Backpacking gun?

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[QUOTEI'm sure that by the numbers on paper, a Glock 10mm is comforting, but at what distances can you place a shot accurately? Does anyone recommending them even practice as far as 25yds? ][/QUOTE]

I practice @ 25 yards with every handgun I own including a S&W J frame. When I was hired in the early 80's, it was the agency's policy (many others) that you had to qualify out to 50 yards with every handgun you carried either for on duty, off duty, or as a backup.

Unfortunately we don't qualify out anywhere near that far anymore. Which is a shame because even though the majority of our people are using 9mm and they should have no problem making torso hits out to 100 yards there are a fair number of them having problems getting a tight group at 25.
 
I do not understand why people, including cops, sell themselves short on their ability with a handgun. It is "trendy" for police departments to exclude long range training with handguns. They use the stats to conclude that it is not time efficient AND economically sound to "waste" the ammo on officer's training out to 50 yards or longer with their sidearms. There is no reason a citizen or peace officer cannot conduct training and gain competence BEYOND the minimum standards. What is your life worth? Or that of someone else you are protecting? Are you content to just do the "minimum"? As mentioned above, the practical police revolver course of yore included 50 yard shooting. It isn't that hard, and would seem to offer the pistoleer an advantage over anyone NOT training at distance. As far as the Glock 20, or any suitable "backpacking" pistol, it translates to this: if it will shoot a generic 4" group at 25 yards (to me, that is not all that impressive, and most any quality handgun will do it), then that translates to ABOUT 8 inches at 50 yards, or 16 inches at 100 yards......not a sure hit on a mansize target's chest, but very close. Should we engage a target at 100 yards? Well, if I'm in the woods, and someone is shooting at me with intent to harm, then I'm obliged to return fire. My Glock 20 will probably do 2-3" groups at 25 yards all day, which means if I do my part, I should CONSISTENTLY hit a 12-14" circle at 100 yards...... probably not going to happen due to occasional human error, wind, conditions, etc, but possible. I DO practice at 25 and 50 yards with all my guns, even the little ones, just to add diversity to the game and pleasure of shooting. Why not? It makes me better, and that gives me an advantage, should I ever need it.
 
I never considered my question would get quite so many responses....

I have covered some trail with my 1911 while hunting, and have learned of better ways to carry. I think I am going to be looking for a 4" bbl .357 revolver for my woods travel - I have a 6" bbl gun that could do in a pinch, but the 4" might be better.

As to weight, balance is more the issue. Since I can cut a lot of weight from my load by dropping some of the beer pounds, I figure that cutting corners on the gun might be less logical than getting less fat myself. It is neat to be getting back into this hobby - 25 years ago, my pack typically weighed in a good bit heavier than it has to now. Between getting some lard off my a$$ and toting a 30# pack, I think the weight of the gun matters less than the carry method.

Again, thanks for the information. Never expected 100+ posts!
 
I have gone into the woods and even lived in them for the summer, long story, but I would say best gun you could take is a .22 WMR IMHO. If your just worried about high country take a 6" .357 with first shot always being snake round, followed by one man stopper, then 4 hardcast heavies!
 
Why carry a pistol in your backpack?

Almost any center fire rifle will do more damage than any semiauto pistol or revolver. Consider a cut down model 94 winchester in 30-30, savage 99e in .308or something along those lines. A bear can be tough, even black bears, to kill and I would never venture into possible bear territory without a rifle or a twelve gauge with slugs.
 
I live in black bear territory, in the woods. I've had black bear in my backyard more than once.

And I usually carry a Colt Woodsman .22 when hiking or horseback riding. Admittedly, I sometimes also carry a .45 Colt, but I don't consider I need it.
 

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jiminhobesound said:
I would never venture into possible bear territory without a rifle or a twelve gauge with slugs.
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But do you? As I said back on page one, there are bears and thousands of hikers and backpackers crawling all over the Olympic and Cascade Ranges here in Washington- all year around. Almost none of the hikers or backpackers are carrying a firearm of any kind, and I venture that 0% are carrying long guns. So I have to ask, what is your backpacking and/or hiking experience?

