Backpacking gun?

[Weevil]

Yeah if the primary threat is hyper-aggressive rabid grizzly bears then yeah a magnum handgun or a bazooka would be the ideal choice, but realistically the primary threat is going to be other humans or feral dogs both of which tend to travel in packs.

The G20 gives me some defense against possible bear attacks but also gives me good firepower and capacity should I have to deal with mulitiple targets.


There are all sorts of threats and dangers and you may get injured and need to fire shots for help and 3 shots at a time will use up a revolvers capacity real quick.

 

[Mainsail]

A goat?

The story is here. Having a firearm to put the goat down after the attack would have allowed his friends to given aid. A gun wouldn't have prevented the attack though.

 

[sourdough44]

Try hiking all day with a 3 lb handgun? Not enjoyable. Unless I'm right around Yellowstone in the lower 48 I'll be content with a lightweight Hi-cap 40 s&w, a Glock 23, H&K p2000sk & similar come to mind.

 

[lloveless]

Sourdough44, I have hiked all day with a day pack(10 lbs) plus a Ruger Redhawk with a 4 inch barrell loaded with 6 300 gr cartridges. It is doable. I prefer to carry via a shoulder holster in this situation. I was in Alaska. In the Lower 48 my sp 101 3 inch barrel with 200 gr corbons in .357 is nice.
ll

 

[Fieldstone]

If you are already shooting 1911 you could "downsize" the frame and carry RIA compact tactical that holds 7 or the the Glock 36. If it were just a BG thing you could carry micro in .25 or .32 from Kel Tec.

 

[ahpd1992]

I love these threads, seriously I like to hear from the experienced outdoorsman who can provide realistic answers. It reminds me of a friend of mine who went on his first camping trip out west (Colorado, I live in IL) and his obsession with bears.

He ended up buying a 500 magnum just for the trip, after I told him his 12 gauge he already owned loaded up w/ slugs would pretty much stop anything he'd ever encounter.

He brought the shotgun along with his shiny new 500 mag. and of course the 500 stayed in his pickup most of the time because he didnt think about a carry rig and a slinged up 12 gauge is a lot easier to carry than a handgun in the wrong type of holster. He saw a lot of beautiful things we never get to see here in the flat lands of Illinois, but not one wild animal that could do him harm.

His conclusion was that his dog (German Shepard) was the best warning system he could have. A 500 magnum is HEAVY, especially hanging off of your waist while walking rough terrain. Shotguns are very versatile and with the right sling are a lot easier to carry than a handgun with the wrong holster.

I would look at a modification to your existing gun if you feel 45ACP isnt enough. I have enough tools (guns) at my disposal so I would look at carry rigs for the job, I think that will make a bigger difference than a new gun. My S&W 4506 will do the job, my Glock 35 will do the job, I would concentrate on how to carry the gun for long periods of time more than the gun itself

 

[wnycollector]

I regularly hike and backpack in the north east while carrying a 4" S&W M13 loaded with S&B 158gr SP's. I used to carry DT 180gr flat points, but decided that that was a bit of overkill for this part of the country. I find the K frame .357 to be a pretty decent compromise between weight and firepower. In all honesty, I carry more for protection from 2 legged animal rather than four legged animal I encounter on the trail.

To the OP, I wouldn't feel under gunned carrying a full sized 1911 on the trail, especially if it was loaded with something like the DT +P 255gr hard cast SWC. Here is the link http://www.doubletapammo.com/php/ca...ucts_id=428&osCsid=kkva0hthlija92f6m03avtsh32

 

[357_]

About the Goat ...

I've never come across a wild goat before. I couldn't imagine how awkward it would be to find an aggressive one! Imagine the angry goat that follows you for 2 miles up the trail and keeps staring you down, haha. And to think the damned things can gore you!

When I was a kid my parents took me to a petting zoo. They had all kinds of goats, which was great because I liked them. After a few minutes I was bitten, rammed and puked on by a herd of baby goats. I couldn't even fathom an angry adult goat!

I suggest from here out we now refer to "bear country" as "Goat Country"

Imagine the thread titles .... "Headed into goat country, is .460s&w mag enough?"

