10 Must-Have Items for a Bug Out Bag

[TheShadowKnows]

My wife doesn't mind shooting, she actually fired a 12ga and it made her step back but she giggled, which is a good response. I chose a 22 for her because of weight, ammo size and weight, and also price. Granted, ammo availability is an issue, but I've got a decent stash in her BoB. Jontte, the thing is a lot of fun to shoot so I would definitely look at getting the Tapco if you do get a 10/22. The magazine restriction is a real bummer! I love tearing up a stack of cans with the 25 round mags, you just shoot and shoot and shoot. On that note, though, out of our 2 Ruger BX-25 mags, one doesn't feed correctly. I think it's an issue with the spring but I already took it apart to clean it and check for snags and it didn't help. I tend to want to go with brand name over the cheaper but since Ruger is one for two on the mags with me, I'll probably be trying a Butler Creek next. From what I read, you need to be sure you get a magazine with steel feed lips and not polymer or plastic.

On the Dr Pepper note, my wife and are keeping a lot of carbonated water in our food stash. We plan on trying to make soda substitutes with various stores sweeteners and fruits. I figure we'll have plenty of time to experiment in a SHTF scenario.

 

[Silent Bob]

Shadow,

That is my problem too, I tore it down, replaced the spring and even sanded some of the rough edges on the guide, like I was taught when I was in the military. No luck, they still jam, I've taught the daughter to have a long screw driver to clear it. Simple SLAP technique too. Ruger's tech reps sent the standard email reply back to me, they even replaced one of the mags for free, but still have problems even with the replacement. They wouldn't replace the one that I sanded and placed the spring.

I'd be interested on how the carbonated water works....how long have you been able to store it and still get the fizz in the drink? We use to get rations of soda in the field, but much of it was out of date, still a morale booster, when opting to drink some of the foreign crap. Don't know if you've been to the Holy Grail of Dr. Pepper, but all back roads of Texas lead to Dublin, I still get the cane sugar Dr. Pepper every year, and typically run out two months after I make the run.

Was even worse when I was stationed outside of Texas, had to make a run for my favorite tortillas in San Antonio and salsa and Big Red and Cane Sugar Dr. Pepper.

Regards

 

[jontte]

now I'm anxiously waiting for a letter from my police abt my permit-application,found a store that has that ruger 10/22 at a reasonable price,another one that sells mags,would love to have a straight rail mag if poss

 

[Lord Boone]

I have bought a food saver and have started sealing rice and salt in little airtight bags. Rice to eat, salt to barter with and eat as well. White rice only. Brown will go bad.

 

[WILD MAN]

I have bought a food saver and have started sealing rice and salt in little airtight bags. Rice to eat, salt to barter with and eat as well. White rice only. Brown will go bad.

I had to line the food saver bags with paper towels to keep the rice from poking holes in the plastic, and still sometimes it didn’t work; for small quantities of rice I had better luck putting it in empty 24oz. soda bottles with a small O2 absorber.

 

[Gazrok]

Mylar bags inside of food grade buckets, with O2 absorbers is the way to go. (for rice, beans, pasta, etc.)

 

[WILD MAN]

Mylar bags inside of food grade buckets, with O2 absorbers is the way to go. (for rice, beans, pasta, etc.)

I agree that's what we have in the house I even vacuum seal the mylar inside the bucket, but for small quantities like for a bob or bartering the soda bottles work great.

 

[jontte]

what do you use for O2 absorbers?? that's something new to me

 

[WILD MAN]

what do you use for O2 absorbers?? that's something new to me

You can buy mylar bags that come with O2 absorbers on Amazon but before we started putting stuff in mylar we used the Hot Hands hand warmers, they work great and they are cheep if you buy the bulk package or catch them on sale in the spring.

 

[jontte]

thank you!
knew that if one asks one will get the answer

 

[Gazrok]

I got mine at beprepared.com Pretty inexpensive really...

