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Camping Hiking what handgun to bring?

10K views 91 replies 32 participants last post by  flyingtiger85 
#1 ·
What handgun would you bring if you were camping or hiking for a few days or a week in the backcountry? I just read an article on this in a magazine. You need it for protection from anything you may run into. You need to carry this so you don't want something heavy.

I was torn between my 357 mag Ruger Blackhawk and my Ruger 1911 in 45 acp. I think I would go with my 1911. It would stop about anything I could run into. Easy to carry and not to heavy. I could carry several loaded mags and that's why the 1911 won.

What would be your choice? Please no rifles or shotguns. Handguns only.
 
#35 ·
I always packed my Ruger 357 Flat top. but I was never in big bear country hiking or camping. But had a good friend that worked for Alaska Native Corporation in South East Alaska back in the 1960's and he packed his S and W Md. 25 loaded with his hand loads. They pushed a heavier chunk of lead at higher velocity than a 44 mag. He never needed it while in Alaska but he shot several Black bears in the lower 48 and a couple of cougars. He was on his second Md.25 when he died. The forcing cone on the first one burned up. He shot thousands of rounds through his pistols. The best shot I was ever around. He is the fellow that got me started casting and reloading back in the early 1960's.
 
#39 ·
I don't understand why guy's think they need a man or bear stopping handgun on a camping trip. I'd take my 32 long if I felt the need. Or I'd take my 22 high Standard semi auto. Ammo for both is much lighter and you can carry a lot more. I shoot cast in the 32 long, very pleasant to shoot.

The reason for carrying a handgun at all for me is survival, not protection. If I was worried about grass farms where I wanted to go, I'd go somewhere else. As for bears, no doubt they can mess up your day but you generally do something to bring it on. On the other hand, you get lost and need to survive, you don't need a large handgun to kill rabbit's and grouse. One box of 22's take's up less space and weight's less that any CF handgun ammo I can think of!
 
#41 ·
I have been in some backcountry areas in Northern Wisconsin and run into groups of people that were questionable. My dad owned 80 acres up there and one time we ran into 6 guys. My dad being the guy he was walked over to them and told them to get off his land.

They didn't like the idea and told him so. After he got in their face they ran off. My dad never carried a gun. Not sure he needed one as there was only 6 of them. Myself I would carry a gun.
 
#42 ·
No doubt that Phil Shoemaker is a rock star when it comes to living amongst bears. Pepper spray is a useful tool for him but he usually carries a 357 as his sidearm.

Phil has stated he doesn't recommend 9mm as a bear defense gun, but if that is what you have, use hard cast ammo that will penetrate.

Please note again the Sirius dog sled patrol in Greenland carries modified Enfield 30-06 and the Glock 20 10mm with 180-200 gr FMJ ammo. They have multiple polar bear kills documented with the Glock 20.

So Phil has changed my whole woods philospphy. Penetration and shot placement. Those are the two most important elements.

If you can do it with a 500 S&W, so much the better but make sure you can shoot that beast well. Misses count for nothing.
 
#49 ·
Eh...as with most things, what we need and what we like or want might be a good ways apart. Truthfully, around our place, 99% of the time I don't "need" anything but, I want something on my hip. It's that 1% I like to be prepared for and, as with about everyone, there's no telling what that need might be. We "could" have bear, hogs or mountain lion....but none are actually very likely. More likely is copperheads, armadillo's, *****, skunks, yodel dogs or the squirrel I want to put in the skillet.

Several years ago my wife and I were toodling through our trail on our SXS, UTV. We stopped and about 15 feet away was a whole flock of baby 'dillo's. My wife whispered "shoot 'em". I said, "I can't, I don't have a firearm". Now, we will be married 40 years come September so she knows me. The look on her face was priceless and one of astonishment. She said, "you mean to tell me you don't have a gun on you? Are you sick?" That's never happened again.....nor have I seen a flock of baby dillo's but..........you never know when the opportunity might arise and I fully intend to be prepared!!!!!!!
 
