MAINSTAY 3600 and 1200 Calorie Emergency Food Ration (Energy Bars)

I've been looking for a simple solution to carrying food in my Bug Out Bag, I am in the process of building a Food Bug Out Bag to use in conjunction with my Bug Out Bag but I've run into some concerns.

I originally wanted to have everything in one bag; gear, food, essentials, and protection. But I've run into a problem, I created the bag to have enough supplies for me and my wife to survive for 76 hours in whatever situation you can imagine and I'm limiting the size of my bag to one large day pack. (See previous posts) I want to ensure that one person remains unencumbered so that we can take turns carrying the pack, scouting ahead, or engaging obstacles. I also want to ensure that the pack is small/light enough that mobility is not hindered if we need to move fast through rough terrain. This leaves me with a quite stuffed pack that has no extra room for 76 hours of meals.

Note: I am not advocating leaving the food behind in a Bug Out scenario, I am only stressing that it may be one of the less important items during a hasty departure. If you have time and space to pack food, by all means bring it along.

Here is my thought process behind having no meal type food in the pack; when and if I bug out, I may have only seconds to leave the house. If I have only seconds to depart, I wont have time to pack a suitcase or weigh decisions on what I want to bring, if I don't have time to decide, then when I grab my Bug Out Bag, it has be the one stop shop (and still be able to carry it) to cover most of the scenarios I can realistically plan for.

It must cover the following necessities for life (and in this order):
Safety -
   - Personal Safety, such as the need for a firearm. Like Clint Eastwood says in "The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly", "You see, in this world there's two kinds of people, my friend: Those with loaded guns and those who dig. You dig."   
Shelter -
    - If you don't have shelter in many situations, you will die. Shelter is a lot of things, from your shoes and coat, to a tarp and a warm fire. Exposed you won't last very long. (Some might say, water should be before shelter, to those people I say, tonight at midnight jump out of bed wearing only your underwear, run (not walk) out of your house all the way to your mailbox or the end of your street, no shoes, no clothes, and tell me which you would rather have next time you depart in a hurry, a gallon of water in a jug, or shoes and a coat.) I can get water most anywhere here in the pacific northwest, but if you have hypothermia and no shelter, all the fresh water in the world won't help you.
Water -
    - Water is specific to your region, get some as soon as you can, purify if you're able, and stay hydrated. Water is heavy and you need to weigh (pun intended) the pro's and con's of carrying 8lbs of water (1 Gallon) or 8lbs of gear.
Food -
    - You will need food eventually, but unless you have a medical condition, you can go for three days without food (many more if absolutely necessary). You will be hungry, but most of us can stand to loose a little weight. A big bag of food alone will not keep you safe or warm. 

So, If you carry food, it can be in a separate bag, grab it if you have time and space to carry it, but the first priority needs to be the immediate future.

This is why I have recently purchased some emergency rations for the BOB, they aren't anything that you would want to eat for regular meals, and even in a Bug Out situation I would want a supply of real food to sustain me. They fit in the pack, don't take up much room and give me an easy 7200 calories (2 Rations at 3600 cal each)

MAINSTAY 3600 and 1200 Calorie Emergency Food Ration (Energy Bars)

 Here is a close up of the 3600 and 1200 ration bar.

So I wanted to test these bars out. I'd like to know before I need them in an emergency if they taste like condensed sea-gull poop, or cause kidney failure.....

On test day I went to visit a gun show about 3 hours away, I awoke early in the morning (around 05:30AM) and ate only the energy bar until about 02:00PM (Lots of water), the day consisted of standing in the cold for hours and walking for a few hours once inside the show. The bar did its job, it was a pretty tasty lemon sugar cookie texture and I didn't have any adverse reactions from eating it. Its no cheeseburger, but it's not too hard to consume.

Make sure you have some water, I can't see myself eating a serving of this without at least a mouthful of water. It tastes good enough that my mouth watered while I ate it, but around 02:00PM I wouldn't have gone so far as to say that I would relish eating this for two or three days straight. In a bug out scenario hopefully you can use this to supplement what food you have brought along or scavenged along the way.

