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This video from TA Targets really got me thinking about upping my concealed carry options. Increasing crime, violence, and political polarization is in our likely future. Even without the unrest of our very contentious elections this year it's going to get worse before it gets better. Increasingly a quick trip to the hardware or grocery store could put you in the middle of a riot, group theft, or any number of potentially violent situations that would have seemed unthinkable even a few years ago.
View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TXOMAyMWqi8
View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w5_R1nbJ5qY&t=1219s
A backpack gun allows you to conceal carry an intermediate cartridge pistol with rifle performance in locations you previously conceal carried a pistol. Such a firearm is a compromise that necessitates a very short barrel, a folding stock, and hopefully some sort of noise mitigation to prevent permanent hearing damage. Due to the very short barrel requirement 5.56 or rounds like it are poor choices. I'd recommend the much more efficient 300 BO in this case as the 6" or shorter barrel loses surprisingly little velocity over the more common 8" and above barrels. Personally not interested in PCC calibers as they offer no better firepower than does a pistol which is far easier to carry and conceal. In addition the bag gun should be in a pistol configuration in order to be carried loaded in the bag using a CPL.
My solution started with the bag itself. I chose the Vertx Commuter 2.0 as it is effectively a holster that looks like a commuter bag. As a sling bag it is easily rotated from back to belly and designed to open the gun compartment very quickly. There is even a space to put a soft body armor panel specially cut to fit for added protection against pistol rounds and knife attack. In addition to the gun compartment is a second compartment big enough to hold a laptop or other things you don't want interfering with a firearm. A final expanding outer pocket is big enough to carry a commuter type bike helmet (covert bump helmet) and an IFAK if desired. Interior surfaces are the soft portion of Velcro so additional things like mag pouches or holsters can be positioned as desired,
The bag itself comes in several color schemes and blends right in. Before actual use my wife used it several times in place of her purse in restaurants, movie theaters, shopping, etc.. It drew zero attention.
There are several good OTS compact or folding firearms that would fit the bill like the Sig Rattler and the Q Honey Badger. I went with a folding AR pistol for cost, customization, and to keep it as a pistol for CPL use. I call my Budget Badger the Crack Weasel. I was able to cobble it, the optics, mags, ammunition, sling and silencer cheaper than the Q or Sig by patiently shopping sales beginning during the holidays and using existing parts.
Here is my take - Folding AR Pistol w/ 6" barrel and Witt Dirty Thirty. Cartridge is 300 Blackout to mitigate velocity loss from the very short barrel. Nope, it ain't black. I use greens, browns and grays to blend into most environments. Loaded mag is a 20 rounder. A pouch shingle I mounted inside the bag can hold up to three 30 round mags. Ammunition is Sig solid copper supersonic designed for the ballistically similar Rattler. The bullet performs much like a Maker. Optics are a Holosun 510 green and an inexpensive Votatu green laser.
Folded is under 17" with silencer. This is not a super quiet silencer but will prevent hearing damage and allow you to hear when the police get there.
View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QE5D2hJhacU
A backpack gun allows you to conceal carry an intermediate cartridge pistol with rifle performance in locations you previously conceal carried a pistol. Such a firearm is a compromise that necessitates a very short barrel, a folding stock, and hopefully some sort of noise mitigation to prevent permanent hearing damage. Due to the very short barrel requirement 5.56 or rounds like it are poor choices. I'd recommend the much more efficient 300 BO in this case as the 6" or shorter barrel loses surprisingly little velocity over the more common 8" and above barrels. Personally not interested in PCC calibers as they offer no better firepower than does a pistol which is far easier to carry and conceal. In addition the bag gun should be in a pistol configuration in order to be carried loaded in the bag using a CPL.
My solution started with the bag itself. I chose the Vertx Commuter 2.0 as it is effectively a holster that looks like a commuter bag. As a sling bag it is easily rotated from back to belly and designed to open the gun compartment very quickly. There is even a space to put a soft body armor panel specially cut to fit for added protection against pistol rounds and knife attack. In addition to the gun compartment is a second compartment big enough to hold a laptop or other things you don't want interfering with a firearm. A final expanding outer pocket is big enough to carry a commuter type bike helmet (covert bump helmet) and an IFAK if desired. Interior surfaces are the soft portion of Velcro so additional things like mag pouches or holsters can be positioned as desired,
The bag itself comes in several color schemes and blends right in. Before actual use my wife used it several times in place of her purse in restaurants, movie theaters, shopping, etc.. It drew zero attention.
There are several good OTS compact or folding firearms that would fit the bill like the Sig Rattler and the Q Honey Badger. I went with a folding AR pistol for cost, customization, and to keep it as a pistol for CPL use. I call my Budget Badger the Crack Weasel. I was able to cobble it, the optics, mags, ammunition, sling and silencer cheaper than the Q or Sig by patiently shopping sales beginning during the holidays and using existing parts.
Here is my take - Folding AR Pistol w/ 6" barrel and Witt Dirty Thirty. Cartridge is 300 Blackout to mitigate velocity loss from the very short barrel. Nope, it ain't black. I use greens, browns and grays to blend into most environments. Loaded mag is a 20 rounder. A pouch shingle I mounted inside the bag can hold up to three 30 round mags. Ammunition is Sig solid copper supersonic designed for the ballistically similar Rattler. The bullet performs much like a Maker. Optics are a Holosun 510 green and an inexpensive Votatu green laser.
Folded is under 17" with silencer. This is not a super quiet silencer but will prevent hearing damage and allow you to hear when the police get there.
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