If I _had_ to pick between the two, I'd take the AR-7. Smaller package when stowed, it floats (very important, as I live around a lot of water) and having to carry only one caliber of ammo simplifies my logistical problems. The weapon weighs half as much as the M6, which is a key factor for carrying while hiking or biking, and you can carry a lot of .22LR in the same space as a handful of 410 shells.

In practical terms, a single shot of .410 is not as effective as multiple rounds of .22LR, under any circumstance I'm likely to encounter. I can also silence a .22LR easily...

I think the only two critical things for taking a dog with you would be:
1. Is he generally quiet (not a hysterical nonstop source of noise)?
2. Does he obey basic commands like sit/stay/heel/come here?

If he can be controlled without a physical leash/collar, and he doesn't bark all the time (attracting attention and making it impossible to tell if there is a real threat), then he doesn't have to be trained to hunt or fight.

I'm another vote for 'take the dog, yes' as long as it meets those two minimum requirements. The benefits of having a dog along, any type/breed/size, far outweigh the logistical problems - as long as you can control him hands free, and he doesn't spend all his time making noise for no good reason.

Die, spambot.

One of the most useful little books I ever had while I was in the Army was called "The Combat Leader's Field guide', and all it was really, was a collection of checklists and charts to help you remember the million and one things a unit leader needs to remember in combat. It came in handy many times over the years, and I own two copies of it (9th edition and 14th edition). I believe this little book (about an inch thick and small enough to fit in a cargo pocket easily) is still in print. While I don't think it is terribly useful to a prepper (who lacks the military supply network), the principle of a 'one source collection' of checklists is the same. Thanks for the review, I'll see if I can find a copy of this Prepper's Pocket Guide and check it out.

This.

To me, "vanishing" means to be overlooked, or seen and forgotten/ignored immediately. I want the bad guys (whoever they are) to dismiss me as a threat -or a profitable target-, if they notice me at all. We all prep for different things, and in my case, I'll likely be around a mix of hurricane survivors, looters/riffraff, and legitimate law enforcement types (who will probably NOT be locals). All three types will want/need my stuff for various reasons, and all three will have their own theory about why I should hand it over. Better for me if they are more interested in someone else, somewhere else.

To that end, all my gear is milspec or better, but I choose civilian coloring or equivalent gear whenever I can. My truck is old and beat up looking, but mechanically reliable. My guns are nothing special to look at, but they work exactly as designed, in my hands. I don't have bumper stickers proclaiming my martial arts training, my gun ownership, or my veteran status. I cultivate the 'Joe Average' look, and don't discuss my prepping much with anyone local. I don't want to be the guy everyone at work jokes about ("Yeah when the zombies come, I'm going to Mike's house, cause he's got all the guns and ammo we will ever need!").

To me, camouflage and concealment starts *way* before SHTF.

Well the article says the list isn't in any particular order. I would think 'clean water' would be right at the top of the list for my area (Florida) and anywhere else its hot. Gasoline/Diesel would be next, to run generators and heavy equipment. Both are in short supply all the time, even without any sort of disaster. After that, bug repellent/netting - most people have no idea how bad bugs can get. There are 67 different species of mosquito in Florida, counting fresh water *and* salt water types. After that, medicine - the supply of non-refrigerated antibiotics and such is never very large, and they don't have long shelf life in the heat/humidity.

A thoroughly interesting and informative article. Well done!

I've eaten both MREs and Mountain House freeze dried foods, quite often in the past 25 years. MREs have higher calories and most don't require any extra water added to eat (hence the name). Freeze dried food weighs a lot less (because 95% of the water has been removed), but has less calories and requires water to reconstitute (in most cases). The accessory packs in MREs are very useful, but can be duplicated and/or tailored to your needs with a little thought.

A major consideration for anyone stockpiling food for the long term is the _practical_ shelf life of the food they store. The shelf life of any MRE is **dramatically** affected by heat - unless you store them somewhere cold, they will NOT last 5+ years and still be safe/tasty to eat. Freeze dried foods last 25+ years in the #10 cans and are not bothered by heat.

If you have access to water, then you can carry a LOT more food with freeze dried goods, and in less space. If water is not as available, then the MREs will make it easier for you to stretch your water supply at the cost of weight and space.

MREs are expensive and difficult to get these days, since the military cracked down on civilian acquisition of them. The cheap knockoffs are not the same quality, while the authentic MREs you find are usually already 2 years old or more (and you have no idea at all how they were stored before you bought them). Buyer beware on 'surplus' MREs - I've opened MRE entrees that were marked as only 2 years old, then had to toss the whole thing because it was a decomposing, oily mess.

Freeze Dried foods are not cheap, but they are readily available in both small and large quantities. They are also current production items, made by the same people who make military rations (in some cases, like Mountain House).

In our bug out bags we carry just a pair of MREs for no water/low water situations, but the rest of our food is freeze dried. In our apartment, all of our long term food storage is freeze dried goods, since we also stockpile water and have multiple plans/methods for getting more. Between the stored foods and what will be on hand in the fridge/pantry on any given day, we are in good shape.

You do realize these are meant as Lifeboat Rations, right? For people who will literally be starving to death without them? They aren't actually made as candy bars or cycling snacks or hunter's granola. They are made to provide a certain degree of nutrition and calories in an emergency, and to be shelf stable until such an emergency occurs. For what they are designed to do, they do it very well.

Most survival advice on gear refers to the "if you have something important, have a backup for it, and maybe a backup for your backup". Number one on my list of 'important things' is *me*. That makes my wife the backup for me. We plan to team/travel/survive together, and our gear/hobbies reflect this.

If I were single, I would find someone with a similar attitude towards survival, and cultivate a friendship. The advantages of traveling alone are extremely small and specific to a certain kind of situation - in almost all other respects, having at least one partner along greatly increases your chances of success. There is a point where a group is too large, and actually counter productive, but a partner or small team is a very good idea.