As an aside, bear attacks, as rare as they are, seldom happen out on the trail. Of the few I've heard of, they were all in suburban neighborhoods. So your advice begs the question, if you were in Washington, would you never venture outside your home without a rifle or a twelve gauge with slugs? :confused:
 
If you're worried about bears, don't leave food lying around -- get it away from your campsite. Without the enticing odor of free eats, black bears will stay out of your way.
 
I live in WA State and hike a lot. Sometimes I carry my 38 special, mostly not. I have encountered many bears over the 60 years and narry a one has wanted to muss with me. (even a grizzly in BC once)

Rule #1: don't smell like food, and don't leave any food in you campsite that can call a bear in to visit. There are areas of WA that do have a lot of bears. We have a couple that come in our yard every year. Never had a problem with them...I have a 88 lb Doberman that hates bears on HER property.

Rule #2: If you surprise a bear on the trail, NEVER RUN AWAY from a bear. If anything Raise your arms (they have very poor eyesight, and you can fool them into thinking you are bigger than you are) move toward them, and yell. I know this works, I have done it at least 10 times over the years, once I came out onto a logging road and there was a good sized black bear maybe 10 feet away, on that same road. Another time I stopped my Bronco, got out and laid my map out on the hood to orient it, and a bear popped out of the woods on the other side of the Bronco. One yell sent both running away.

If you have a dog, bring it. Bears hate dogs. (dogs are not allowed on the trail in the North Cascades National Park, except on the Pacific crest trail.) Dogs will keep the big cats away too.

UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCE shoot a Grizzly in WA State!!! You will go to jail and face a BIG FINE! The chances of encountering a Grizzly in WA state is extremely slim, and if you do see one, depart, slowly, in the opposite direction. Do not shoot, do not shoot at, do not shoot in the air unless it is trying to eat you. Then F&W will just take you to the hospital First, before they take you to jail.

Basically, bears here in WA do not like humans, and will do their best to leave rather than fight if allowed to.
 
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Well its always good to wear a bell around your neck so that you don't surprise a bear as you are walking down the trail. The bell will alert the bear to your presence and they will usually leave before you even see them.

Course its always a good idea to have bear class pepper spray in a large can on a velcro attachment on your chest as this is a great deterrent.

And situational awareness is important on the trail. For example black bear droppings usually can be identified by the presence of twigs and berrys. The ones to watch out for of course are grizzly droppings.

These can be identified by the presence of bells and the smell of pepper spray.:D
 
I do not like the sound of bells, I like the forest sounds (or lack thereof). Never found bells or pepper spray necessary. I think they would identify you as a city slicker anyway, (better eats for the bear. Come to dinner bell)
 
Hey on Future Weapons Mack had a .50 cal Beowolf breakdown in his backpack = ] The new Taurus Judge Bull Magnum would also be a good candidate for use with multiple types of ammo from .410 to .45 colt to .454 casull.
 
.700 NE is my vote :)

On a serious note I don't go into the woods with anything less than a .357 with 200 grains of angry lead. Other than that my .44 with 300 grains or my .45-70 with 425 grains. But that's just me I've always been a little bit over prepared.
 
For true backpacking, a 38 snub was always my favorite. Not concerned about the black bears where I pack, more concerned about drunken yahoos.
Now, my backpack gun is a tokarev pistol...I can reach out to 100yds with it, and the ammo penetrates very well. Plus, the pistol was cheap, and I dont mind subjecting it to trail abuse.
 
Ive got my popcorn

I lol'd @ post #85. (I dont see why not, the ruger alaskan functions in the lower 48)

Personally for me, bear spray and a gp 100 with heavy flat nost bullets. why?
Because I can point a GP100 better than anything else ive tried
 
You're backpacking not surviving an alien invasion. Weight is important. 5 or 6 shot lightweight snubby in .357 and a dozen rounds is probably more than you'll ever need.
 
You're backpacking not surviving an alien invasion. Weight is important. 5 or 6 shot lightweight snubby in .357 and a dozen rounds is probably more than you'll ever need.
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In the end the question resolves to "Why do you need it?"

There are basically three answers:

1. Because I want it. (Perfectly valid reason -- which leads to "carry whatever you want.")

2. To harvest small game as I chance upon it, kill snakes, etc.

3. To protect myself against large, dangerous animals (including those that walk on two legs.)

For reason 2, I select my Colt Woodsman. For reason 3, I would go with a .357.
 
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