 

[Panzercat]

Yeah, you generally don't think of goats as being that aggressive. I mean sure, at some level you realize they can, but damn. Hell, I've been on a farm and even the domesticated ones can get rowdy.

Tells you something about we as people who can forget sharp, pointy decorative head gear on otherwise passive animals is actually there for a reason. I mean damn. Death by goat is a lousy way to go.

I would think a .45 would be just fine for goat country
Bears I'm still thinking .454 or better. I want penetration and damage if I'm that concerned i'll be encountering rabid zombie bears.

 

[jmr40]

I use a Glock 20 in 10mm for my backpacking gun. Lighter and more reliable than revolver. About the same power levels as a 357 mag but with 10 more rounds. A revolver is more accurate if fired in single action at distance, but up close I'm much more accurate with the Glock than a revolver fired double action.

I think the G20 is the perfect pack gun unless griz is a possibility. Even then it is a better choice than a 357 mag revolver. I have 3" and 4" revolvers chambered in both 357 and 44 mag. If Griz were a possibility I'd seriously consider one of the 44's, but would probably still carry the Glock because it is lighter and carries more ammo. Even in grizzly country I'd still be much more worried about 2 legged predarors.

 

[wow6599]

more reliable than revolver

I agree with everything you said except this. Never had a revolver give me any kind of failure.......but my G20 has given me a couple of FTFs. But I'm still going with my G20 SF over a .357 Mag.

 

[Leadhead]

I've had revolvers lock up at the range, once due to the ejection rod backing out and another time it was a primer that was not flush.

Revolvers are great but they can fail and when they do it's not as easy to get going again as a modern semi auto.

 

[357_]

If your cylinder gap is too narrow and your ammo is dirty (or anything else gets in there) the cylinder can and WILL bind. Sometimes it's easy to fix other times it is not. I had my sp101 bind on my and I had to hit the cylinder with a rubber mallet to get it to open. Luckily my timing wasn't off afterwards. Had I been under fire I would now be under-ground.

Don't get me wrong, it's still my EDC. But I am looking really hard for a nice pistol to replace it, or maybe supplement it. I'm hoping to pick up an LCP used and cheap. Nobody shoots them too often and I'm sure lots of folks are going to start buying the LC9's. I may even break the mold and buy something other than a Ruger, been eye'n the RIA 1911's for a while and read good things. As well as the XDm's, but those just cost too much for me.

Sorry, what was this thread actually about? I think we derailed it.

 

[ahpd1992]

I was just looking through the double tap site and saw the 45acp 255 grain hardcast rounds.

Dont get a new gun just get the right ammo. Their safe to shoot out of your current pistol and will likely take care of anything but the biggest of bears. I think your not likelyto run across the big bears anyway. Spend the money on a good carry rig

 

[cmat]

When I'm in grizzly country I bring a .44 magnum but if all I have to worry about are black bears or lions I just bring an sp101 in .357. I respect black bears alot because they could smack off a good portion of my face with one swipe but every one I've seen have run off right when they see me. I've never had to draw on one.

 

[RinkRat]

Say what you will but I’m not strolling into Mother Nature’s wilderness with anything less that a G20 filled with a heavy WFNGC Hardcast non-expanding round. IMHO you will not get the penetration need the get through a wild beasts tuff hairy hid, a thick layer of dense fat, and their skull is and bones are very thick and strong and a JHP will not dig deep enough and a RN bullet will detour around hard obstacles like a bone and hard-skull. Yes a bear might look at you and say I don’t care to hassle you today, but someone will ask you does your doggie bite?? You say no… Next thing you know it is chewing off their leg! Black bears are the easiest to divert unless they have cubs to protect or might be out for a snack or are just having a bad day because their lady friend turned them down. And depending on where your backpacking you never know what color bear could be around the bend. Brownies, blonds, grizzles and such are and can be more aggressive and polar bears will hunt you down despite them being miles away when they pickup your scent if they feel the need to feed. I know were not talking about hunting here but sometimes bears will be attracted to you by hearing your gun shot because they think they can and will try to take your hunted kill. But for your BEST protection my advice would be to only venture out into bear land with a friend because all you would really need to carry then is a tiny 22short derringer to shoot them in the leg with so you can run away faster then them and let them deal with Yogi and Boo-boo!! Isn’t that what good friends do is help each other out when your in a real jam … just a thought!

