When you’re a dad, your job doesn’t stop when your kids leave the house. If anything, the stakes get higher.
I’ve got one daughter away at college and another living in a rural area an hour away, and every time I get in the truck to visit them, I’m prepared for what could go wrong between here and there.
My answer? A go bag that’s built for reality. It’s a grab-and-go kit designed to keep me alive, get me home, or get me to my kids if things go bad.
TL;DR: My Go Bag Loadout
Here’s what’s riding with me when I hit the road:
- Bag: 5.11 Covert Carry Pack
- Primary: PSA AR-V 7” 9mm PCC (Pistol Caliber Carbine)
- Mags: Three 35-round mags (two spares) – All loaded with HOP Munitions 147-grain JHP.
- Tools: ASP hand restraints + duct tape — versatile for repairs or control
- Medical: Trauma kit (tourniquets, chest seals, hemostatic gauze)
- Support Gear: Smoke grenades (create distractions/confusion), Mission Darkness Faraday Bag + portable charger
- Cash: Enough for fuel, food, bribes, or staying off the grid
Live Inventory Price Checker
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PSA AR-V 7" 9mm 1/10 Nitride Tri-Lug MOE EPT PDW Pistol | Palmetto State Armory | $ 1049.99 $ 899.99 |
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PSA AR-V 7" 9mm 1/10 Nitride Tri-Lug MOE EPT PDW Pistol | Palmetto State Armory | $ 1049.99 $ 899.99 |
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PSA AR-V 4" 9mm 1/10 Lightweight M-Lok MOE EPT SBA3 Pistol | Palmetto State Armory | $ 949.99 $ 739.99 |
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PSA AR-V 7" 9mm 1/10 Nitride Tri-Lug MOE EPT HBPDW Pistol | Palmetto State Armory | $ 1699.99 $ 999.99 |
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The Gun: Compact, Concealable, Capable
I’ve already reviewed the Palmetto State Armory AR-V 7”, but I’ve refined it since that review.
The EOTech is gone, replaced by a C&H Precision closed-emitter duty optic with shake-awake tech.
The charging handle is now a Radian Raptor, and I’ve got a Streamlight ProTac 2L on a Magpul rail mount for a simple but reliable white light setup.
The whole package runs on a single-point sling, which makes it easy to shoot using the SAS tension method and keeps it hidden under a jacket when necessary.
For me, this setup is about one thing: fast, controlled violence of action when the situation calls for it.
Why the PSA AR-V 7” Barrel Is the Sweet Spot for a 9mm PCC
- Pistol vs. PCC: Out of a typical Glock 17, 9mm loads run around 1,150–1,200 fps with a 124-grain bullet. Out of a 7″ barrel, you can see gains of 100–150 fps, which translates to better expansion and more reliable terminal performance for most defensive and duty loads.
- Diminishing Returns Beyond 8-10″: Once you pass the 8–10″ mark with 9mm, velocity gains flatten out and sometimes have a negative effect on the projectile.
- Optimal for Hollow Points: Many modern defensive 9mm loads are designed to expand within a certain velocity window. The 7″ barrel reliably pushes them into that sweet spot.
*And before you all tell me that I should be carrying a 5.56 or 300 Blackout due to better terminal performance, you’re right that they have better terminal performance, but this is what I’ve got to work with. 5.56 is gonna destroy my hearing and the hearing of those around me. A 300 Blackout is great for suppressed use, but I don’t own one. The subsonic 9mm, on the other hand, is still going to be loud, but not nearly as damaging to my hearing as the 5.56 would.
Bottom line: The AR-V 7″ is going to give me the capability I need to create space and get my family to safety.
Why the 5.11 Covert Carry Pack Is My Preferred Choice
The 5.11 Covert Carry Pack is purpose-built for exactly this kind of role. It doesn’t scream “gun bag”, which is exactly what you want. Inside, it holds the AR-V with room to spare for mags, medical, and everything else.
>What makes it my go-to for road trips:
- Dual Purpose: I can carry enough clothing, hygiene gear, and my laptop for multi-day trips without mixing them with my gun gear.
