Weight and ammo amount

[Averagedude]

Like the title says curious how much you BOB weighs in at and also how much of that weight is dedicated to defense, guns and ammo.

Also include if your urban or rural because I believe it will factor into your decisions on gear.

 

[Squirtgunsquirter]

Urban.

Basic BOB weight - 26.4 lbs. (no water needed, its everywhere here.) My base gear is pretty minimal.

With AR, 9mm (in holster) 3 mags for both - 41.8 lbs. So 15.4 pounds of guns and ammo, mags, holster, sling, kydex single AR mag holster, and belt.

I had to get on a scale, with BOB, then with BOB and guns + ammo. So this isn't the most accurate, but should be within a few ounces.

If I chose to carry a box or two of ammo for the AR, I would be getting up into the 45-50 lb range, and that's a lot of weight for me.

 

[DrHenley]

In the BOB, I have a 22 pistol and several hundred rounds of ammo. That is not a first line defensive weapon, just utilitarian, and last ditch backup.

 

[drt4lfe]

I bought a big external frame backpack, a Cabela's branded product made by Kelty I believe....I wanted an external frame so I could unclip pack and use frame to carry wood, stuff I may scrounge or even carry a person if necessary, it has a fold down shelf big enough to sit on.....I had it all done up and it probably weighed 45 lbs. not including any ammo or guns...I have a ammo vest I would use separate wearing it under pack.....If things were bad enough I could drop pack and get out of dodge....I also have fire starting stuff and a few other items in vest....fully loaded I would be a Turtle...not going to get anywhere fast...when I went to Afghanistan in 2010 we were issued all the latest and greatest new gear....I weighed 190 in just BDU uniform.....add Vest. plates, ammo, helmet, weapon and ammo 240 lbs......with a fully setup MOLLE pack and gear I was 305lbs.....no way I could have gotten far if I had to.....I could barely move fully loaded....I was 48 at the time and even the young guys were hating life....at this point in time I could do rifle, pistol, ammo and a very small backpack....maybe 40 lbs. total to be able to actually cover any ground....in that pack would be water bladder, water filtration, fire starting, ultralite sleeping bag, Goretex bivy sack, extra socks, paracord, a couple snares, fishing kit, firstaid kit, several mylar sheets, 12x12 piece of plastic, small hatchet or ax, toothbrush, light rainsuit, a pot, plate and a fork....I make no assertion I could live off the land because I would eventually starve to death like most others, I would have to find a solid place to setup and build from in order to survive very long.....and have some good luck added in....IMO there is no perfect BOB regardless of what all the internet experts say.....there is no way to carry everything you would need to even be remotely set for more than a few days.....you would have to find or build a real shelter( which is not easy, have a constant source of water and plentiful game.....which would also be what everyone else would be looking for ???? I am in a rural environment and would stay in that environment if possible.....long winded post, but those are my thoughts and experiences...

 

[Arcticdude]

I don't believe that I would ever need to bug out from my current location. But if I did, I'd have a Winchester 1894 Trapper in .357 magnum in my pack and a .22 Browning Buckmart on my belt. For the .357 I'd carry about 50 rounds of ammo and about 100 for the .22. The .357 Trapper is a short barrel lever action carbine that is easy to pack and would be good on deer sized game at short range out to about 50-100 yards. I always carry a couple dozen snares in my every day carry bag and a small fishing kit. For most of my meat I'd depend more on the snares and fishing rather than hunting. It's easier to let the snare do the work, and its silent.

Edit: my pack weighs in at about 25-30 pounds. More in winter, less in summer. I like to travel light.

 

[Squirtgunsquirter]

I hope over time some more members put their stuff on the scale, and post it in here.

I was just messing around watching some youtube videos this morning on bug out bags, it is RARE to see anyone say what their kit weighs. I did see one guy post his BOB weight, it was 72 pounds! Everything brand spankin' new, mostly different purchased "kits", a lot of redundancy.

2 videos later (about a month) and that bag and it's contents were for sale!

I used to train with a 75 pound pack (an old coleman external frame with a 45 pound and 25 pound Olympic weight plates, and then milk jugs to add weight) and push mow my lawn. Back when I had a lawn. The strain on the pack was incredible, straps would creak, I had to rest it on something to get in it, I fell over once pulling the pull cord to start the mower! There as no way I was going even 2 miles under that pack weight. I just did it to make my hiking/camping pack feel light, and well I was bored I suppose. It was an experiment. I suppose you could get used to it, and be able to walk for a decent distance, but I find it hard to believe anyone, even a bigger stronger guy, could run around, climb a steep hill, get through difficult terrain. It would have to be a flat surface that was easy on the knees and ankles.

I don't remember having a pack failure though, which maybe says something about coleman packs?

 

[Averagedude]

I’m putting two bags together now one your never coming back bag that is gonna be heavy and a lighter get home bag weighing no more than 40lbs.

My typical pack weight for a week long elk hunt is 50-55 lbs including a bow I get around ok with that but it’s not easy.

Given where I live I’m going to go heavy I’m close to urban but everything east of me up to my BOL is rural and at least initially I will be on a bicycle.

Articdude I’m guessing your aways out in the sticks with only bringing that much ammo! There is no way I’m leaving my house with out at least 7 AR15 mags and a brick of 22!

 

[jontte]

have been thinking about this,looks like everyone is hell bent on carrying everything,but there are something to help you;

this one is nice in winter for those who "have" snow..

this again in less snowy conditions, gives you the option to have more gear,more food,more ammo,more everything...

