not be for another few years...

[Euphoria526]

Well......I'am staying home if SHTF and you're all invited to my house for BBQ.

I'm so down. Fortify The fort,bbq AND be safe and secure with other people who have guns and are like minded....priceless

[CAglock20c]

Someone asked "where would you be bugging out to?" I live in a city of appox. 50k people. I would obviously want to stay put in my home but if supplies/food/etc were to run out, I wouldn't have much of a choice than to pack it up and move out. That said, I would either head due East out of the populated area of my city into the mountains or North East to a friend's house in the country.

[JDay]

This, you don't want to be lugging around an AR, it will seriously hinder your beer looting potential.

I reload bullets and kegs. In a SHTF scenario I'll fortify myself and my family on our 27 acres. Plenty of deer, rabbit, turkey and other wildlife to live off of. And we're putting in a garden and plenty of fruit trees this spring. Plenty of water too since we have 4 wells that give us a steady supply of spring quality water.

[Sailormilan2]

I will probably get flamed for this, but here goes. I am not sure I would use/carry a Glock for a long term SHTF situation........................and in reality, we never know how long a SHTF situation will last.
I have nothing against them, as I carried one professionally for about 10 years. My concern would be the inability to use lead bullets in the standard Glock barrel. One may run across a situation where that is all one has, and I wouldn't want to be taking a chance. Yes I know many, many here shoot lead bullets in their guns, but in a SHTF situation, cleaning and gun care materials may be lacking. So, the ability to remove lead from a barrel may not be available.

[Oceanbob]

I will probably get flamed for this, but here goes. I am not sure I would use/carry a Glock for a long term SHTF situation........................and in reality, we never know how long a SHTF situation will last.
I have nothing against them, as I carried one professionally for about 10 years. My concern would be the inability to use lead bullets in the standard Glock barrel. One may run across a situation where that is all one has, and I wouldn't want to be taking a chance. Yes I know many, many here shoot lead bullets in their guns, but in a SHTF situation, cleaning and gun care materials may be lacking. So, the ability to remove lead from a barrel may not be available.

I know you can carry a Glock and shoot hard cast lead without issues. Narrow choices down to ONE handgun, it's going to be a Glock. Nothing else is better
In my mind. How often do you see lead 9MM? The answer is never.

If you're so concerned about lead, then own an extra barrel like a LoneWolf, storm lake or KKM.

So you're really worried about nothing.

[Bansh88]

Without getting into it too much, for a real/theoretical SHTF scenario, you would want a common caliber firearm. good luck scavenging 10mm out in the wasteland.
Much less parts or magazines for those pistols you've listed.