what to carry

[Mortblanc]

If you are already in a rural setting use everything you have until you are forced to "bug out".

When you have to leave, use both the 12 ga guns if you have ammo for them, based on all the points you mentioned.

1" iron waterpipe will make a 12 ga zipgun if you ever have to go that route.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Av1eJOGSkVA

(Information offered for emergency use only, of course.)

Cache the 20 ga and the crossbow in a safe place. If things get bad, you run out of ammo, or you have other people to equip, you can always come back and get them.

Never "throw away" anything, cache it for recovery. Two shells in a trash 20ga shotgun are better than no gun at all. In fact, one shell in the zip gun is better than no gun at all, when things get close up and personal.