 

[drt4lfe]

having a wheeled game cart is one option I thought about also.....they can be very handy if the terrain allows....I think a sled like in above pic may end up being better choice regardless of weather versus something with wheels....a wheeled cart has a higher center of gravity and could be hard to deal with in wooded hilly terrain....you could put some thick strips of plastic on a sled to make it take the abuse of dry ground....you see the dog mushers do the same thing on dog sleds on TV....

 

[Averagedude]

I like a game cart idea the work good depending on terrain if it’s not relatively flat they suck.

I have been looking into bike trailers that would be the ideal way to go depending on your situation I would plan on fully loading it up probley would want more than 100 lbs on it.
My thoughts were to throw my heavy bob on it with mostly extra food and a larger water container than wear a smaller bag on person with Incase you have to ditch the bike in a hurry and also have a small load out of ammo on me.

 

[jontte]

always have a pack on you,if you travel with a set like above,as you guys said;just in case...

 

[Averagedude]

Yep I always have the important stuff on me.even if I only had one bag I would at a minimum have one of myfire starter and water filtration systems on me at all time.

 

[Kevin L]

Anyone interested in bug-out bags should read the book 'Wild' by Cheryl Strayed. There was a movie based on the book starring Reese Witherspoon.

This girl was an emotional and mental train wreck, screwed around on her other half left and right, and became a heroin user after getting devistated by the death of her mother (from cancer, not that it makes a difference).

She got a bug up her ### about hiking the Pacific Coast trail, and, while strung out on heroin, she filled her pack up with a lot of stuff she didn't need (she had absolutely no hiking experience at all), hiking boots that didn't fit, and started her hike in the summer...right next door to Death Valley (of all places), and detoxed off heroin while on her trip.

She completed 1,300 miles in less than three months (she did resupply and learned from her mistakes as she went along).

I think a bug-out bag with the proper contents is important, but determination, common sense, an open mind, and a willingness to adapt and learn are much more important.

Her backpack weighed more than 50% of her bodyweight, and--mind you--she started her trip screwed up on heroin.

She discarded things that didn't work, picked up other things, improvised when she didn't have, and became a hell of a writer in the process.

Look her up.

She was able to prove that survival isn't about stuff.

The book has a lot to give to a prepper.

 

[Squirtgunsquirter]

I actually watched that movie! It was pretty good.

 

[Averagedude]

I haven’t read the book but I have seen the movie and yeah a lot of the shit people pack is worthless. My first couple backcountry hunts my pack was stupid heavy over the years it has lightened up because of fear changes and finding out what I can live with out! Test your kit cut out the fat test again and adjust

 

[Kevin L]

I like a game cart idea the work good depending on terrain if it’s not relatively flat they suck.

I have been looking into bike trailers that would be the ideal way to go depending on your situation I would plan on fully loading it up probley would want more than 100 lbs on it.
My thoughts were to throw my heavy bob on it with mostly extra food and a larger water container than wear a smaller bag on person with Incase you have to ditch the bike in a hurry and also have a small load out of ammo on me.

I used to use a bike trailer exclusively to shop with and go to the laundrymat.

Go to Wal-mart (or Craig's list) and get the bike trailer used for little kids.

Assemble only the frame and wheels, and throw the rest away.

Use oven racks and plastic zip ties to make a platform on the trailer. Oven racks can be had for less than $10.00 at a used appliance shop.

Then, drill holes in the bottom of a big, Rubbermade storage container, and use zip ties through these holes to mount the container on the platform made by the oven racks.

Please note that oven racks can be sawed to fit with a dollar-store hacksaw.

Follow the directions for putting the trailer hitch on the bicycle.

I was in a financial hole at one point in my life (it happens to the best of us, so please don't judge), so I did away with my car.

My bike trailer worked perfectly to go shopping, to go to the laundrymat, and to transport my cat to and from the vet.

Please note that this worked for me because Florida is tropical (I could do it year-round), and because Florida is flat.

It is important to put a blinking red bicycle safety light on the back of the trailer. Duct tape is good for this.

I could haul 50 lbs. bags of cat litter, a week's worth of groceries, 4 gallons of bottled water, and so on.

This lifestyle may have been eccentric and strange to some people, but I saved huge amounts of money and got in shape at the same time. The exercise also helped me become more productive at work.

 

[ANACONDA]

For each wearable gun 5 ammunition stores in stores on body armor and unloading waistcoat. Additionally, there are 5 ammunition sets per gun in a backpack.
In the city. How much I weigh, I do not know exactly, about 85kg.

 

[Brent S]

I like the points about always keeping the essentials on your person. Carrying loads of goods on a sled or cart is fine, but if having to ditch the excess in a hurry, make sure you have what’s needed still with you. I probably have 500 lbs worth of supplies built up, and that’s not counting food. I’m staying here.....

 

[Arcticdude]

I like the points about always keeping the essentials on your person. Carrying loads of goods on a sled or cart is fine, but if having to ditch the excess in a hurry, make sure you have what’s needed still with you. I probably have 500 lbs worth of supplies built up, and that’s not counting food. I’m staying here.....

Same here. I spent a lot of time looking for the right property to be safe, secure and self sufficient on. And spent a lot of time and money putting in the infrastructure that will support us. I'm not going anywhere. That being said, I do have a back up high mountain summer BOL and a low elevation winter BOL, just in case.