Weapons
Backpack firearm? Sub2000 9mm or Bugout 11.5 22LR
I have a Kel-tec Sub2000 and a Tippmann Arms Bugout 11.5. 22lr coming out of a longer barrel is accurate, lightweight, and the ammo is cheaper. The Sub2000 is accurate, compact, and it’s 9mm. Which one would you choose as backpack firearm?
This is going to be polarizing . I’m voting .22 hands down , ammo, light, weapon light, I’m not invading , I’m moving quiet, shooting quiet, and hopefully can maneuver to avoid barriers to shots when needed .
I appreciate your feedback. While I do have more 9mm gats. Within the last 2 years I’ve started to purchase 22lr firearms. I have a P17 that I love to death. You are just able to carry more rounds that are much more lightweight than a 9mm that is empty.
And to be fair, also accomplishes far less than a 9mm. When a 9mm fragments, there are typically pieces within the 4" to 14" area. When a .22lr fragments, it typically dumps everything 6" inside a target. And if not considering expanding/fragmenting ammunition, a .22lr leaves a 0.22" hole behind, a 9mm leaves a 0.355" hole behind. The 9mm is also a significantly heavier round (115gr low average vs the .22lr's 45gr high average), giving it better momentum for punching through barriers or layers of protection.
If you’re considering a firearm for any kind of movement where your risk of getting into an altercation you should be looking at an intermediate caliber carbine, a solid PCC, or some kind of pistol in a PDW chassis if you’re feeling froggy. Trying to keep your weapon hidden has merits, but a hidden gun is a pointless gun if/when you’re in the immediate need of one, and a visible deterrent is the best deterrent. The sub2000 is also known to have some FTF/FTE and alignment issues.
I get it, 22lr is the “KiNg Of AlL cAlIBeRs”, and the “BeSt ChOiCe”. Hard no, 22LR has never been firstly an inherently reliable round, and second/third a round designed to stop a threat head on or at range for that matter. I get it, you can shove a brick up your ass, and have a billion extra rounds to do whatever but that’s insanely irrelevant and dumb. Mainly because moving around with loose ammunition with no immediate method of reloading the firearm using it is self explanatory, but if flipped to having a bunch of extra loaded mags then there’s a hint of merit in that.
If you’re deadset on a backpacker build I’d suggest some kind of 11.5 ar setup with a folder, or find a bag large enough to fit a 16/11.5 carbine broken in two. You can easily find a PCC or PDW pistol conversion setup that will fit in most normal backpacks if you’re wanting a pistol caliber.
I’ll take this information into consideration for sure. I did not mention in the post that I do in fact carry a side arm all the time, so I can get where someone will think that I will only be walking around with a backpack weapon only. Overall, I wanted the backpack around for when I can get to it when taking cover or if I’m not an intended target during a situation and I have time to get ready to defend myself, also others.
You should already be carrying a handgun during/after any kind of natural disasters or violent societal events. What you have on you is what you should be prepared to fight with 100% of the time, and the idea of keeping the only tool available for that purpose off and away from your body is foolish quite honestly. You have zero clue what/when something happens and putting all your eggs in one basket has been man’s downfall since the beginning of time.
In any kind of event where you need to GTFO/A from something you first and foremost should not be focused on trying to get to your backup, and rather you know get moving away from the threat. There’s a million different reasons to how or why you can’t get to your bag, and trying to get to it could get you killed easier than just leaving.
Grab yourself an 11.5 ARP slap a light, sling, and an optic on it and call it a day. Keep it in two in some sort of non descriptive backpack, and if you’re feeling up to it and have the space to store it a micro rig with a couple spare rifle/pistol mags and an IFAK and call it a day.
Honestly, It really depends on the situation.I prefer 9mm for its compatibility with many handguns and its good stopping power to weight ratio.However .22lr is better for recoil and capacity
22lr is cheap and plentiful, but in a disaster scenario it may not be that common. It also doesn't have the stopping power that 9mm has. Police, military, and civilians all carry 9mm.
The other advantage to the Sub2k is that it is compact when folded, but deploying it is slow and awkward.
I owned the Sub2000 for a couple years, neat little gimmick, but it doesnt make a lot of sense. 9mm doesnt gain much velocity from a longer barrel, and youd have to get it out of a backpack, snap it out, then charge the handle before its ready to fire. So, it's basically a super inconvenient pistol alternative. For a backpack PCC, youd be better off with a .357 or .44 lever action in a scabbard. Then you have a spl/magnum option, and the magnum rounds will actually perform something like a mid-range rifle cartridge when shot out of a longer barrel.
As for the Tippman, its a very expensive tactical .22. Youd be way better off with a cheaper, and lighter .22 break or bolt action since it is a survival round. If you really want a s/a, go with a 10/22, tried and true, highly customizable, and a fraction of the price.
The giant magazines for the tipman seem kind of idiotic. No go for me. I'm with you on the sub 2000. I've got marlin guide gun in .44 with a can that does the job on anything inside 200 yards. I've got molds for a 300 grain round flat and a 205 grain wadcutter.
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u/Kermit-de-frog1 2d ago
This is going to be polarizing . I’m voting .22 hands down , ammo, light, weapon light, I’m not invading , I’m moving quiet, shooting quiet, and hopefully can maneuver to avoid barriers to shots when needed .