Calling all mountain men: Best Sidearm for remote hiking or backpacking

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Thin Black Line said:
I'd like to see someone do that to a charging bear....not in person, of course.
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It wouldn't be plan A that's for sure. Guys do it to Cape buffalo, why not bears?

Thin Black Line said:
What's wrong with a pistol-grip 12g loaded with slugs as your side arm?!
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For me, the 12 would be unacceptable, far to heavy for a backpacking trip. Ten 3in slugs probably weigh as much as a pistol.
 
trueblue1776 said:
I will counter that with:

Bears have big heads.

If a bear is charging you his head is the biggest target on him.

Bears have thick skulls.

.44 mag hits so hard he would die of a brain aneurysm even IF (and thats a large if) it didn't penetrate.

PLUS you have atleast 5 shots in a every 44mag I've ever seen. One is bound to enter an eyeball.

I do not accept a 5 rounds from a .44mag to a bears dome would just piss him off. Most bears I have seen are in the 175-375 lb range, like a large person.

.357 is a good choice,
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I can only imagine how hard it would be to hit a charging bear in the head....let alone 5 times. Good Luck on that one. If it were me, deal with the little extra weight of the firearm and get yourself a large caliber revolver (ie .454)

Quinten
 
All depends on the time of year, where i am going camping, and what i am doing. canoing in the BWCA< I am now going to be bringing a blackhawk in 45 colt or SW mountain gun. Last two trips we have run into camp foraging bears, reprted both but these bears were not taking no food here for an answer. In the canoe, I might even consider carrying the 44 mag trapper for the wife and son to use if i am out fishing when the bear walks in.

Hiking in the black hills or points west or south, prolly a 65 Smith, light, small and works with shot shells. I used to carry a 3 in RB model 65 with the first two holes filled with shot shell. I think this worked good was able to cover the most likely use for such a gun, snake control. Now other areas of the country I might run into druggers or lowlifes, I might want to change that, but where i was it worked.

For a more PC apperance, I might trade that S&W for a vaquero. but it would be the same load.

In the south east or the pacific coastal regions, a smith 6904 or light wieght commander may be a better bet.
 
Let's face it most of us are carrying a gun for the same reason you carry a first aid kit.. you hope you won't need it. I'm not talking about 'hunting' or some sort of shtf scenario... just a good pistol or revolver to take with you when you are well out of 911 range and can't barricade yourself in a concrete reinforced saferoom.

And seriously anyone who would knowingly take on a cougar with a knife is crazier than a bag full of greased weasels.

:scrutiny:

You are far more likely to hike into someone's marijuana patch in the National Forest than to be attacked by any wild animal. If you are attacked it's far more likely to be by a mosquito, tick or bee than another mammal.

Oh and no matter how cute they look don't try to pet a skunk.

And you he-men that can draw down on a bear with steely eyes and steady hands can go camp with somebody else. :uhoh:
 
I am hesitant to suggest transitioning to a new gun for a relatively soon and temporary change in risk assessment. For a short backpacking trip that will happen relatively soon, I'd stick with a gun that you are already very skilled and experienced with.

Transitioning to a new gun for an upgrade in power should always be accompanied by a 6-12 month preparation period where you shoot several hundred rounds a month in training for a total of 1000-2000 rounds. If you lack the time or inclination to adaquately train with the more powerful gun, the best you can do is select the best load available for one of the guns you already have experience with.

Michael Courtney
 
I've been using the S&W329, since it came out, for hiking and hunting backup in the west coast mountains, usually loaded with .44 Special "Keith" loads from Buffalo Bore, carried in a crossdraw OWB holster. I had a S&W629 Mountain Gun before that.

When in grizzly country, I could switch to heavier loads, but I tend instead to switch to a S&W629 Hunter with the heaviest Garrett loads. But then, in grizzly country, I'm usually carrying a rifle, too, so it probably doesn't matter.

California is the one exception, where I carry the more easily concealable Glock G29 10mm, loaded hot with Double Tap's 180 gr Gold Dots, or the 200 gr Bearclaw hardcast. It's carried in a crossdraw OWB or a homemade chestpack. I may switch to the Delta Elite, though, as I'm much more comfortable shooting it.

I've also been known to put a .22LR in the pack for plinking and little game, but I'd really rather have my son carry that weight.
 
Excerpt from How to Hunt Black Bear

As for my favorite whitetail .357 Magnum or other similar-caliber load, a well-placed shot with a good bullet will certainly kill a bear, but it's not recommended. Wayne Bosowicz carried a Colt Python .357 Magnum revolver for years as his bear gun. Then he encountered a situation when a charged-up major boar came down from a tree and soaked up an entire cylinder full of 158-grain JHP ammo in the chest without slowing down. Bosowicz immediately went and bought a Ruger Blackhawk .41 Magnum revolver and has carried a .41 Magnum ever since. He says he has never had it fail to stop a bear on site.
 
