I haven't forgotten my "Get Home" and "Bug Out" thread. Have most of it assembled, just been terribly busy. One thing to decide on was a Bug Out gun.
Bug Out means your castle, your fort, your home is no longer suitable to sustain you and your family. You might have seconds (toranado) or days (hurricane) or in-between (riots), to respond. What to take? What to take?
There should be a gun in the Bug Out bag. Time and space permitting you can take your entire armory, but what do you keep in the bag that you can grab and go on a moments notice? As some of you know, one of my guidelines was simplicity. Trying to stock a bare number of calibers means I have given long hard consideration to 9mm carbines and to .357 lever rifles as those calibers are my choices for everyday carry and for my Get Home bags. But a rifle with a decent range would be nice in the Bug Out bag, but it needs to be compact. I have given long hard looks at Kel-Tec SU-16c (.223) and their Sub 2000 (9mm). Especially the S2000 as it folds up to only 16" and wouldn't require stocking another caliber. But having a true rifle caliber would be a positive. A desirable thing. The AR platform comes apart easily enough for carry, but I just didn't like any of the upper configurations. I didn't feel comfortable striking out trying to build my own upper. And I definitely have looked down on the AR pistol. BUT THEN... that's a thing of the past.
I'm at a local gun show and a couple of real nice, good old boys from TN had a bunch of somewhat uniquely configured AR uppers. Not that you couldn't build them yourself, but they had them ready to rock and roll. One in particular jumped out and said, "Take me home." (If you haven't read the book
Blink from Gladwell, you should. This was one of those "blink" moments. I knew it was the right choice as soon as I saw it.)
It's the cutest 12" upper with a full length, very light weight fore end. My hand just couldn't put it down. Came with BCG and CH. Love it. Went around the house on Saturday just carrying the upper with me.
I couldn't wait so I went to the local parts dealer Thursday and got a new "other" lower made by Spikes. Don't think I was home 5 minutes before I had it assembled.
This will fit into a 24" carrying case with room to spare and will be perfect for a Bug Out bag. The fore end came with three, short Picatinny rails that can be attached for accessories. Trying to keep a slim storage profile, so don't think I'll use those. Might put a red-dot on a 45degree mount, just cause I have both in stock. I will order a pair of quick takedown pins as well as an emergency repair kit to go.
Here's the whole thing.
Went to the range today and put 40 rounds through it. Even without a stock, it shoots great and was fun. Did it all standing. When I get a chance at a 100yd range I'll sight it in more carefully. I will be picking up the Sig Arm Brace, just to have, before they become... uh, rare. (Yes, I'm aware of the difference between a pistol and an SBR.)
Here's a question though. To create an even slimmer storage profile, I'm thinking of making a "pistol" grip that has less of an extension to it. Sort of a "rifle grip". I don't think having a "pistol" grip is a requirement for a "pistol", is it? I've been trying to imagine whether this is even workable, shootable, but having an extra grip and The Michael Bane deluxe Dremel tool set, I'm going to try, you betcha.