Here are our choices for the five best bug-out bag guns.
If you want to give yourself the best chances of success in a survival situation, it pays to be prepared and a well stocked bug-out bag is an important element of a good survival strategy. There are a lot of different things that go into a good bug-out bag, but a good firearm is an essential piece of the puzzle.
Luckily, there are lots of good choices out there for bug-out bag guns.
Remember: a bug-out bag is supposed to help you survive for up to 72 hours and, since space is at a premium and there are other things you should also have in your bag, your bug-out bag gun is probably not something you should plan on "going to war" with. Your bug-out bag gun should be adequate for use in a self-defense situation, but you should not rely solely on it for self-defense.
Obviously, you must choose the right bug-out gun for your particular situation. However, good bug-out bag guns are lightweight, portable, absolutely reliable, and versatile. It should also be a gun that you can legally and practically actually store in your bug-out bag 24/7 so it is there when you need it.
Continue reading to see our choices for the best bug-out bag guns.
1. Springfield M6 Scout
The Springfield Armory M6 Scout is Springfield's take on the M6 Aircrew Survival Weapon adopted by the Air Force in the 1950s. It is an over/under combination gun with a .410 shotgun barrel and a rifle barrel chambered in either .22 Long Rifle or .22 Hornet.
This makes it an extremely versatile firearm that is adequate for hunting big and small game and can even be used for self-defense in a pinch. One of the best features of the M6 Scout is the fact that it can be folded up to save space and is only 15" long when folded. Another great space saving feature of the M6 Scout is the fact that the gun also has an internal ammunition storage system that can hold 15 .22 Long Rifle and 4 .410 shotgun shells inside the stock. This can be improved upon further by adding an external ammunition sleeve (like in the photo).
2. Ruger 10/22 Takedown
The new Ruger 10/22 Takedown is basically a regular Ruger 10/22 semi-automatic rifle that has been designed for compact storage and transport. By breaking it down into two pieces, it is only 18.5" long and will easily fit into most bug-out bags.
A threaded barrel is also offered as an additional option on the Ruger 10/22 Takedown, which is a great feature that enables you to add a suppressor. Other than those differences, it is otherwise very similar to a normal Ruger 10/22 which is accurate, reliable, and easy to use.
Though the fact that it is chambered in .22 Long Rifle makes it less well suited for personal protection or big game hunting, this is still a very capable rifle in the right hands and is a great choice for a bug-out bag gun.
3. Glock 19 Gen 4
Slightly smaller than its big brother, the Glock 17, the Glock 19 is a good compromise between easy to carry and easy to shoot.
Glock handguns have a well deserved reputation for being accurate, reliable, and easy to use. All Generation 4 Glocks have a dual recoil spring system designed to reduce the amount of recoil felt by the shooter along with a modular grip system that enables the shooter to customize the grip depending on the size of the shooter's hands.
Though a skilled shooter can absolutely use it for hunting under the right conditions, the Glock 19 is much better suited for self-defense. Fortunately, the small size of the Glock 19 does not preclude you from carrying another firearm better suited for hunting.
4. Taurus Judge
Chambered for both .45 Colt and .410 shot shell, the Taurus Judge is a very versatile handgun. Though it is bigger and heavier than most revolvers, it is still smaller than a rifle or carbine.
The ability to shoot .45 Colt cartridges makes it a formidable choice for self-defense and even a passable hunting gun under the right circumstances. The ability to shoot .410 shotgun shells makes it a good small game firearm and can also be used for self-defense by loading buckshot or a slug. Though it is somewhat of a "jack of all trades and master of none," the Taurus Judge is still a great choice for a bug-out bag gun.
5. Kel-Tec PMR-30
With a magazine that can hold up to 30 rounds of .22 Winchester Magnum ammo, the lightweight Kel-Tec PMR-30 seems almost tailor made to be one of the best bug-out bag guns around. Though it is not an ideal self-defense or big game hunting round, the .22 WMR packs a much bigger punch than the .22 Long Rifle and can still hold its own in many situations. Couple that with the fact that a Kel-Tec PMR-30 with two fully loaded magazines (holding a whopping 60 rounds!) weighs just 25 ounces, which is less than the Taurus Judge weighs empty, and you've got a great bug-out bag gun.
What do you think of our choices for the best bug-out bag guns? Did we miss any?
Like what you see here? You can read more great hunting articles by John McAdams on his hunting blog. Follow him on Twitter @TheBigGameHunt and on Instagram The_Big_Game_Hunter
