Backpacking/trail shotguns

[MCgunner]

I agree with those that say the shotgun, any shotgun, is too heavy for serious hiking, day hiking or overnight/trek backpacking. Mostly what I've done is day hiking, but those are sometimes long days in high country. Most of my younger days I was unarmed and felt no fear of animals. There's no griz around Texas/New Mexico and I really don't fear cats or black bear.

Now, in addition to the gun, just how much shotgun ammo can you carry before it weighs too much? Yeah, I have mostly carried a medium frame 4" .357 when I carried anything, but a 3" J frame .38 is probably going to be my companion on future hikes. I've even carried 2" .38s in the past. No real need for a magnum on the trail EXCEPT I wanted my magnum in Big Bend concealed in a fanny pack on short hikes around the river, not for animals, but being that close to Mexico gives me the creeps now days. There's always the possibility of getting shot at when you're near the river or anywhere near the border. Drug runners and cartel hit squads run down there, has been a problem, and while it's not to the point I was willing to cancel my trip, I thought having a handgun with some range to it would be prudent. Can't carry a long gun in a national park, has to be a concealed weapon. I couldn't QUITE get my 6.5" blackhawk in that fanny pack, but I don't think I'd be much better armed than with the 4" DA gun which is VERY accurate.

I carried 24 extra rounds in speed loaders that last trip a few months ago. A box of .357 is too much weight, let alone shotgun shells and a shotgun.

 

[Deltaboy1984]

I carry a M-85 H&R 20 gauge shotgun.

 

[Grousefeather]

backpacking/trail shotgun

I use a Ithica 37, 12 ga, 20". Old model with no disconnector. I have been looking at the web site for the Stoger Condor "outback". Available in 12 and 20, short barreled O/U with built in sights on the rib. It looks very handy.

 

[oneounceload]

The two guns + ammo don't come close to 10 pounds

Really? A typical 12 gauge runs at least 7#, a box of shells is another 3 - that's 10 right there without the other gun and ammo - then there is the awkwardness of a long gun while traversing varying terrain

 

[Onmilo]

If our young soldiers can traverse the mountains of Afghanistan carrying a whole plethora of mil-spec junk along with them, I'm pretty sure the average in shape backpacker can do the same with a day pack, long gun, and sidearm,,,

 

[oneounceload]

If our young soldiers can traverse the mountains of Afghanistan carrying a whole plethora of mil-spec junk along with them, I'm pretty sure the average in shape backpacker can do the same with a day pack, long gun, and sidearm,,,

Apples to oranges - but if you want to schlep more weight than necessary and have it awkwardly hanging on your shoulder, by all means, have at it

(no one said ANYTHING a bout physical shape)

 

[Youngster]

I find that, comfort wise, carrying up to 35 lbs or so is a non issue, unless you're dealing with steep broken terrain.

Even subtracting the weight of a long gun and ammo, 35 lbs gives you plenty of weight left for supplies and gear, if you know what you want to do and how to do it.

 

[KodiakBeer]

Whether the weight is worth it, depends on where you live.

 

[lobo9er]

The two guns + ammo don't come close to 10 pounds.

gotta be pretty close.

 

[MCgunner]

In Texas/New Mexico, there's really NO use for a shotgun on the trail that a sidearm can't do better. You could, perhaps, dream up survival scenarios where the shotgun would be advantagous, but I'd rather just have a small revolver along and some rounds to go with it in speed loaders.

I've never been to Alaska. If I lived there, I'd probably buy and carry a .45/70 Marlin Guide Gun in a pack scabbard. I am more of a rifleman when it comes to big, four legged critters. The shotguns I own are for feathered quarry or perhaps rabbits. However, a slug gun would work, I guess. Problem with any long gun is getting it into action FAST if you actually find that you need it. Bears are pretty fast. I'm a pretty decent handgun shot and handguns have been used successfully for bear defense.

Again, I don't have to worry about that down here and a .38 or .357 will stop a human.

 

[Deltaboy1984]

I do little backpacking now, but when I did, it was often a single shot shotgun or that Savage Model 24 in 22LR/20 gauge.

Yes the 24 I pray I own one before I die!

 

[Dave McCracken]

Good luck,Deltaboy. It was a fine tool.

 

[Mr. T]

Youth Model 20 gauge....Remington 870. It's light and can deal with most anything!