- Quick Access: The separate weapons compartment, equipped with retention straps, keeps the gun secure while remaining accessible.
- Low-Profile Look: Nobody gives this bag a second look, a huge win if you care about discretion.
- Built Tough: A reinforced frame, padded straps, and smart organization allow me to load it up and still move quickly.
The bag has three compartments: one for the firearm, a middle compartment that I use for my laptop & travel items such as clothing and hygiene, and the outermost compartment that is used for medical and smokes; things I need access to quickly.
Firearm Compartment
AR-V with supporting magazines and a basic maintenance kit to include batteries for the light and optic.
Travel Compartment
Laptop & cables, notebook, clothing for a few days, hygiene kit, and water bottle.
Quick Access Compartment
If I need to render emergency medical aid to someone or create a distraction to break contact or find another angle, these are things I need to have access to quickly.
Here, I also keep a small roll of duct tape, the ASP restraints, and possibly some snacks.
*Other than the firearm possibly getting rotated out, the contents of this bag remain the same.
Why This Kit Exists
Call it a “go bag,” call it a “bail-out bag,” call it a “dad kit.” At the end of the day, this is about one thing: being ready to step in when my daughters need me, or chaos erupts around me.
With the world the way it is, pretending danger isn’t out there isn’t an option. There are predators hunting for victims, violent actors looking for soft targets, and emergencies that will never wait for first responders.
Every item in my kit is there because I’ve thought through the problem sets: medical, mobility, self-defense, comms blackout, and escalation-of-force options. This isn’t about playing hero. It’s about being ready when the unthinkable happens, because when you’re a dad, that’s your job.
Final Thoughts
You don’t need to copy my kit piece by piece. Build what makes sense for your life. But do something. Build something. Carry something. If you’re serious about protecting the people you love, you need more than good intentions; you need tools and the willingness to use them.
You also need to train with your go-bag setup and actually use it, so that you become fluid with it. We’ll cover that in the next article!
About Scott Witner
Scott Witner is a former Marine Corps Infantryman with 2ndBn/8th Marines. He completed training in desert warfare at the Marine Air Ground Combat Center, Mountain Warfare and survival at the Mountain Warfare Training Center, the South Korean Mountain Warfare School in Pohang, and the Jungle Warfare school in the jungles of Okinawa, Japan. He now enjoys recreational shooting, trail running, hiking, functional fitness, and working on his truck. Scott resides in Northeastern Ohio.
I can easily see the need for something like this. However, what you have assembled is a “kidnap kit” or a “rape kit.” If you inadvertently gain the attention of any LEOs you could have a great deal of explaining to do.
I also think 7-10″ barrel is the sweet spot for 9mm PCCs. I think of the additional velocity as giving a bit more effective range. I tailor my loads to my barrel length: 5″ or shorter get high velocity 115 grJHP, and over 5 get 147 gr bonded JHP. I do agree with Cappy that the pack could look suspicious, but an obvious first aid/trauma kit could help relieve potential LEO anxieties, especially if it’s the first thing seen when the bag is opened. My bag is next to my emergency car starter, jumper cables, and “pioneer kit”, clearly emergency… Read more »
I can agree with a lot of this but I would never trust my life to a PSA gun. I’ve owned a few PSA guns or build kits for AR’s. I think you can build a good AR-15 around their lower and upper as long as quality control was used and they’re inspec. But every pre-built gun I’ve ever got from them has had some form of issues. I personally have never had one with a critical issue like I’ve seen with AKs and the jackals but there’s always something. Take my PSA AR-10 for example, the handguard is not… Read more »
IMOA, you’ve got duct tape, probably all you’d need to detain someone in a pinch. Carry a roll of 550 cord or you could use their shoe, or boot laces to restrain an individual as well.
If you’re going to carry restraints, you’ll need to get instruction on how to use them properly, are restraints legal in your area, how are you going to put them on someone if you’re alone etc.? My thought is, neutralize the threat and vacate the area and go home.