These bars are a good addition to a BOB, and they beat "air sandwiches" any day of the week, order some, keep them in your car and BOB. With a five year shelf life they are a solid stable ration if you ever need them.

Flashlight, SUREFIRE E1B Backup, The Torch of the Future

I recently picked up a new flashlight, I am addicted to flashlights and this one is no exception. I figure it's just one of many, but it's hardly a "flavor of the week".

The Surefire E1B Backup (Not to be confused with the new EB1 Backup) Flash light is exactly what it says, its a backup to a full sized tactical light. I was carrying a Surefire KROMA for a long time, and its just too big for EDC (Every Day Carry), then I switched to a Nightops Gladius, better size but no pocket clip and still a bit too big, it serves me better on my gun belt, or on my nightstand for when things go bump in the night. I don't relish baggy clothes so I've been shopping around for something small and powerful that I can carry every where.

The E1B Backup, fits my needs. I try to keep a flashlight handy all the time, and I prefer to have it clipped in my left pocket. (right side is for my pocket knife)

Here are the Specs taken from the Surefire website.

Dual-output, microprocessor-controlled, virtually indestructible LED

TIR lens produces tightly focused beam with enough secondary light to accommodate peripheral vision

Coated, impact-resistant Pyrex® window protects lens and LED and helps maximize light transmission

Compression-resistant O-ring seals for weatherproofing

Aerospace-grade aluminum body with Mil-Spec Type III hard anodizing in black

“Melted” styling and flutes instead of knurling help save clothing and resist snagging

Sturdy, two-way pocket clip lets you carry flashlight bezel up or down

Tailcap switch: click for constant-on at high setting; click on, then off and back on again within two seconds for low setting

Patented lockout feature prevents accidental activation

High: 110 lumens

Low: 5 lumens

Run Time: High Setting: 1.3 hrs.

Low Setting: 37 hrs.

Weight: 2.8 oz. (w/batt.)

Length: 4.0"

Bezel: 1.0" (diam.)

Batteries: 1 CR123

I like everything about this light, the bright setting is 110 lumens, more than bright enough to shine across the yard and into the trees at dusk, and bright enough to temporarily blind an assailant and work as a weapon light. The secondary setting at 10 lumens is perfect for getting to my car in a dark parking lot, or finding my dropped keys on the floor of a dark movie theater. 

At 37 Hrs of run time on the low setting and 1.3 Hrs on high, it's more than enough to change a car tire in the dark, finish a short hike after night has fallen, or light the area in any of the situations that I find myself in. 

Note: This light is not the same as the EB1, that light runs 200 lumens. This is not confirmed, but from inital reports the EB1 starts out at 200 lumens and slowly dims, ending at a much lower brightness at about 1 Hr. My light, the E1B, starts at 110 lumens and holds that brightness for about an hour. Both lights are worth the purchase, but are completely different in their presentation. Just make sure you research the newest tests before you spend your hard earned money. 

Good Bezel, works as a strike face and allows the light to do a nose stand without getting too hot. Should you set the light down on the bezel, you will be reminded to turn it off from the light leaking out. 

Really great spring steel pocket clip, I don't like to have my flash light "swimming" in my pocket, and I sure don't want to "fish" it out in an emergency. I carry mine bezel down. At the time of this post, I have been carrying this light for a solid 3 weeks, every day, everywhere, and I have yet to accidentally turn it on in my pocket, or have it fall out of my pocket. I do wish it had a lanyard clip, but I can figure that out in the future.

Disassembled, a pretty simple setup, with only one Surefire CR123A battery. Good tight lockup on each of the pieces and thick o-rings for water-resistance at each junction.

Low profile, keeps it from snagging on my hand when I get things out of my pocket, and it sits low enough in the pocket that it isn't overtly visible.