Only for Alaska

If grizzly is a concern, go with the 480 Ruger Redhawk, five inch barrel with four Mag-Na-Ports and a Hogue Tamer grip. Pick the load you consistently shoot well, and carry it in a cross-draw with quick release flap to keep the mud out. That's top of the line in my book.

Otherwise, the 357, 357Sig, 10mm or similar in something you can really, truly use effectively. Good luck!
 
I consider the handgun a backup weapon on the trail. After a great deal of experimentation carrying everything from a howitzer .454 Casull to various .357's I've settled on my SP-101 with 200 grain hardcast slugs. They'll work well enough in a pinch, and recoil isn't that bad. It's possible to draw and fire five aimed shots far faster than it takes to handle a big handgun.

I have no idea why anyone would think 158 grain JHP's would be a good idea against bear. The 180 and 200 grain hardcasts are the only way to go. They'll work well enough in a pinch.

Whatever you have, make sure you're very comfortable with it with NO FLICHING AT ALL and practice practice practice. Speed is the key.'

I'd leave the Sigs at home rather than risk hurting them. A stainless revolver is the most practical option. My SP has a greycoat finish over stainless and is pretty much rustproof and impossible to hurt.
 
Then he encountered a situation when a charged-up major boar came down from a tree and soaked up an entire cylinder full of 158-grain JHP ammo in the chest without slowing down
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Whoa - a boar can climb trees? You sure that wasn't a werewolf?!
 
In my part of the world, the biggest concerns, in order, are:

1. feral dogs
2. stumbling onto a drug operation while it is occupied
3. human predators
4. animal predators, most likely coyotes or a cougar

Given this, my choice is a Smith .357. Right now, it is my much loved Model 19, 2 1/2" barrel, carried in a fanny pack-type pouch with three speedloaders. I prefer the revolver for this job as I can toss two boxes of ammo in the pack (one on each side in a side pocket), and know I've got 100 rounds available. No worries about magazines, etc. I also throw in a Bianchi Shadow shoulder holster for a carry option.

However, I'me thinking of saving for a Smith 686 for this job, just to avoid beating up the bluing on my 19.
 
One more vote for the Ruger Alaskan .454; it was designed for backpackers and does its job well!

Bravo Ruger!
 
CAS700850 said:
In my part of the world, the biggest concerns, in order, are:

1. feral dogs
2. stumbling onto a drug operation while it is occupied
3. human predators
4. animal predators, most likely coyotes or a cougar
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That may be true in most parts of the world right now, outside of upper MT & AK.

+1.

However, I'm a backpacker into lightweight gear. I shave ounces off the gear.

Thus, my carry would probably be my SW 642 with +P rnds.

I've been packing for 30 years. Never once needed it. Not scared of bears as I don't go where griz goes, and I understand the black bear well enough to avoid trouble.

I'm more concerned about humans than bears/cougars/etc.

.38 +P is good enough for me.

Ho ho ho.

Nem
 
Out of the choices I would take the P-229. The .40 isn't as good as something heavier but it isn't terrible.
When you mention bears to some people the immediately think of a huge grizzly. I have suprised (and been suprised by) black bears several times and been within a few feet of them. It isn't a good place to be but they have always either ran like hell or just sort of wandered away.
A few hits with a .40 should do if you absolutely had to use it, and you shouldn't be shooting at it if you don't.
If you can swing a .357 it might do better, but if you can't or if you are just more comfortable with your P-229, use it.
 
Anyone have an opinion on the .229 (4.2? in barrel) .357sig vs. .40s&w? Last I checked, the Sig round had about 20% more power, but that was 5 years ago, and new loads for a new round are sure to happen.
 
.460 Rowland?

I didn't read this entire thread but does anyone have any experience with the Clark Rowland .460 conversion kit for the 1911? Ballistics outperform the .44 Magnum. I have been considering changing my old Norinco out to this platform for this sort of thing--carrying while out in the wilderness fishing/camping/hiking.

Greg
 
Here in Alabama, the biggest threats are feral dogs and people. I recently heard a statistic, though, that said that more people are killed by deer than any other animal.

Anyway, I have carried my Commander, a P85 or a 2" SP101 for a woods gun. My current woods gun is a Taurus 445 (.44spl) 2" blued. For carry, I use a fanny pack carried in front with two speedloaders. This does not interfere with my pack, but the piece is close to hand.
 
Highland Ranger said:
They allow deer to carry guns down there?!

Must make hunting season interesting . . . . ;)
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I didn't hear how they came up with the stat, but I would have guessed horses (falling off of), dogs, or big cats.
 
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