If we are bugged out in a group, whether it's family or those we end up together with, it's not so much the weapons we have as it is how they are used.
In my group during bug out, I will be the one trailing the group to cover sign and be ready to ward off anyone who may be up to no good behind us. I can carry 5 weapons because it will be up to others to carry my bugout bag. I will be light, fast and mobile.
Once in our location I will be scouting at a medium distance for security.
I will be carrying the same five firearms for both situations.
1: 30 calibre precision, bolt action rifle capable of head shots out to 1200 yards.
2: Semi automatic battle rifle with 1-4 red dot optic. This is defense against people out to 300 yards.
3: 12 guage pump action with short barrel. This is defense against Four legged animals. We will be in bear and cougar country and for those who know a spooked deer, moose or elk will charge just as easy as run away.
4: Semi automatic handgun in leg holster. Last chance backup.
5: .22 rimfire handgun in belt holster. A quiet answer to a close problem. (no I don't have a suppressor)

Yes in Canada there are more laws against us than for us, but if the SHTF and there is RWOL then..........

Combat shotgun loads, I read in a SOF magazine once about a "Malaysian load", This is what I remember of it.
A standard 12 ga shell, reloaded with 0 or 00 buck with #4 shot filling in the gaps that "0" leaves in between. To top it off, hot paraffin was poured in just below the crimp wad level. This combo would give greater ranger before separating, and what the "0-00" didn't hit the #4 would.

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Centrefire hand guns are now banned in ireland and semi auto centerfire rifles are very much restricted and you must be a member of an authorised range to licence one which over here is also very expensive and day membership is not allowed. I got my guns for hunting so atm have a bolt action 22lr, bolt action 223rem with supressor and a 12G pump action. Plan on starting hunting deer so will be changing for a .308 next year maybe. In this country id have more guns than most people as the shooting comunity is quite small and anyone with guns usually has more than one

Eireprepper, that's unfortunate, but I understand that's the trend in the Isles right now. I have a new appreciation for the slackness of Canadian gun laws, but at the same time believe that the Americans had it right with the 2nd amendment. Just my thought anyway. I just took my No4 Mk1 "SMLE" Short magazine lee enfield jungle carbine to the range, and it was... an experience lol. Having never fired a "high power" rifle before.

H

Now you know why many of the Lee's werent destroyed, they were bought up as hunting rifles.

Eireprepper, that's unfortunate, but I understand that's the trend in the Isles right now. I have a new appreciation for the slackness of Canadian gun laws, but at the same time believe that the Americans had it right with the 2nd amendment. Just my thought anyway. I just took my No4 Mk1 "SMLE" Short magazine lee enfield jungle carbine to the range, and it was... an experience lol. Having never fired a "high power" rifle before.

H

Canadian and US gun laws or even half of what they are would be nioce over here 🙁 we have some of the strictest gun laws in the world. when i applied for my first licence for a HMR it took 8 months! silly limits on ammo and police who dont understand guns or gun law all make it too troublesom for many people to even bother. there are quite a few LE over here too and the Smith Ruban are popular too with target shooters altho ammo is hard to source at times.

Nice weather today here so ill be out this evening with the 223 after some foxes 🙂

I think That IRA had a great deal to do with your current gun laws, just as the effects of idiots, extremists and the hate mongers will have on our laws.

Yeah thats alot to do with it, sure 30 years ago anything bigger than a 22 was banned and the deer poachers caliber of choice was a hornet!

I recently took up fishing for a hobby. I used to do it a lot when I was a kid. I loved it and I still do. The difference is, I used to fish where there was only the rarest siting of a small black bear. It just didn't worry me. Now I live in Alberta and bears are definitely on the radar. I just don't feel that safe when I am fishing far off the beaten path. I am considering buying a 12 Ga. pump action shotgun for personal safety in bear country. What kind of load should I be considering? A friend told me that I should have two 000 shotshells in the magazine and the rest should be slugs/sabot. What do you guys think? Will a few 000 shotshells stop a grizzly attack? I do have bearspray and that would be my first line of defense but, there is no guarantee with that stuff against a grizzly.

By the way, a grizzly can cover a lot of ground pretty fast - 25-30 yards in 3-4 seconds! I was wondering if it is possible for the hunted (ME) to aim and fire two or three rounds that fast. When under that kind of stress anything can happen. What would you guys suggest? Thanks.

I carry a 12 gauge Remington 870 when in grizzly country. I pack it with slugs. There is much deliberation on this subject but I feel just use what your comfortable with. Practice lots and see how fast you can unload your magazine on a target. Your friend has a good point about the 000 buck first but hey if you only have time for 1 or 2 shots you would want the slugs.

Just picked up this little baby
Savage 110-BA .300 win mag with vortex 6 x 24 x 50 scope, for those long range critters.

Just picked up this little baby
Savage 110-BA .300 win mag with vortex 6 x 24 x 50 scope, for those long range critters.

DROOL.
We had one in our store but my wife vetoed the purchase.

I didn't let my wife know till I plowed a pile of money into renos first.
They have come down in price a little.

I carry a 12 gauge Remington 870 when in grizzly country. I pack it with slugs. There is much deliberation on this subject but I feel just use what your comfortable with. Practice lots and see how fast you can unload your magazine on a target. Your friend has a good point about the 000 buck first but hey if you only have time for 1 or 2 shots you would want the slugs.

Well I have to agree on the slugs. The buckshot at very close range will of course act much like a solid round as they will not have had time to disperse. I still think you would be better off with just slugs and the Brenneke offerings for DG are good ones. I personally prefer to pack my .375 H&H when guiding in big bear country, but I also guide in an area for black bear where regulations restrict guides to using a shotgun......... and my choice there is a Remington 870 Express tactical with Brenneke slugs. They have a diameter of .73 and are very tough, hang together and penetrate deeply. There are a lot of slugs out there that are soft lead and they deform quickly and do not penetrate very well.