I use a lot of CR123A batteries and if you've ever bought these batteries from a convenience store you know that two in a pack can cost $5 to $14. That can add up fast, I find that I use about 1 CR123A battery a month, they last a long time in lights and I find them superior to any AA or AAA battery. (My EB1 Backup is still on its first battery and I've been using it on low about 3 to 5 min every day) I went hunting for the best deal on CR123A Lithium batteries and the best pricing I've found is from http://www.batterystation.com/cr123a.htm They have 32 batteries for $55, free shipping, and you get this free Otter box, waterproof case to store your batteries. The batteries are "Battery Station Brand" and from the tests I've seen they rank right in between Energizer and Duracell, they have a 10 year shelf life and I've had really great use from them. I'm not a paid rep for this website, they just offer a really exceptional product  at a great price. 

To sum it all up, I've tried a lot of lights, and you get what you pay for. Surefire makes a very reliable product, and every time I've tried a different brand, I've been left wanting. Surefire doesn't make the most advanced flashlight, or even the brightest, but I think they make some of the best in the reliable, no nonsense category  The price tag is high, but I don't like to be left in the dark... plus with the introduction of the EB1, you can get the E1B on sale for a while...

Oh, and did I mention I love Battery Station, they offer Military and LEO discounts as well, check it. 

Till next time, Stay Bright!

Upgraded Robinson XCRs and Battlecomp 1.0

Just a quick post today, ok... maybe not that quick...

I went to the range today to function test my new rifle setups. I've tuned both rifles (See earlier posts) and I've added a few things that I've been gathering up for the last month or so.

I've taken the rifles and added the following, here are some pictures of the completed rifles.....

But first... heres a little intro to muzzle devices:

Note: This is "basic intro", you should understand that there are many, many, muzzle devices which will be exceptions to the definitions I have below, and there are more scientific explanations for those who want a little more indepth.

- Flash Hider: Used to prevent muzzle flash. This is the standard for what you will find on about 95% of all AR-15 type rifles currently on the market. Most commonly you'll see the trusted M-16 Style A2 Birdcage Flash Hider.
- What it does: Hides the flash. As hot gasses exit the muzzle of the rifle into the open atmosphere you get a burst of light/fire, this is problematic for shooting at night, as the flash will reduce your natural adapted night vision, and give away your position. The flash hider disperses these hot gasses so they don't ignite. This makes the flash hider excellent at preventing a large flash.... but very poor at controlling muzzle rise or perceived felt recoil.

- Compensator: Used to control muzzle rise.
- What it does: Directs escaping gasses upward, forcing the barrel downward when firing. This allows for a faster follow up shot by keeping your muzzle on target. As you can imagine, if you are channeling hot gasses upward, rather than diffusing the gasses (Flash hider), you will get a fireball (Big fireball) in your field of vision. This channeling of gasses also makes the rifle sound much louder, which you will notice in a covered range and may be prohibited from using in an indoor range.

- Muzzle Brake: Used to control perceived felt recoil.
- What it does: Directs escaping gasses back and to the side, controlling perceived recoil rearward. When using a brake, you will notice less recoil, (Think, the muzzle device on a shoulder fired .50 Cal BMG rifle) but you still have the large fireball, and if you were impressed by the loudness of the compensator, prepare to see that even more magnified with a brake. This is due to the gasses being directed back and to the sides.

Why not make a super Flash hider/compensator/muzzle brake? Because you only have a finite amount of gas from each round, and in order to maximize your effect (Recoil reduction, muzzle rise, or flash reduction) you can only do one or two of these effects well. Try to combine everything and you will end up with a muzzle device that excels at nothing and is mediocre at everything.

Battlecomp 1.0 - I removed the original M-16 A2 Birdcage Flash Hider, which is great at hiding the flash from your muzzle and preventing dust clouds while lying prone, but does little to nothing for muzzle rise or perceived recoil. I researched the Battlecomp Compensator, took a risk and ordered two... Well worth the coin. (I won't post what I paid, you can Google that on your own) From my first two range visits with them installed I noticed a huge improvement in controlling muzzle rise, not much change in perceived recoil, but the Battlecomp is a compensator, not a muzzle brake so i'm extremely happy with the results. As a side bonus the Battlecomp is also pretty good at reducing muzzle flash. (I can't explain how it does two things well, but I reckon that's why it costs so much...)

