There are so many survival scenarios from various regions, settings, situations, etc. Let's discuss options for just one scenario.

You and your wife live in the city, any city. An event occurs that forces evacuation (let's say it's a volcano ash cloud). You have preplanned well and know the directions you need to travel and you have areas and meeting-place options along the way. You grab prepacked bug-out-bags that have necessities for you and your wife for 72 hours, (food water and emergency preparedness materials); the loads weighs 50 pounds in two packs. You have the opportunity to toss other items in your vehicle and it too has some car survival necessities.

Because you are well prepared, you are one of the first ones to get on the road but after traveling 30 minutes vehicle gridlock happens and you have to ditch your vehicle (no you don't have a moped or motorcycle <img src="/images/graemlins/mad.gif" alt="" />). You are in an unfamiliar urban area but you know there are state parks or wooded areas within a 15 mile hike.

What firearm(s) would you tossed in the vehicle and what firearm(s) would you have packed in your BOB?

Shotgun, pistol, ammo for both.

I'm in an unfamiliar urban area, with at least a 15 mile hike between me and wooded areas/parks?

Not so sure I'd leave the relative safety of the vehicle gridlock to be out on foot where I don't know my surroundings.

And there's volcanic ash everywhere -- so eventually the vehicle will probably stop running anyway. But walking around in it for hours upon hours (lets hope there's a couple masks in the bug out kit) isn't great, either. Not to mention the possibility of getting lost.

Plus, a convoy of stopped minivans on the Interstate is likely to attract potential rescuers and attention long before two people hiking through the woods.

Either way you're in a bad spot. I'm not so sure I'd leave the house to begin with. It would depend on how bad the ash situation was. Are we talking a nearby volcanic eruption or just an ash cloud blowing in from elsewhere?

Good scenario! One that could definitely happen here in the NW.

There are many opinions on what the best BO/survival firearm would be . Some would say a 22 , or a shotgun . Others might suggest some sort of military type rifle - AK, AR , SKS etc. My personal choices are a 38/357 revolver and a 38/357 Marlin lever rifle . I also have a 12GA. shotgun but I might leave it behind because the ammo weighs too much . The revolver would be the first thing I grab because I feel it is important that you have something that is concealable. I think the 38/357 is a good all around caliber and fairly common . I also feel that having a common ammo for rifle/carbine and handgun is a good idea .

I would be packing my Colt Combat Elite in 45 ACP, while the GF would be packing a Sig P239 in 40 S&W. Long guns in the vehicle would be a Remington Nylon 66 in .22 LR, a Savage Model 24 .22/20 guage, and a Browning A-Bolt SS in 30.06.

In an urban area, or stuck on the road with lots of other people, I think that the ability to conceal a firearm is important. Sometimes it is good to blend in with the crowd. There is also some tactical surprise to producing a concealed firearm. As important as what firearm is what holster. My choice: HK USP Compact .40 in a well worn shoulder holster, with two extra magazines on the other side (for balance). Backup gun is a Walther PPK .380 with one extra magazine. My lady will have two S&W revolvers, one .357 mangnum and one 5-shot .38 special, both loaded with .38+P 125-grain SJHP, 2 speed loaders (for the six-shot .357) and 2 speed strips (for either gun).

I like the way think Cedfire.

Actually, this scenario came out of my head because I have an ill prepared daughter and her boyfriend living in Portland Oregon. And you are right, you don't necessarily need to bug-out from volcanic ash drop....it just fit my scenario. It could have been a tsunami heading up the Columbia of a dirty bomb somewhere.

I would be carrying a 12 gauge 870 with double 00 shot in a quickly accessible soft guitar case, and a .22 Sig Trailside in the BOB. The .22 ammo would be for food and the shotgun for both protection and food. It's tempting to want to take a .45 too but the weight of the ammo is 4 times that of .22 ammo and a shotgun is a very good self defense weapon.

So let's take this scenario a step further. You and your partner have left your car and you are loaded with emergency preparedness equipment in an unfamiliar urban area that turns out to be, "not the best side of town". There are thousand of people trying to get places, in vehicles, on bikes and by foot. How do you proceed on foot through an area where there may be potential looting and/or theft? Do you travel back streets and alleys or stick to the main streets? What would you do to fit in or to become a chameleon? (I think I just talked myself into bringing my .45 too.)

I recall a bit of 'journalism' about a hypothetical urban bugout. The author decided his most likely scenario would be a riot of black people <img src="/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" /> So he recommended A. putting on blackface cosmetics to blend in ( think Gene Wilder and Richard Pryor) B. acquiring a castoff portable T.V. and hiding a AR7 in the box. His plan was to make like a looter and lay down supressing fire if anybody I.D.ed him. SIGH Why can't I get paid for this stuff <img src="/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> My great grandmother survived the San Francisco Earthquake armed with a hatpin. Grandma Hanna was a tough old girl. Greatgrandfather was off with his stolen RIC revolver organising a fire brigade. When the Northridge quake hit I went to my grandmother's home near the epicenter. That very night 2 looters hopped her fence with screwdrivers. I slipped around behind them ( playing army guy among Sycamores your uncle planted in 1936 helps later in life) with a 29" barrelled 7 MM Mauser. Not exactly state of the art, but When they announced the desire for work they did. I had them stacking the collapsed fireplace bricks all night and then gave to the count of 10 to leave the property come daylight. If it goes BANG! and you can aim for center it's enough <img src="/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

Pardon my ignorance... what's a "speed strip" ?? <img src="/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" />

Speedstrips made by Bianchi

http://www.bianchi-intl.com/prodimages/580_s.jpg

Westy

Thanx.
Looks like you can load two cartridges at a time. Is that right ?