#51 ·
I don't think armadillo's flock! I don't think they gaggle either. Maybe herd would be the best choice, but I'm not sure!!!!????? Maybe we should start a new thread on this one!!:D
 
#55 ·
Dillo's, babies or not, die on sight...if I'm armed. The damage they do in our yard, my wife's multitude of flower beds and our garden is not tolerated. Cool has nothing to do with it.
 
#56 · (Edited)
Funny, I had one that didn't do that. Wait, I guess because he was a pet of sorts ( even though he ran loose) and we fed him every night, he didn't need to dig.

I wouldn't begrudge you the privilege to manage your own property, but shooting them in the wild is another thing.
...and this thread was about camping.
 
#60 ·
645 armadillos from eight locations in four states - Alabama, Florida, Georgia and Mississippi - between 2003 and 2012. The researchers found armadillos infected with M. leprae in each location, according to the study.

About 16 percent of all the armadillos screened showed some evidence of infection, even though these areas had all previously been thought to be free of infected armadillos, the study found.

However, the potential for the spread of leprosy between armadillos and humans is extremely low, Truman said.

Most people are immune

They only screened 645, and only 16% had the infection. Add in that 90% of all people are immune, and that makes it more likely to get struck by lightening.
 
#61 ·
You can carry a pistol on Eglin?

They don't let you do that on Tyndall. At least, they didn't used to. Ain't hunted there in a while.

Damn. Just counted back. Late 70s-early 80s. Yep, that's been a while.
 
#64 · (Edited)
SO I came "This close" to buying a Ruger Vaquero Birdshead .44 mag in stainless today for our Glacier Nat'l Park Hike coming up in 5 weeks.

I managed to hold my wallet even though the revolver was $632 NIB... but the bark and bite of a 3" single action revolver shy'ed me away. (My Dan Wesson 44 mag with a 6" barrel has a nice bite, AND it's just too big to hike with even though I have a nice shoulder holster)

So, I'm down to traveling with either a 12+1 Para Ord P12 3.5" barrel-.45ACP (My "truck gun") or my tried and true Colt .45 ACP Colt Commander. I shoot both very well with both at 25 yards. I practice the most with these two (One is a truck gun, the other a EDC)

I bought some Buffalo Bore Ammunition 45 ACP +P 45/230 x 50 rds (which will wear out a slide spring after a box or two) cause I figure I'll be a "Spray and pray" fool in the midst of any bear charges. SAA NOT so good for that situation.

Which would you bring on a limited choice, on a hike among bears?
(Both conceal nicely with a light shirt on, OWB.)

--12+1 Para Ord P12 3.5" barrel .45ACP
or
--7+1 Colt .45 ACP Colt Commander.
 
#65 ·
Which would you bring on a limited choice, on a hike among bears?
(Both conceal nicely with a light shirt on, OWB.)

--12+1 Para Ord P12 3.5" barrel .45ACP
or
--7+1 Colt .45 ACP Colt Commander.
Personally I'd carry the commander. But get to the range and stretch it out some. Bears aren't always known for waiting until you're 25 yards away to charge.
 
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#68 ·
macht keinin...'dillo's sterben

...and about hiking...which I do every day on the trail through our place.
 
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#72 ·
SO I came "This close" to buying a Ruger Vaquero Birdshead .44 mag in stainless today for our Glacier Nat'l Park Hike coming up in 5 weeks.

I managed to hold my wallet even though the revolver was $632 NIB... but the bark and bite of a 3" single action revolver shy'ed me away. (My Dan Wesson 44 mag with a 6" barrel has a nice bite, AND it's just too big to hike with even though I have a nice shoulder holster)

So, I'm down to traveling with either a 12+1 Para Ord P12 3.5" barrel-.45ACP (My "truck gun") or my tried and true Colt .45 ACP Colt Commander. I shoot both very well with both at 25 yards. I practice the most with these two (One is a truck gun, the other a EDC)

I bought some Buffalo Bore Ammunition 45 ACP +P 45/230 x 50 rds (which will wear out a slide spring after a box or two) cause I figure I'll be a "Spray and pray" fool in the midst of any bear charges. SAA NOT so good for that situation.