If you haven't fired a semi-auto rifle with a good compensator or muzzle brake, you are missing out. Follow up shots are faster and the rifle is more controllable, resulting in a better shooting experience. Don't fall prey to those who say you won't benefit from a compensator or muzzle brake on a .223/5.56 rifle, try it before you knock it (Shoot smarter, Not harder).

Note on Compensators and Muzzle Brakes: These devices can be very noisy and cause bystanders to feel what some people describe as a thump to the chest. In close proximity to someone shooting with a muzzle brake or compensator it can feel like every time the shooter takes a shot, you get thumped hard in the chest and face with the blast. Please be considerate when shooting at a range or in close proximity to others, it may be fun for you, but annoying and distracting for those around you. I re-iterate, the shooter will not feel the full effect of the thump, but those around you will. I would avoid using brakes and compensators at enclosed ranges, and refrain from ever using them at an indoor range with other shooters. (The Battlecomp is very "other shooters" friendly, and its only slightly louder than the original A2, other compensators/brakes I've tested are not so friendly)

Battlecomp 1.0, Still sooty from testing, with white paint from the range (Lil fella gets real hot)

Now the upgrades that I've made
- 2 new Battlecomp 1.0 Compensators (Buy extra crush washers... you've been warned)
- MAGPUL MOE Grip
- MAGPUL XTM Rail covers (Multi-colored, for a Camo-Tacticool look)
- MAGPUL MBUS (MAGPUL Back-up Sight)
- Aluminum Forward Hand Stop/QD Sling Mount
- Aluminum QD Flash Light Mount
- Lancer L-5 20rd Magazine

Enjoy... Until next time.

Review of the Maxpedition Mongo Versipack... er Diaper Bag

It came in the mail! I think this purchase makes me a "gear whore", but its full of marshmallowey tacti-coolness, and because I used a coupon code, the wife let me get a few Milspec Monkey patches. I'll do a quick review of my Maxpedition Mongo Versipack, and the Milspec Monkey patches.

I bought it as a diaper bag... ok, ok, so... I could have bought a cheaper more traditional diaper bag, but I saw this one.... I'll let you decide by the end of the post...


This is the bag with patches on. It looks big enough to be a good day use bag, it has several thousand pockets, and all the stitching/materials/construction looks to be top quality. I like the heavy shoulder strap and the big zippers are a plus

It also has about three pockets which have hook and loop velcro type panel linings, this lets me attach my pistol holster in several well concealed, easy to access while wearing places. (Pictures further down)

 The main cargo pocket, I haven't decided if I like the drawstring closure for the opening...

 Nice, if not overly built, phone pocket. This pocket grips my phone tight... like a tiger

 Bags with good concealed pistol pockets are few and far between, this bag excels at having a few dedicated concealed pockets. My personal requirements for these pockets are as follows:

- Must be quickly accessable
- Must fit my full size pistol
- Must have a holster or a place to velcro a holster (I like my weapon mounting to be rock solid, its not a fruit roll-up, its a loaded weapon, we don't need that bouncing around)
- Must be separate from the other pockets (In a duress situation no one ever wants to say "Oh please wait a moment while I fish my gun out from my mobile McDonald's ball pit"  Your keys, strings, doodads, fruit roll-ups and friendship bracelets do not need to reside with your loaded weapon)

The back padding looks comfy, and it has a useful waist strap (no bouncing around when you're on the move), we'll see how it does when it gets hotter. You can also make out the water bottle pocket at the bottom of the picture. It would fit 3 or 4 P-Mags pretty well in a pinch. 

The bag has velcro like panels on the outside. So, I had to have some patches...
All from Milspec Monkey (Morale Patches) they have some more "Not safe for work patches" that would go nicely on my bug out gear...

