Posted on 03/24/2010 4:12:18 PM PDT by Noumenon
Most of this gear is off-the-shelf and relatively cheap. Check out Cabela’s, CheaperThanDirt.com or SportsMansGuide.com for the best deals.
Assumptions:
1. Civil unrest ensues.
2. Communications go down.
3. You may have to fight your way out of wherever you are. or on the way to your destination.
4 You may have to abandon your vehicle
5. You may have to walk to a prearranged safe place or rendezvous/rally point.
6. You will move quickly and not ‘camp out’. Rest, yes. Camp, no.
7. The weather may suck - majorly. Hot, cold, wet, snowy.
Strategy assumes that you may lose your backpack and/or your sling bag. Or that you may not have time to suit up, and that you can only grab your sling bag/backpack and weapons. Try to wear a pair of decent hiking shoes or durable shoes in case you can’t put your boots on in time.
First layer – Combat Uniform
I prefer the old 80’s era Swiss Alpenflage. Cheap and readily available (or used to be), works great for the inland Pacific NW environment. Rig for your area and circumstances.Strongly recommend good boots and a PASGT helmet with appropriate cover. Plenty of PASGT gear on eBay if you don’t have any. This is what works for my area. Think it through and pack what will work for your circumstances. The important thing is to have comfortable, durable clothing that you can wear for days.
Your pockets/belt will hold the following essential items:
1. Strike-anywhere matches in a waterproof case.
2. BlastMatch with tinder of some sort.
3. Maps or even Jeppesen charts are very useful. You should also do a custom Google map of your E&E routes. You DO have more than one route, eh?
4. Compass In a worst case scenario, you may not be able to rely upon a GPS device. Learn how to follow a compass bearing. You can guide yourself through thickly forested areas, featureless winter landscapes, foggy sagebrush areas, etc.
5. LED Flashlight and extra batteries. Use what works best for you. Carry at least two.
6. Energy bar(s). Something’s better than nothing.
7. Extra Clothing Layer. Poncho and/or parka. This could also be a mylar emergency blanket. Area / climate / season specific. A poncho will fold up into one of your pockets.
8. Sunglasses.
9. First Aid Kit. Carry basic first aid supplies such as sterile gauze and pads, Band-Aids, moleskin, etc
10. Knife / multi-tool Preferably one of each. An extra knife on a lanyard around your neck is good insurance.
11. Water and the means to carry it. Adopt/adapt for your circumstances.
12. Water purification tablets don’t take much room, either.
13. Wire saw. Notch a stick at each and lodge the saw's end rings in the notches and you've got a serviceable bow saw.
Extras if you’ve got the pockets or the inclination:
1. Small radio w/extra batteries. 22+ mile range/NOAA combo preferable. If you’ve made arrangements with others to meet up, that type of radio can be invaluable. But be secure about using one, though. Keep your plans confined within a small trusted circle.
2. 25-50 ft of parachute cord. Whatever fits. Very useful.
I’ve left off fishing kit and items like that because you’re probably not going to have the time for fishing and in any case, you have room for that sort of thing in either your sling bag or your small backpack. I’ve also not included magazines and ammo, because you’re probably going to be carrying that elsewhere.
Practice and test. Finally, when you’ve got that all together, field test it. See how fast you can get it all on, boots and helmet included. Do it again and again. Then do it at least once a week. Try walk, trot, run and see what rattles. Quiet the rattles. Then roll down an embankment, throw yourself down flat, crawl through brush, tumble if you’re capable and see what you’ve got left. Walk, trot, run. Still quiet? Good.
Second layer – Sling Bag
The sling bags offered by places like Cheaper Than Dirt and Sportsmans Guide are great. They’re easily snatched up and the contents will afford you an extra day or two of operations in the field. Plenty of webbing attachments for your customization pleasure. The premise is that even if you don’t have time to suit up, you can still grab your rifle and the sling bag and make a decent go of it. I wear mine on the left, since I’m a right-hander. The one I use also has a waist strap to keep it from flapping in the breeze. To a certain extent, I replicate the essentials listed above in the bag and the list below reflects that. But it differs in some details and sports a few additions. Ammo, for instance. I hang a 3 magpouch on it for my AR carbine, and there’s more ammo and an extra rifle/pistol in the bag. There’s an extra 15 round 10mm mag in there as well. Again, you’re not looking to camp out – you want to keep moving towards your destination. Rest, but don’t set up housekeeping.
1. Strike-anywhere matches in a waterproof case
2.Fire Starter. BlastMatch with tinder of some sort.
3.Maps. >Same as above.
4. Compass. Yep, another one.
5.LED Flashlight and extra batteries. If you’re smart, your radio, flashlight and any other device you might carry will all use the same batteries. Preferably AA.