Which would you bring on a limited choice, on a hike among bears?
(Both conceal nicely with a light shirt on, OWB.)

--12+1 Para Ord P12 3.5" barrel .45ACP
or
--7+1 Colt .45 ACP Colt Commander.
I would go with the truck gun. If your camping its going to get banged up.
 
#73 ·
I remember as a kid, we hiked all over hell without a gun. Were not many dangerous animal's where we lived, pretty civilized area. Moved back to Oregon and got out and about a lot. I've seen two mountain lions and two bears in my life here! I have never run into a pot grower and if I though they might be where I was going, I'd go somewhere else.

My only reason for carrying a handgun out and about is maybe I'd have to spend the night and would be nice to be able to shoot something to eat.

If I was to go into an area where these problem's existed and for some reason actually did it, I wouldn't take a handgun, I'd take a rifle! Well, I probably would take along a handgun too. My 32 long is very light and pretty easy on small game. To me I see a greater need to carry something I might actually need and a little something less than a 44 mag to shoot rabbit's!
 
#75 ·
Several things would come into play if using the 1911 platform. First I would not opt for the wide body Para when the Colt will except 10 round magazines.....Wilson Combat offers their :Government Magazine 10 rounds plus one in the chamber for 11. Smaller and easier to handle.

If you reload and research early .45acp loads you will find the so called "Engine block killer" this is from the 30`s-50`s firing a 250gn bullet at around the same speed as the 230gn. This was used in many applications back then. It truly would crack an engine block of the day.

My choice in this case would be to research the 250gn load........
Myself I would use that same platform and convert it to 10mm and use load data back from the early days when it was "HOT" loaded well beyond todays light loading.

In real world applications the wheel gun would be my first choice as most never get off more than 4 shots before you are consumed or kill the threat. The 44mag with hard cast in the heavier bullet weights and a compact version with a 4" barrel would be my number one choice.
 
#76 ·
Cougar are prolly the biggest threat in the PNW or the Northern territories.
They are cunning, they attack when you least expect. They are true hunters when hungry.
A bear will let you know before they charge.

You'll see one wolf as a warning before the pack encircles. (Intentionally...like"hey look over here!" and then BAM,you're encircled by 2, maybe 3 or more)
A hog will shreek before charging.
But the cougar....they're loners. And when hungry, they'll attack you and you'll never know until too late. AND, they go for the neck area. Many examples of cougar attacks in our area as you know,Griz.
Case in point, yesterday.
http://www.foxnews.com/us/2018/05/19/cougar-attack-in-washington-kills-1-biker-injures-another.html
 
#77 ·
.357/.41 Magnum, .45 Colt, .44 Special/Magnum, in a firearm that's convenient to carry and quickly accessible.

Where weight and bulk is critical (like on long back packing trips) a .22LR

Where criminals are prevalent (like border areas where the cartels play) a .45, .38 Super or 9mm Parabellum.
 
#78 ·
I am considering the best of two worlds. Chest holster, I am leaning towards the Kenai Alaskan chest rig for my Glock 40 10mm and keep my Ruger SP101 357 as a BUG on my right hip.

Both are reliable, easy to shoot and plenty of recorded stops of even large gruzzlies.

That’s just for a casual stroll in the woods and campgrounds here in Idaho.

For a serious jaunt into the back woods, I can sling my Marlin 444 over my shoulder and still carry these with me and a light day pack.

The chest holster adds a new layer of BUG options and I can see why it is becoming a populary carry choice.
 
#79 ·
I am considering the best of two worlds. Chest holster, I am leaning towards the Kenai Alaskan chest rig for my Glock 40 10mm and keep my Ruger SP101 357 as a BUG on my right hip.

Both are reliable, easy to shoot and plenty of recorded stops of even large gruzzlies.

That's just for a casual stroll in the woods and campgrounds here in Idaho.

For a serious jaunt into the back woods, I can sling my Marlin 444 over my shoulder and still carry these with me and a light day pack.

The chest holster adds a new layer of BUG options and I can see why it is becoming a populary carry choice.
I've been contemplating a chest holster myself
 
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