Backcountry hiking

[WisBorn]

@AUhiker I apologize that I won't be carrying my newly purchased micro compact 9mm with me on my up coming GSMNP trip.
I am getting together my carry choices for the two week trip and the loads that I will have with me.
My favorite carry is my S&W 442 38sp. I will have Underwood 158gr hardcast and Norma 158 JHP. I will also have my XDM compact 45acp. With a magazine of 255gr hardcast and a magazine of 230gr JHP.
Both handguns fit IMO as primary and as backup. I always pocket carry. I have carried both in my front pocket. Enjoy your hikes! Still like the idea of different loads for hiking and EDC.

 

[AUhiker]

@AUhiker I apologize that I won't be carrying my newly purchased micro compact 9mm with me on my up coming GSMNP trip.
I am getting together my carry choices for the two week trip and the loads that I will have with me.
My favorite carry is my S&W 442 38sp. I will have Underwood 158gr hardcast and Norma 158 JHP. I will also have my XDM compact 45acp. With a magazine of 255gr hardcast and a magazine of 230gr JHP.
Both handguns fit IMO as primary and as backup. I always pocket carry. I have carried both in my front pocket. Enjoy your hikes! Still like the idea of different loads for hiking and EDC.
View attachment 1142976

No need to apologize, I like that setup myself. Should be plenty of gun those 158 hardcast out of that 38 pack a punch. Probably more so than the 9mm.

 

[WisBorn]

No need to apologize, I like that setup myself. Should be plenty of gun those 158 hardcast out of that 38 pack a punch. Probably more so than the 9mm.

I do like the load
The 38+p Hardcast from Underwood load is advertised at 1250 fps 548#. I have seen testing where they are still getting 1100 fps 424#of energy from a 2" barrel.

The Underwood 147gr 9mm Hardcast is a good choice too and a little cheaper than Buffalo Bore.

 

[Anchorite]

@AUhiker I apologize that I won't be carrying my newly purchased micro compact 9mm with me on my up coming GSMNP trip.
I am getting together my carry choices for the two week trip and the loads that I will have with me.
My favorite carry is my S&W 442 38sp. I will have Underwood 158gr hardcast and Norma 158 JHP. I will also have my XDM compact 45acp. With a magazine of 255gr hardcast and a magazine of 230gr JHP.
Both handguns fit IMO as primary and as backup. I always pocket carry. I have carried both in my front pocket. Enjoy your hikes! Still like the idea of different loads for hiking and EDC.
View attachment 1142976

Those 255gr hard cast loads will thump anything in the lower 48 with authority. Solid choice (pun intended).

 

[bubbaturbo]

I'm retired and spend quite a bit of time in the woods, usually either hunting hogs or plinking with a 22LR. I've spent more time thinking about the best gun and the best ammo for all kinds of scenarios than I want to admit. Wasted a lot of time. I always have a handgun on my hip in the woods. I have used it to finish off downed hogs but mostly it just provides some peace of mind. I quit worrying about swapping ammo. I figure regular hollowpoints will work just fine everywhere. I quit worrying about the best gun too. Pick something with a tolerable size, weight, caliber, and capacity, load it, strap it on and go. Same gun/same ammo all the time. And except for 22 LR, I can't remember when I had more than 12 - 15 rounds of anything on me. That's just me though.

 

[TRACON]

In my experience the .40 cal guns almost universally run the 200gr reliably while it seems like none of the 10mm guns will (aside from a 1911). I'm leaning on the experiences of some very very knowledgeable ten sourdoughs on this one as my own experience with the ten is limited.

^^^FUD.

I’ve been big game handgun hunting with a Glock 20 gen3 for 20 years and use almost exclusively 200gr lead hardcast. Never an issue and my walls in my hunting room have the trophies to prove it.

I also hunt on occasion with a Gen 4 with 200gr, 210 and 220gr lead hardcast and no issues. I use a stock Glock barrel and clean the barrel after every 30 rounds. Again, no issues for over a decade.

I recently bought the gen5 Glock 20 and it shoots everything in the 180, 200, 210 and 220 FMJ/lead hardcast.

Next?

 

[GooseGestapo]

I’m of a different thought…..

I graduated from AU in ‘78. I grew up hunting the Talladega National Forrest, and numerous other areas in the Deep South.
Additionally, I worked in Law Enforcement, both municipal and State DNR for several decades.

Odds are, you’re MUCH more likely to encounter a 2-legged predator than a 4-legged one.
The 9mm is a good choice if you can hit what you’re aiming at. The exact ammunition won’t matter. A boutique ammunition such as Corbon, Underwood, Buffalo Bore, etc could actually be a liability if you have to use it. But, won’t likely enter into consideration.
Be absolutely sure you’re justified in using force.

Often, a valid fishing license is better than a weapons license for justification for possessing a firearm in the areas you’re accessing, so be sure your fishing licenses are current!
I also recommend a compact shotgun rather than a 9mm. At my age, camping involves my 25’ camper, and hiking means easy access trout stocking spots.
I’m usually carrying my S&W 2” Mod 34, a .40 in the truck (and an AR, or whatever I’m deer/pig hunting with) and the 12ga in the camper… ( I have both Al and Ga lifetime hunt/fishing license, too!).
War Eagle! And Welcome to THR…

 

[jmorris]

147’s loaded minor work on coyotes and trapped pigs, never have had them come to me though, unless I was hiding and waiting for them near a feeder.