6. MRE of your choice. A good meal (although some may dispute even the possibility) can make a big difference to your outlook. Even the (ugh) omelet ones.
7.Energy bar(s). Better to have 'em and not need 'em>
8.Extra Clothing Layer. Same as above.
9. Sunglasses AND regular glasses. For those of us who need glasses, the investment in an extra pair could be a life-saver. The sling bag described here accommodates glasses in hard cases nicely.
10.Binoculars. Compact, decent quality and keep them easy to get to.
11. First Aid Kit. Carry additional first aid as mentioned above.
12. Knife / multi-tool. /b> Preferably one of each. Again.
13.Empty Water container. You can fill it later. It’ll add to the one on your backpack.
14. Water purification tablets.
15.Rifle / pistol mag(s). Full, and one of each. They’ll be inside the pack along with as much extra ammo on strippers as you deem fit. Don’t overload it though.
16.Rifle ammo on strippers. 5.56 mm doesn’t take up that much room and you can probably carry an extra 2 or 3 magazines worth. Remember to include a couple of extra stripper guides. Wear one around your neck; keep the other in a zipper compartment in the bag.
17.Rifle mag pouch. Hang this in an easy-to-get-to place on the outside of the sling bag. Most will hold three AR-style mags.
Again, practice and test. Still have everything? Good.
Third layer– Small Backpack
Cheaper Than Dirt and Sportsmans Guide offer some nice compact backpacks. I like the Level III ‘assault’ pack. It’s big enough to hold more of what you need for an extra two or three days in the field, expands your available food and ammo stocks, provides for a change of socks, underwear and t-shirt, insect repellent, a small folding shovel and a hydration pack. Depending upon what you feel like stuffing in there, you can add a small waterproof bag with a towel and some baby wipes
Again, practice and test. Same as above. Still have everything? Excellent.
Weapons
When things get dicey, don’t assume that you’re going to just drive or stroll home. Rifle, pistol and a good fighting knife (that is, a knife that you actually know how to fight with) are essentials. The last thing you want to do is to get into a firefight. But you do want to have a chance to prevail if it drops in the pot. Again, carry what you know how to use. This will be no time for on-the-job training. If you don’t have the skills, take a martial arts class of some sort (NOT tai chi or freakin' yoga) and get thee to an Appleseed event to learn how to shoot like a rifleman. www.appleseedinfo.org.
Everyone’s got an opinion – so I’ll just tell you what I picked and why.
1.Rifle. CAR15 or equivalent. Light, accurate within reason and you can carry lots of ammo. I carry 7 loaded mags – one in the rifle, three in a quick-access pouch on the sling bag and two more in the backpack.
2.Pistol. Glock mod 20 with 1 mag in the pistol, two in the carry rig, one in the sling bag and two more in the backpack. This is a hard-hitting pistol, a real fight-stopper. No aspersions on .45s - I just like having 15+1 rounds of near-41 magnum persuasion on tap. Besides, if you’re down to your pistol, then you’ve got other things to worry about besides calibers.
3. Tomahawk. One MOLLE’d to my backpack. I like tomahawks.
4. Fighting knife. One MOLLE’d to my sling bag.
5. Miscellaneous small knives. Everywhere.
Car Kit
I carry pioneer tool items that could prove useful in some circumstances. This is in addition to the usual road kit with flares, gloves, rope, a regular tool kit, etc. Let your experience and imagination be your guide here.
1. Shovel.
2.Pickaxe
3.Axe.
4.17 pound tamper bar. With a tamper on one end and a wedge on the other.
5. 24” bolt cutters.
6.Extra food and water.
7. Sleeping bag.
Again, your circumstances and training will produce endless variations of this list.
5.56mm
Actually, my little smiley was in response to your instant beer acknowledgment in the sense we could become wealthy if you and I discovered the process.
OOps - long thread - missed that one. Still, what survival strategy worthy of the name doesn’t include instant beer? And instant cigars?
There must be a way to do this...
If you want them a bit more permanent, they can be filled with sand or dirt.
I like your take on ‘hawk configuration. I’ll check it out. Can’t hurt to have another one tucked away.
What I like about the SOG Fusion is that it’s light, fast and razor sharp. It doesn’t have quite the utility of what you’ve described, though.
Excellent post - your moniker fits you well.
I plan to walk off into the tall grass myself. No sense in trying to raid- It will just attract attention... They'll have enough on their hands than to worry about me and mine 50 miles back in the sticks...
Same with the idea of trying to create a fortress and staying put - Bad idea to try and protect a fixed position, as not only the gubmint can find you, but also gazillions of folks without the wherewithal to do what you have... they will ALL be trying to get at your stores. Desperation is a terrible thing.
