Stuart,

Not that I don't think this may be necessary under certain circumstances. But I am just wondering - will this be your property you are defending, or are you just planning on taking someone else's?? And what exactly is the threat these people are presenting to you?

This sounds like an extension of the "I have a gun, therefore I can get what I need" approach. I'm really not criticizing you, but as you progress I think you will understand how shortsighted and unrealistic this is. Again, this is exactly the situation we can easily avoid with a little forethought and preparation.

I can relate to the shoelaces syndrome! It's very easy to do. One thing I found helpful was the "List of Lists" on http://www.survivalblog.com