 

[RangerBob73]

My BOB sounds much like all of yours with the exception of a few items. I have an etool(etrenching tool) in my bag as well. It's a U.S military issue one and would be very handy in an emergency situation. I also have snares and autofishers, that as I'm bugging to another location I can survive for more than 3 days if need be. Just a few more things to look into for your BOB's

 

[Captain]

10. blankets
i have a spread that i bought at dollor genral year before last.it's %100 poyester.but warm as can be.pluse it folds up rather small and is very light whight.if it aint quiet warm enough at time.then the space banket might work with it.
9. clothes
always change them out of the time of year and weather.include a puncho or 2.never know when you might be stuck on foot in the rain.pluse it'll help you stay warm when needed
8. Battery Powered Radio
i have a eton am/fm/weather band radio.no power cord for it.but i can and do use the hand crank and solar panal to charge up the battries in it..it also has a usb port for chargeing cell phones and a flash light
7. Cash
keeping 1's 5's 10's and 20's on hand will be a big pluse if we get through what ever happens
6. Flashlight
i have 3 flash lights,and one head lamp.in which 2 use tripple a,and 1 uses d..i also recently got a solor pwered battry charger.so i'll be able to keep those battries charge with it if needed
5. Flint
flint fire starter matchs bic and a zippo kept in a water proof contaner
4. water
even if you dont have a gallon of water per day.it might prove usefull to have extra water containers on you.this way you can fill them when needed.especilly if looks like you'll go another 2 or 3 days before comeing across water again
3.food.
thinking packets of food.on acount thier flater then cans.and the packets are reuseable as well as cans are.
2.shelter
a 2 person tent should work if theres 1 or 2 of you.and like you suggested.tarps.pluse a hammok or 2.thier quieker n easyer to put up n take down.pluse some are inclosed,kinda like haveing a tent tied to 2 trees and off the ground
1. first aid kit.
the meds thats taken each day/week..oientments for scraps and posion ivy/oak band-aids.gauze pads tape.even plumbers tape might work on keeping gauze in place
i lil camping cooking kit of some kind.you not only can cook n heat food in it.but if you get the right set-up.you can boil water with the lil pot that comes with it..also maps of where you are and will be. and compass's knifes for hunting and cutting up meats.

Instead of cash I Cary silver bars. What if cash is useless?

 

[jimLE]

good idea captain..but one thing about cash money gold and silver..some if not most folks won't accept any of them on account they'd rather buy/trade for something they need..for example.you might have something i need in the way of food,first aid,or water.and same applies when it comes to what i have and what you need/want instead of money gold or silver..

 

[jontte]

a nice little shovel is a must.
remember still how my DI had a show and tell abt ;how to sharpen your shovel and where to hit it on the enemy, oh-boy some of my fellow recruits had a strange look on thier face

 

[celem]

Instead of cash I Cary silver bars. What if cash is useless?

A friend of mine advised not to carry any sort of cash or precious metals. His advice was the most tradable currency during a SHTF event was food and ammunition. Carry extras of both of these for trading.

 

[jimLE]

only way i'd carry ammo for trade.is if ( I ) decide that i have more then what i need in ammo.and if i know that person wont use it to kill me in a shtf situation..

 

[Gazrok]

Would suck to get killed by a bullet you traded to someone, eh? I have an etool for mine too, but I wouldn't consider it in the top 10. Nice to have, but other items more essential.

 

[jimLE]

yeah,to say the least.trade 1 bullet for a couple of items.then get shot in the back as i'm leaving..definitely don't sound inviting at all.besides.that 1 bullet can put food on the table.or stop a threat..

 

[Jake-prepper_hopeful]

Reminds me of the metro games trading an essential item is not ideal if you think about it, if it came down to it salt and other such items are much better for trade and if you needed to you could take that bullet and put it to better use than just trade, hunting defense or if necessary offense