Dougo83, for me the most likely scenario of having to use my BOB is if my aircraft goes down in bad guy territory. I'm going to have to put some distance between me and the wreckage and link back up with friendly forces. In the mean time I don't want the bad guys to know where I am or where I've been.
Tell me you are military or something. This scenario seems really far fetched to me. At least it does for now.
How you handle getting around locks will depend on your situation, but if you have a lot of hostile folks out looking for you I wouldn't want to make a lot of noise or leave evidence behind.
Just my POV is in a true SHTF situation, everyone will be making noise, I think. Look at NO for example, breaking and smashing seemed to be the norm.
While I was writing this a few of questions came to mind. 1) If it was your door or window that somebody decided to break to get into your house, shed, barn etc. How would you respond?
I guess this depends on where you are. In rural Texas I doubt I would have any reason to kick down doors. I could probably simply knock. but, I can't say this for sure anymore. Times have even changed in my short lifetime.
2) If your response involves firearms, does this change your mind on how you would enter?
In that case it certainly would. If someone is bashing in my door, they would probably get shot. Especially if it is a true emergency situation going on. My family is pretty much located in close proximity. We have a plan to circle the wagons at one home before GTHOD.
Or to put it differently 3) Is it better to sneak in or announce your presence and possibly be on the receiving end of some gunfire?
I think you would have to be dang good at sneaking around to bit get shot either way. I dunno, it would vary by household. I am the guy who wakes up when the wind kicks up or my neighbor slams his car door while my brother could sleep through a blanket bombing.
Everybody's actions will be situationally dependent and their gear should reflect the situations they may find themselves in so I'm not saying one way is better than another.
Exactly, I think they could come in handy sometimes, but I find it hard to come up with a good use for a lock pick. It seems to me, maybe just in my clumsy hands, that the time and effort involved is not worth it.