Nope. Better to stay light and mobile. Stash a few caches close to where you figure you are going, scout out some good places to hole up for winter... keep your head low and wait for the end of it all.
Mules/horses do little good if the scram happens in the winter though. Dogs and caches in that case...
Once my folks are safe, mebbe then I will drift down and see what I can do to help whatever resistance in taking place.
Nice to hear your take on what the US Mil will do. Drones are the only thing I worry about - Pretty cheap way to take out folks in the back woods. I wonder what they'd be looking for... Prolly IR signature/fire... two things I can't do much about. I can make due without metal, but fire is necessary.
Very well thought out. Thanks.
Seeing as how you are talking about coming over here in the Yaak/Kootanai (twas you in Pend d'Oreille?!), It would be useful to see what mountain folk hereabouts use for a hawk. To a man, they carry something close to what I have described. Wander on over to the Eureka Rendezvous and see... And it wouldn't be a bad thing to meet up with them folks, cuz when SHTF, they will be your reliable network for barter and trade (me among them, though I will most likely be in the Bob Marshall\Great Bear complex, coming down into Swan\Seeley area for winter)...
Yes, the SOG Fusion is all you claim, But an old-school hawk is far more practical - and will beat out the war-hawks in all but defense, and is still a great defense weapon anyway (though different in application).
Sure, it's a bit more weight, but it is a small thing considering the fact that you always have a camp axe, and a hammer hanging from your belt, built into that tool, not to mention it's other utility applications. And one can eliminate those things from your possibles because of their presence in the hawk. I carry no other axe or hammer. nor pick or grubbing tool.
And as far as defense is concerned, If one is down to a hawk and a knife (most unlikely), your most likely protagonist is probably a big bear or a moose, surprised along the trail - not a man or group of men, as one would likely see in hand-to-hand military applications... Most men willing to kill you for what you have are without honor, and would be more apt to bushwhack you from afar.
But in those cases where a hawk would make a difference, (griz, moose, cougar, wolf), the added reach and weight of an old-skool pole axe (and a large bowie-style knife) is of tremendous advantage, one would suppose.
However, truth be told, one can be fairly confident that one will not be faced with such a scenario... not with a .45/70 in your hands and a .44mag on your belt... and a sawed-off slung on your pack/saddle... So the utility of the hawk is probably more important than it's prowess as a fighting tool, even in such a case.
Different strokes... Just sayin'.
BTW, another practical weapon, which I keep just behind my hawk (left hip), is an Alaskan Ulu, which is the ultimate in skinning tools, and ain't half bad as a slashing weapon in close quarters. It is kept to a very fine edge, and being used only and exclusively for skinning, it is usually the finest edge I have (the bowie and folding knife, multi tool, and etc. being often used for things other than cutting).
A small stone and a bastard file are also bare necessities.
Another oddball thing to include in your caches (not necessarily for on-person possibles) is some of those cheap throwing knives one can find in Army/Navy type outlets... You know, the ones with a flat shank rather than a handle... They are not of much use for throwing, but they make a damn fine spear point if the ammo runs out.
Thx for your reply.
I do appreciate your info on the practical uses of the 'hawk. I will definitely be adding what you recommend to my kit. I'm reading from the same page with respect to cache 'n stash. Some basics, a little ammo, and yes, the sort of kives you mention are part of the program. Cache building was also my motivation behind scoring an undisclosed number of Enfield No1 Mk111 2a rifles a decade or so ago. 12 round box magazines, 308 caliber and wicked accurate. It's a game-getter for sure and also the rifle you can use to get yourself a better rifle.
Again, thanks for your advice - obviously the product of experience. BTW, what's a good source for rhe type of 'hawk head you've mentioned. I ran this past Mike a while back, but he's not that much into making them.
Some nice IMI 5.56 AP.
Nice thign about a remote lake location is that you can land a floatplane there most of the year. Most floatplanes also adapt easily to skis for frozen-over time in the winter.
oldenuff2no does indeed know what he’s talking about. Good thing we left urban areas over a decade ago. If I have to leave Spokane in a hurry, I’m heading home. Hopefully justa quick 60 minute drive. If driving’s off the menu, well...
A local comic goes on about the four main occupations in Sandpoint -
1. bartending
2. construction
3. bartending
4. construction.
Heh heh heh, funny!
With me, I worked winters at Ski Schweitzer, summers logging BLM contracts for pole mills and doing construction.
See ya’,
Ed
BTT
bttt
By the end of this month I will be sitting in the living room of my new home on 2.4 acres. Armed. Within a year, will be off the grid as far as power, water and septic goes.
Plenty of hunting and fishing within walking distance of the house. I am hoping to have chickens and maybe a dairy cow by this time next year.
Let the world fall apart.
ping
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