I'd read this post when it was first written and hadn't seen a reason to respond. Now that it's come up again something has occured to me. Most people's responces have either been some type of non-responce (I'd stay at home, or I don't need a gun) or a responce geared towards fighting one's way through rioting, drug crazed looters. What makes people immediately assume that in an emergency lower income areas will turn into war zones? Sure after Katrina a few scared, angry citizens took pot shots at helos and a few were stealing sneakers from Walmart. Mostly after the major disaster had struck and they were stuck in a foul situation with not much to do but fume. But on the whole the responce no matter who you are is to either try to get out of dodge lickety split or try to ride it out as much as possible. I don't think (even in the worst part of town) too many people will be worried about victomizing other people more then trying to save their own skins.

So, my answer to the surface question is my pat responce to almost any not self-defense survival gun question: a light and accurate .22 pistol. It packs light, weapon and ammo. Its easy to shoot. It can take almost any game. It doesn't destroy small game. It is low profile. And it causes anamolously effective wounds compared to other calibers. Not that it is as effective as a .45 ACP against an attacker by any means, but for the size and weight of the weapon it is very effective and much more versatile.

I wouldn't necessarily spend the weight on another weapon, but assuming I'm with someone and they are also carrying, next weapon choice would be a shotgun which can readily be broken down to fit in a pack or packs. Sorry everyone, I love rifles, I'm a decent marksman, but for the weight and space vs. usefulness and versatility the shotgun wins for this situation. The shotgun provides a wide variety of ammo; birdshot, buckshot, slugs, salvo rounds, etc. Ammo would also be distributed between the two packs. The shottie is for when we've set up camp and can take the time to hunt. But, I dont see the need for a reasonably heavy weapon I won't in all probablity need or want. With your specs of fifty pounds between two packs (or was it fifty pounds per pack) the shotgun likely weights 1/5th to 1/10th the overall weight of all the rest of the equipment probably more.