- Space Shuttle Door Gunner
- Certified Man Bag (PVC rubberized)
- Classic "DTOM"
- American Flag (PVC rubberized)

All in all, it looks to be a pretty rugged piece of kit, if it survives the first few months of up-coming baby use then I'll post some "After" pictures and list my thoughts. Here's to hoping...

Robinson Armament XCR-L 5.56 Review/Breakdown

I picked up a "used" Robinson Armament XCR-L in 5.56, I say "used" lightly because it looks to be factory new... I'd wager that the previous owner never fired it, judging from the serial number and internal components its a newer model by a few years than my other XCR.

This rifle lets me add some redundancy to my other rifle setup. The internals, upper and lower receiver and barrel are all compatible. Useful if you plan to take a Carbine course and need two similar rifles or if one rifle breaks apart and you don't have time to wait for a replacement to arrive in the mail.

I'll be ordering some parts and accessories to bring this rifle around to a more "tacti-cool" look

Here it is in its factory fresh form.... not much to look at yet...

 
From the tip to tail, I'd like to replace the original A-2 Flash hider, originally designed for the M-16 rifles, it keeps the enemy from seeing the burst of fire when the rifle is fired at night or when lying prone it keeps the blast from stirring up a cloud of dust.

The M-16 bolt recoils in a linear fashion, using direct impingement (using the hot escaping gasses from the round to push the bolt rearward), resulting in recoil that is almost straight rearward, with very little muzzle flip. The XCR uses a piston system (using hot escaping gasses to push a piston that pushes the bolt rearward) and so you gain a bit of muzzle flip from the momentum and inertia from the piston pushing the bolt. This is an acceptable trade-off given the reliability of the piston systems (Think AK-47, another piston system)

So all that being said I want to replace the A-2 with a suitable compensator/flash hider, giving me better muzzle control i.e., faster follow-up shots. Thinking about going with the Battlecomp 1.0 (kinda pricey)

Monolithic Railed Upper, the assembly at the far right is the gas adjustment valve, use it to tune the rifle to the ammo you have on hand. More gas to push the piston in colder weather or with less powerful rounds, less gas with powerful rounds and hotter weather.

Since the upper is Monolithic (all one piece with the barrel bolted in vs. having an upper receiver, that holds up a hand guard, and barrel) you have a very stable platform to mount optics, iron sights, lights, etc....

I'm going to put some ergo rubberized rail covers on the exposed rails, one to protect the rails from getting beat up and two to protect my lilly white hands from becoming shredded slaw salad while I shoot.

That little nub on the bottom of the upper on the left hand side is the barrel retaining bolt, allows me to change out the barrel of the rifle in about 5 min, not sure that I would ever need this feature, but just try doing a barrel change-out on your AR-15/M-16 while your hiding in some muddy ditch in the zombie apocalypse...
 

Upper meets Lower, pretty standard here, easier to use than your standard AR-15, put a new mag in and use your index finger to push down on the paddle just behind the magwell along the trigger guard. Same for locking the bolt open (you don't need to drop from your firing stance) just push the paddle up with your index finger. Clearing a malfunction has never been easier or faster.

I'll swap out the pistol grip for something more ergo, and I'll try to get some iron sights and an optic for the top rail.

Folding Stock, Magpul MOE telescoping stock. Easy to fold the stock for placement in a bag or on your back. I'd like to draw attention to the fact that there is no buffer-tube assembly for this rifle, don't try folding your AR-15 stock...

Mags, this is the cruddy mag that came with the rifle, most people overlook the mag, and its one of the most important parts of the rifle (if you can't get rounds into the rifle, you have just bought a very expensive highly complicated single shot rifle/club combo).

This mag looks like it was assembled by angry beavers, placed into a washing machine full of hammers and spray painted by your 7 year old cousin. I won't name the manufacturer, it would probably work if it was all I had, but I'm going to retire it and replace it with a new P-MAGs, or rebuilt Aluminum mags with enhanced Magpul followers (Seriously, at least try some of the Magpul enhanced followers, makes mags load and cycle as smooth as silk, and who wants to see their end because of a $2 hunk of plastic). 