If they were an aggressive animal, I’d probably carry something else.

 

[GooseGestapo]

Don't want to sound silly but...That's Alabama?

Yeah! That’s Alabama!
I grew up near there! ( though that’s not actually Alabama, but you get the idea!)

http://www.alapark.com/parks/cheaha-state-park


https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Talladega_National_Forest

 

[Southerner up North]

The exact ammunition won’t matter. A boutique ammunition such as Corbon, Underwood, Buffalo Bore, etc could actually be a liability if you have to use it. But, won’t likely enter into consideration.
Be absolutely sure you’re justified in using force.

Often, a valid fishing license is better than a weapons license for justification for possessing a firearm in the areas you’re accessing, so be sure your fishing licenses are current!

I am curious about the boutique of ammo statement. Please elaborate.
Also, how is a current fishing license better than a current concealed weapons permit?
Thanks

 

[GooseGestapo]

There is a clause in the statute permitting holders of valid fishing licenses to possess a firearm while fishing, or going to or from….
Probably moot now that Alabama and Georgia are “constitutional carry” states.

Use of one of the “Boutique” ammunition may be construed as intent to cause additional harm and suffering to the “victim”. Not likely in a criminal prosecution. But assured in a civil wrongful injury trial.

 

[Southerner up North]

There is a clause in the statute permitting holders of valid fishing licenses to possess a firearm while fishing, or going to or from….
Probably moot now that Alabama and Georgia are “constitutional carry” states.

Use of one of the “Boutique” ammunition may be construed as intent to cause additional harm and suffering to the “victim”. Not likely in a criminal prosecution. But assured in a civil wrongful injury trial.

Thanks for explanations.

 

[DDDWho]

Although there are Puma, Bobcats and Bear in Missouri - I’ve never seen any of them. I bought this 45 ACP Tisas as a beater, just for duty as the OP suggests. I usually load it with 230 gr ball but I do have a box of Underwood 255 gr. Hard cast +P on hand just in case.

 

[AUhiker]

I’m of a different thought…..

I graduated from AU in ‘78. I grew up hunting the Talladega National Forrest, and numerous other areas in the Deep South.
Additionally, I worked in Law Enforcement, both municipal and State DNR for several decades.

Odds are, you’re MUCH more likely to encounter a 2-legged predator than a 4-legged one.
The 9mm is a good choice if you can hit what you’re aiming at. The exact ammunition won’t matter. A boutique ammunition such as Corbon, Underwood, Buffalo Bore, etc could actually be a liability if you have to use it. But, won’t likely enter into consideration.
Be absolutely sure you’re justified in using force.

Often, a valid fishing license is better than a weapons license for justification for possessing a firearm in the areas you’re accessing, so be sure your fishing licenses are current!
I also recommend a compact shotgun rather than a 9mm. At my age, camping involves my 25’ camper, and hiking means easy access trout stocking spots.
I’m usually carrying my S&W 2” Mod 34, a .40 in the truck (and an AR, or whatever I’m deer/pig hunting with) and the 12ga in the camper… ( I have both Al and Ga lifetime hunt/fishing license, too!).
War Eagle! And Welcome to THR…

I like the setup your running! I’ll look into the fishing license clause and see how it pertains now that we’re constitutional like you mentioned. Oh and War Eagle!

 

[GooseGestapo]

Although there are Puma, Bobcats and Bear in Missouri - I’ve never seen any of them. I bought this 45 ACP Tisas as a beater, just for duty as the OP suggests. I usually load it with 230 gr ball but I do have a box of Underwood 255 gr. Hard cast +P on hand just in case. View attachment 1145407

Me too!
And…. A 9mm US GI, and, a Service 9mm ( goodies and Novak style rear sight being replaced with a Kensight adjustable), and…. And… a Taylors &Co. 10mm w/ adjustable LPA sight.
At $329-$409, they can’t be beat!
My .45 is in my P.U. Loaded with Speer 230gr GoldDots….

 

[2zulu1]

Indeed they will, but they’ll, act just like a FMJ. Basically just punching a hole straight through and that is what generally does NOT aid in rapid blood loss nor an immediate loss of blood pressure. Of course a brain or CNS shot will immediately incapacitate, but those shots are statistically harder to “score,” especially with a moving target. This is why hollowpoints are the supreme projectile for human zombies.

With rapid expansion and deep (enough) penetration, the hollowpoint bullet literally “dumps” all of its kinetic energy into the target by staying inside the body (hopefully) and instead of merely just passing through like an FMJ. By expanding in the body, the HP bullet also may cause larger wound channels which causes larger injury (hemorrhaging), which hopefully causes faster blood and blood pressure loss, thus ending the threat sooner.

Third, using hardcast or FMJ’s on humans definitely runs the risk of over penetration and striking an innocent person. Not so much risk is to be had with a well designed hollowpoint.

Never use FMJ’s nor Hardcast on humans if at all possible.

Energy dump from service calibers is a myth, bullet momentum is a key factor (not the only) in soft tissue penetration. Flat nose and FMJ don't act the same, flat nose tends to cut soft tissue (larger crush cavity) whereas FMJs simply push soft tissue out of the way. Should there be intermediate barriers along a trail path, like branches, flat nose will shoot straight, JHPs tend to deflect/tumble when only a few petals fold back upon impacting a branch. Cavitation caused by flat bullet edges, check it out.