 

[Pete D.]

Two guns not 10 lbs.?

I probably pack my Stevens 20 gauge single, broken down, as well as a .45 ACP (cuz it's the only pistol I have. That's backpacking, not camping.

The .45, if its a 1911, weighs 2.5lbs loaded with seven rounds. Extra ammo? The Stevens weighs about five pounds, a box of 20 ga. shells weighs close to three.
Pete
PS - You and the other brave men who carry/carried seventy pound packs and went into harms way are to be much admired for your and their service. (tears in my eyes as I write this) Thanks.
Pete

 

[Andrew Wyatt]

Remember to fill in the poll : http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/MFPQXGG

poll closes tomorrow at noon.

 

[tkopp]

I'm going camping next week. I have some advantages;

I'm camping at Rasar state park. So I only have to carry my tent/sleeping mat/sleeping bag in 100 yards. I'll also only carry the majority of my food in 100 yards. This means my day pack can be a very minimal loadout; not comfortable survival, but enough that if I got lost/injured/etc on the trails I'd be fine for a day or two. My day pack includes;

A fleece vest
lightweight poncho (rolls up into a small ball)
1.5l water
Water purification tablets
crystal light packs
3 cans food
Can opener and spoon
Change of clothes, with an extra pair of socks and underwear.
First aid kit
550 cord
2 survival blankets
fire starters
2x lighters
Mosquito repellent
Sun screen
Hat
Roll of toilet paper
Shovel (cold steel model with sharpened sides, also works as a hatchet)
Flashlight with spare battery.
12ga Stoeger Coach gun
30 rounds of ammo, mix of buck and slug.

That's enough that I could survive overnight with only mild discomfort. It all weighs in at just under 30lbs. If I were living out of the one pack and traveling more than just looping around the trails I'd trade in the shotgun for more water and a little more food, and one of the emergency blankets for a light-duty sleeping bag. All depends on what you're doing, I suppose.

 

[ISO1600]

+1 more to Mainsail.

I have done some moderately serious hiking in NM, TX, and AR, and just can't see carrying any shotgun. About the limit of what i'd comfortably carry while out in the woods for more than an hour or few would be some kind of polymer auto.

 

[amd6547]

Tkopp...my backpack for a four day overnight, 30 mile trip weighed 40lbs, including tent, sleeping bag, food, stove, cookware, assorted small gear, the backpack itself...and a Glock 23 plus two mags.

 

[tkopp]

I could get a tent and sleeping bag in and stay under 40lbs (I'm already carrying the rigging for a shelter and blankets). Cookware's a half and half proposition. On one hand it has mass, but on the other I could go with lighter food and spend more time preparing. It's four days' food (and a larger water buffer) that really tips the scales. If I were going to be spending more time from camp I'd have to drop the shotgun's weight. Honestly, it doesn't take a 12ga to deal with a black bear (generally max at 250lbs around here), and I probably won't see one. On the other hand, it's like a binky for a grown man. I just sleep better at night having it. And since I can, well. Why not?

 

[Mainsail]

As I’ve said in any of the dozens of bear threads, there are thousands of hikers crawling over trails here in the Pacific Northwest, and the vast majority of them are unarmed. I’ve read several hike reports so far this spring where the hiker or backpacker saw a bear, in some cases with cubs. The bear couldn’t be any less interested in the hiker. If they see, smell, or hear you coming- they are going to be moving away from you and you’ll never even know it was there. Cougars generally don’t hunt people, although they are known to stalk them. Goats can be aggressive, and we had one goat related death on the trail last year. Nevertheless, you cannot legally shoot a goat just for following you. Elk and deer attacks are even less likely. We don't have wild hogs, but they would make me nervous. So you’re going to point your shotgun at….what?

I don’t understand this paranoia that if you step ten feet off the pavement every animal over 40 pounds is going to start hunting you. Seriously, carry a firearm if it makes you more comfortable (I do) but if you’re so afraid of nature you believe you need a long gun, it might be better (for everyone) if you just stayed on the paved surfaces.

 

[DAdams]

When I am boat camping (Zodiac in the National Parks) I try to use backpacking gear and tactics although we can go a little heavier since our humping is confined to getting gear to a remote camsite through the red clay. There are black bear in the Parks we frequent but I carry dedicated spray for those guys. For the errant whack job on two legs I carry an inexpensive yet reliable semi-auto in .380 with three magazines and 25 rounds.

