asapsurvivalgear.com offers survivalism for dummies. Or lazy people. Here’s the description of their $449 Survivor Pack model 94102:
The ASAP Survivor starter pack is the most advanced land-based pack we offer. We started with 72 hours worth of food and water, upgraded the medical kit, added cold-weather protection, a Bushnell Backtrack GPS unit and a lot more. The Survivor starter pack is perfect for residents of natural disaster-prone areas, people preparing for man-made disasters, prolonged interruption of utilities, and situations that may require backcountry travel.
The ASAP Survivor is designed to support up to 2 people for 72 hours. All items are easily organized within our functional, durable, specially-made ASAP backpacks, with plenty of room to spare for more supplies.
Plenty of spare room for a gun and ammo. So, 72 hours, all hell’s breaking loose. What firearm?
First, I'd add one of those clotting kits, with the sponge that stops bleeding. Surprised it's not in the ASAP kit to begin with.
As to which gun, I'd say it depends on your situation. If you're looking for an all-around gun, I'd say something in .40 S&W, .45 ACP or 9mm. – probably a 3 or 4" barrel semi-auto. Probably a polymer frame, because there's less to worry about with rust, and they are easier to clean. If weight/portability is a problem, I'd go with a small .380 pocket rocket, as they are easy to conceal and will take down coyotes (ask Gov. Rick Perry). If you want foolproof, any idiot can fire the thing, a .38 or .357 wheelgun – probably NOT a snubby (accuracy counts when your life depends on 4 or 5 rounds). If you're really worried about End of Times stuff, I'd say screw the handgun (or use it for backup) and get a folding-stock tactical shotgun with some serious self-defense loads.
I might consider adding a .22 stainless revolver to the kit, but considering what they're used for I'd be more interested in adding firestarting materials and warm clothes.
Pretty cynical marketing, if you ask me (and you did, sort of…) Package about $150 worth of stuff (and most of that is the GPS unit) into a cheap pack, call it a "survival pack" and charge almost five bills for it? Nice work if you can get and tangible proof that P.T. Barnum was right.
As for guns, the only thing I'd say is make sure it's both concealable and disposable. Chances are that if you're in a Katrina-like emergency you may be forced into a situtation where the gun is as much a liability as it is a savior (say an emergency shelter manned by police or National Guardsman who are searching all persons for weapons before allowing them in, or one where they are summarily arresting anyone found to be carrying a weapon.) That $1200 Kimber with the laser sight and the custom wood grips will be tossed into the bucket alongside the rusty Saturday Night Specials (or more likely will end up in the waistband of one of the cops or guardsman.)
I've seen the "what-would-you-pack-in-your-shtf-bag" discussion on lots of forums and I don't understand it. I can't speak for anyone else but If the S hits the F, the last thing I'm going to do is hit "The Road" Cormac McCarthy style (rented the movie a couple of weeks ago and I'm still trying to get the visual images out of my nightmares.) As long as my house is still standing I'm going to Hunker in the Bunker and wait for the cavalry to arrive. You could pack an infantryman's basic load into a backpack and still be prey to the first semi-armed punk you come across. After all, you gotta sleep sometime.
For this kit, I would go with the Smith And Wesson 625JM. Since it is a revolver, the maintenance routine would be minimal, and it could be kept loaded almost indefinitely without wearing out any magazine springs. I am also sure the .45ACP chambering would provide flexibility in most survival situations.
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