Simple setups for simple people, how many parts does your rifle have...can you reassemble them in the dark, or a muddy ditch...

Lower, notice the simple setup and lack of the buffer tube and assembly. The part I don't like is the rubbery buffer pad (Horse-shoe shaped piece on the far right, below the hole); it isn't necessary for operation of the rifle, and I'll most likely take it off, before it gets smashed into little rubbery pellets inside the rifle...nuff said.
 

Some old Ergo Rubberized rail covers and a Tapco VFG (vertical forward grip) I'll put them on until I get some better options.

That's all for now, I want to take a moment and say that I like a lot of AR-15 setups, I just prefer the XCR more... Don't take offense if you are an AR-15 user, it's an excellent platform and has a lot of benefits going for it (a lot that the XCR doesn't have). I just setup my gear how if feel best suits me, and I'm no expert. With any setup ensure that you are proficient with its care and feeding, and always observe the rules of firearm safety. 

I am in no way paid by any of the companies you have seen represented here. I had to pay my hard earned cash just like everybody else and this gives me the option to say what I want, how I want....

Light Fighter Gear

I've been working on my light weight gear setup, I want a modular setup that allows me to move un-encumbered, something I could hike in. We'll do the final test after the world ends....

Gear

- Tactical Tailor Mini-Modular Assault Panel w/ three mag carrier

- Gear Sector single point sling

- Fast Mag carrier

- 5 Magpul 30 Rd P-Mags

- Robinson Armament XCR-L (150 Rds)

- Kimber Eclipse Target II (24+1 Rds)

- Blackhawk Serpa holster

- ITS Tactical IFAK

- Benchmade Osborne fixed blade fighting knife

- Blackhawk Nite-Ops Gladius

- Double Mag pouch 1911 (Gov't issue stamped ENS-1943)

- Benchmade Osborne folding knife

.... Ohh and ignore the chickens in the background, it's too hard to be tacti-cool when those dirt turkeys are scratching around underfoot... we'll just think of them as zombies.....

Bug Out Bag Exploded View

BUG OUT BAG

I put together this Bug Out Bag for emergency situations. You can't plan for every scenario, but you can cover the basics, Security, Shelter, Water, and Food. My bag is a work in progress, I am constantly changing the gear I pack to better suit my needs. I don't think a Mad Max TEOTWAWKI (The end of the world as we know it) scenario is very likely, but with any breakdown of society (Storms, floods, fires, riots, chemical spills) there are difficulties to overcome. I think any rational person can see a scenario where they are forced to leave their home with little or no warning. Even if you are evacuating your home only to stay with friends and family, you will need some belongings.

If the need arises I plan to Bug Out, I think there is some merit to stockpiling food and gear, but I think that in any long term scenario your home will become more of a target rather than a safe-haven.

In any situation I think we can all agree that it would be foolish to assume that everyone will behave and be calm.....

I wanted to catalog my bug out bag items, its a handy way to have a reference of what you have stored away in there without disassembling the pack every time and so my wife wont kill me for exploding my gear in the living room.

First we start off with the bag, its an older Kelty Redwing, I scavenged a Camelbak bladder and hose to fit in the hydration compartment. I like this bag because it has a semi rigid frame and a full size hip belt (My previous bag fit all my gear but it lacked the stability of a bigger pack). It weighs about 30 to 45 lbs, depending on the configuration. Its' comfortable and has a little extra room for more gear, plus the compartmentalized pockets keep everything accessible and distribute the weight.

Next, we take a look at the organizer pocket, I use this pocket for misc items, and things that are handy to have at the ready.