 

[Bill B.]

For a backing packing gun weight is the major concern. Get one that weighs to much and it will be at home when you need it. Though the OP didn't say in many backing areas you have to carry in your pack because you aren't allowed to have a firearm where you are backpacking. Just something to keep in mind ...........................

 

[kludge]

Looking for a pistol to tote while backpacking. Critters of concern are bears, coyotes, wolves, and the two-legged BG.

I normally tote a 1911, full-sized, day-to-day, but I think that's a kinda puny round when thinking about a bear or wolf or whatever.

Any advice is welcomed!

1911 + bear spray. Though personally I'd pick a smaller lighter handgun for backpacking.

Like a Ruger LCR .357 or a S&W 340PD

 

[RinkRat]

I was kind ah wondering what took so long for the subject of Bear Spray to surface Just a note on that. You can’t use the garden variety “Pepper Spray” you get at the local dahllah store down the street. They make a SPECIAL Bear Spray. Now there have been more bad experiences with that then good. If there is a breeze or cross-wind it might not get on the bear and it just might blow back into your face. It does kind ah shoot a stream but most of it forms kind ah like a cloud. And that bear stuff could blind you! If you do use it buyer beware. I would not use it YMMV. And if backpacking with a handgun on your hip is weighing you down then you have way too much stuff in your backpack to begin with! You need to spread the weight out amongst your group if your not alone and pack your pack right too. And don’t think that having your firearm inside your pack is going to work to your advantage. A bear a rabid raccoon a wild hound a BG on the trail not even a snake is going to wait for you to take off your pack dig through all the stuff you have stuffed inside to find your firearm and give you time to point it and say OK you ready for this?

 

[9mm+]

My new Ruger Alaskan in .44 could double as a boat anchor, but I couldn't imagine backpacking without it.

 

[Guillermo]

Whatever you get, be sure to practice with it to make sure you can HIT what you're aiming at

To expand on the good advice David gave you, carry the most gun that you are good with.

My trail gun is a 4 inch 357. Of course in these parts bears are not an issue and a mountain lion would blitz attack so I would probably never clear leather. (unless it popped something else like a companion or a dog). The most likely creature that I will have an issue with is the North American Primate.

 

[Mainsail]

Though the OP didn't say in many backing areas you have to carry in your pack because you aren't allowed to have a firearm where you are backpacking. Just something to keep in mind ...........................

There is no such restriction in Washington. You may carry openly without a license of any kind. Concealed is supposed to be allowed without a license (I think) if you're engaged in such an outdoor activity.

 

[RinkRat]

Go to this web site http://www.handgunlaw.us/ they give an overview of USA handgun laws state by state. Click on the state you want to check on. They do a good job of keeping up to date. But you should always check with state LEO and authorities, as all laws are subject to interpretation by whom ever you may encounter. And they are ever changing.

 

[RinkRat]

Go to this web site http://www.handgunlaw.us/ they give an overview of USA handgun laws state by state. Click on the state you want to check on. They do a good job of keeping up to date. But you should always check with state LEO and authorities to be sure, as all laws are subject to interpretation by whom ever you may encounter. As they are ever changing too.

Good point Guillermo on the lack of time. Since were on the subject of Bruins they can run very FAST. They can scoot along at up to 35mph in a split second. You may ONLY have 3 to 7 seconds to draw, point, and shoot.

I was at an outdoors survival course and they said think of a bear encounter like this ,,,,,

Think of it as if you are standing about 30-ft in front of a pickup truck with your back towards the driver and as you turn to face it head-on the driver punches it and is now barreling down on you at 35mph, now try and jump out of the way before you get run over, and oh ya ,,, don’t forget to draw your weapon and shoot the driver in the head in the 2 to 5 seconds you have before you get run over!!

 

[RinkRat]

OOPS double post sorry