My logic, if it goes overboard for some odd reason or if the Park Ranger were to go "postal Ranger" and confiscate it for some reason (legal now but wasn't back in the day) it wouldn't break my heart if I never got it back.

When I do day hikes I carry the same (less than 20 oz), although I have plenty of other options. None would include a shotgun under any circumstances other than maybe car or RV camping. In that case my Maverick 88, 12, 18 inch with 00. I typically take along things that are functional, reliable can be beat up, yet readily replaceable. If it had to go in a backpack I would put a pistol grip on the Mav 88 and a sling. No favorites or heirlooms.

 

[rio nueces]

A fleece vest
lightweight poncho (rolls up into a small ball)
1.5l water
Water purification tablets
crystal light packs
3 cans food
Can opener and spoon
Change of clothes, with an extra pair of socks and underwear.
First aid kit
550 cord
2 survival blankets
fire starters
2x lighters
Mosquito repellent
Sun screen
Hat
Roll of toilet paper
Shovel (cold steel model with sharpened sides, also works as a hatchet)
Flashlight with spare battery.
12ga Stoeger Coach gun
30 rounds of ammo, mix of buck and slug.

Shoot! A fella could have a pretty good weekend in Vegas with all that stuff.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F5qqfsQGYus

 

[MCgunner]

If our young soldiers can traverse the mountains of Afghanistan carrying a whole plethora of mil-spec junk along with them, I'm pretty sure the average in shape backpacker can do the same with a day pack, long gun, and sidearm,,,

I'm not an 18 year old soldier, I'm a 59 year old who's a bit over-weight (okay, a little more than a bit), bad back, hips and knees that snap in the mornings or anytime they sit in one position too long. I haven't done any LONG hikes in over 10 years, morning hikes, afternoon hikes, lots of rest stops, about it. Normally I hike rough country which adds to the pain. It sux getting old. BUT, I didn't even care about being armed in the 70s when I was hiking a lot. I don't worry about wildlife NOW, the least of my worries, but I do worry a bit about border violence in the neighborhood of the river which is why I carried a .357 magnum 4" medium frame revolver on my trip to the Bend this year. It's something light, but can reach out and touch someone if necessary and I practice a lot at long range being a handgun hunter and having competed in IHMSA for a while.

I have carried a .38 on hunting trips to take camp meat, rabbits with. Now days, since it's legal to carry in parks, I carry my concealed weapon, a .38 usually, sometimes the 9. I had my 9 in my pocket out in the Bend this year, my normal carry. It's insignificant at 14 ounces unloaded. I did start noticing the .357 and the bottle of water on my fanny pack. I'm glad I wasn't packing a long gun.

I'll give up these trips when I'm 6 feet under, I reckon, but so long as I can walk, I'll hike, maybe not all day, but I'll hike!

 

[MCgunner]

Oh, and 20 years ago, i went on my first mountain muley hunting adventure. I carried a big, heavy 7 mag, a Savage 110. It got real heavy real fast. I later acquired a Remington M7 in .308. It's a much better rough country rifle IMHO, not quite the power and a little more drop, but more accurate and a lot easier to carry while spot and stalking rough country.

Yes, long guns are a bit much for just your recreational back packing weekend. Of course, you can't get out of carrying one if you're hunting. I have experiance with this sort of thing. Add a HEAVY backpack with that long gun and, well, I'll pass.

 

[USAF_Vet]

Ok, so it appears I'm close to 10 pounds with the two guns. the .45 on my hip with loaded mag and spare on the holster all told weighs in a hair over 4 pounds. But it's 4 pounds I'm very used to carrying, and with a decent belt, I hardly feel it. 2 mags is all I have for it, so not worry about extra weight in ammo.

The Stevens is a shade under 5 pounds, and 10 shells or so... yeah, I'm right at about 10 pounds. But the shotgun is broken down and dispersed through my gear, not slung at the ready. If I absolutely need to shoot in SD, I'm going with the .45 with 9 rounds in the mag. The shotgun is there for targets of opportunity, nothing like ending a good hike at camp with a roasted rabbit over the fire. I'm not so crazy as to think I'm going to use a single shot 20 guage for SD.