Below you can see:
- Chemical light stick (When Murphy's law strikes, it will be in the dark)
- Fero-magnesium fire starter
- Box cutter
- Wetwipes (Toilet paper is good.... wet wipes are better, and have you ever taken a sponge bath with wet toilet paper.... I didn't think so)
- Waterproof document case (Useful for passports, birth certificates, social security cards, etc...)
- Pens/Notebook (Leave notes for family, start a checklist, record directions, start a fire with the paper)
- Pack of survival fishing gear (Hooks, sinkers, line, all sealed in plastic)
- OC/Tear Gas Spray (I've been tear gassed, and I've been OC sprayed... neither is an event that I want to repeat. The combination of the two effects is a very strong deterrent for most aggressors. Keep this in a plastic bag until you Bug Out, you don't want to contaminate your gear)

And then,

Medical Kit, this is a basic kit, you may need to add or remove items depending on your setup. There are various other first aid items in other places in the pack (redundancy) this kit is just a quick and ready package that fits in the first zippered compartment for easy access, I also have a separate container for pills and assorted medicines. The goal here is basic first aid, I have a full trauma bag (not pictured, perhaps in another post) for stitches, fever, diarrhea, etc.

- Carabiner
- Imodium
- Waterproof medical tape
- Micro-pore paper tape (Excellent for small cuts and abrasions and blisters, it allows the skin to breathe unlike band-aids)
- Pepto-bismol (You never know what you may hafta eat!)
- EMT Shears (These shears will cut almost anything, you can snip a penny in half if necessary)
- Cuticle Snips
- Folding mirror (Good for signaling, can also be used to see to treat yourself in the case of back, dental or other hard to see places injuries)
- Lighter (will sterilize metal objects like needles for removing splinters)
- Mil-Surplus compression bandage (Camouflaged! Plenty of good uses)
- Safety Pins (Useful when wrapping bandages, replacing lost buttons, torn clothing, etc...)
- 4 pairs of latex gloves
- Tweezers
- Pen
- Mil-Surplus first aid dressings
- QuikClot (Very dangerous if used incorrectly, use only in the worst case emergency of major hemorrhaging)
- Triple anti-biotic ointment

And then again
General supplies
- Shamwow!
- Scrubbing Sponge
- Silverware
   - One large cooking spoon
   - 2 forks
   - 2 spoons
   - 1 small spoon
- Assorted zip ties (These are a must have item, you can fix and make almost anything with zip ties and duct-tape)
- 3 tea candles
- Coffee filters (good for filtering muddy water, wrapping leftover food, or starting fires)
- Dust Masks
- Packable one liter water/wine/liquor container
- Plastic resealable bags
- Clorox wipes

Some more

General supplies cont.
- 1 Pouch of emergency drinking water (Best used for first aid to irrigate wounds)
- Siphon tube (Can be used to suck water from hard to reach places)
- Water treatment tablets
- Waterproof match case w/ matches (Bottom of case has an included flint)
- Salt and pepper (hot-sauce and other small condiments are also excellent)
- Can opener/corkscrew/bottle opener
- Wet Fire fire starters
- Opinel folding knife
- 2 Sterno cans
- Pill case
- Dish washing detergent
- MRE condiment pack (I have tons of these laying around from old Military MealReadytoEat's, each one may have a different assortment of goodies)
   - Matches
   - Hot-sauce
   - Toilet paper
   - Coffee/tea mix
   - Chewing gum
   - Moist towelette
   - Salt
- Cotton bag to contain everything

And some more

General supplies cont.
- Mil-surplus Arthropod/mosquito repellent (This comes as a paste and it is very strong, use it sparingly, it has the added bonus of being a tick repellant)
- Shampoo/body wash (You could possibly Bug Out to a friends house, it's nice to bring your own toiletries)
- Hand sanitizer (Works excellent as a fire starter as well)
- Dental floss (much stronger than thread for clothing/pack repairs)
- Sunscreen (Ever tried to carry a pack with sun burned shoulders?)
- Lip Balm
- Large safety pin (Use it to attach a lanyard to your gear)
- Nail Clippers

More

General supplies
- Tooth brush
- Toilet paper
- Disposable razors
- Bar soap
- Wet-wipes
- Cotton swabs
- Cotton bag to contain everything

And more

General supplies
- Crank radio (I really like this compact radio because it has a flashlight and USB charging port)
- Folding saw
- Small Trowel (Dig latrines/roots/water/hot coals)
- Generic Sandals (Good to have around camp while your shoes/feet dry, or if you happen to Bug Out without shoes)

Yep, there's more

General supplies cont.
- Plastic drop cloth (Shelter building)
- SOL emergency bivy sleeping sack
- 2 Nylon rain jackets
- Tent stakes
- Heavy duty sharpie
- 4 Hand warmers
- Super-glue (Good for everything from repairs to gluing cuts closed)
- Reflective blanket
- Extra AA batteries

Still going

General supplies cont.
- 50 ft of para-cord (So many uses that I'd hafta start a new post)
- Lock and key
- Vice Grip pliers
- Rubber dipped work gloves
- 70 ft of all purpose nylon rope
- Sewing kit
- Fishing bobber
- Duct-tape (Blisters, waterproofing, ripped clothing repairs, shelter building, perhaps I need another roll...)

Yet another

General Supplies
- 8x10 Tarp (Perfect shelter for two, can also be rolled up to make a makeshift pack)
- Stainless steel pot

Quick access supplies, I keep these in an easy to reach side pocket, if the power is out I want a ready light source to rig my gear with.
- Chemical light sticks
- Mil-Surplus waterproof stuff sacks (If I need to bug out in a hurry, I can take this sack around the house and fill it with food, gear and necessaries. If I fill it with gear and air space before I tie it off it will float my pack in water)
- Compressed towels
- Insect repellant band

Now on to some of the exciting stuff

Last Ditch Bug Out fanny pack. If you can only carry one thing, and you need to ditch the rest of the Bug Out Bag, this fanny pack pistol combo may not be tacti-cool, but it is practical. It will leave you with some standard survival items and a throw away pistol (The first rule of gun fighting is "Don't get into a gun fight", but should you break rule one, default to rule two "If you get into a gun fight.... Bring a gun!")

Last Ditch Fanny
- Compass w/ instructions
- Leatherman multi-tool
- Headlamp, Princeton-tec Byte (Something may be wrong with mine because the batteries keep dying)
- Quikclot sponge (Much safer to use than the Quikclot powder that was listed above, just put it on the wound, or poke it into the hemorrhaging hole)
- MRE condiment pack
- Smoked oysters
- Jetscream whistle
- Heavy duty can opener
- Wetfire fire starters
- Pen

Pistol. This beauty is a Russian CZ-52, with a U.S. made modified firing pin (eliminates the reliability issues with the original Russian design), It fires a sub-machine gun 7.62x25 round. It is a roller lock, single action only pistol and the holster carries an extra magazine and cleaning rod. With the improved firing pin it is a reliable semi-auto, and should you need extra ammunition there are 50 extra rounds in the Bug Out Bag.

My Light-fighter gun belt setup
- Covered double mag pouch
- Blackhawk Nite-Ops Gladius flashlight
- ITS Tactical IFAK
- Blood chit belt clip
- Benchmade Osborne fighting knife
- Kimber Target Eclipse II .45 1911
- Blackhawk Serpa holster
- Heavy nylon duty belt

Kimber Target Eclipse II .45 1911
- Adjustable Tritium target night sights
- Wilson Combat slim wood grips
- 3 Magazines loaded with Hornady Critical Defense

Gun belt in detail
- ITS Tactical IFAK
   - Quikclot combat gauze
   - 2 HALO chest seals
   - Mojo-dart decompression needle
   - Israeli Bandage
   - Gauze pack
   - Heavy duty latex gloves
   - Airway
- SOF Tourniquet
- Blackhawk Nite-Ops Gladius
- Benchmade Osborne fighting knife

Bug Out Rifle
- Robinson Armament XCR-L 5.56
- Magpul collapsible folding stock
- YHM flip up forward iron post sight
- A.R.M.S. flip up rear iron peep sight
- Magpul AFG
- EOTECH holographic sight
- Surefire combat light

Thats all for now. Ill try to post pics of my Light Fighter setup soon.