Exactly my same thoughts. Hard to beat 30+1 in 22 magnum with the S&W weighing 22 oz. and less with the Kel-Tec.
Backpacking with a Firearm
- Thread starter Barmcd
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Gordon
Member
Well talking with son's last night: "dad we are only going in 8 miles to a camp from the trailhead." "great how ? " "They built a parking area at a new trail that is graded and has bridges over the river since you were last up there 4 years ago " "I have an old van I bought just for leaving at trail heads "
$8 Mountain & The Illinois River - One Road at a Time
Wanting to find a trail for a hike along the river, we continued past $8 Mountain and followed the dirt road which ran alongside the Illinois River,
www.oneroadatatime.com
NIGHTLORD40K
Member
You've been fortunate those dogs didn't press the issue. Ive had to fight off aggressive dogs with a staff (well, broomhandle), and somehow escaped with my skin. Was a lot younger and faster then and it was a close run....
LOL! The trouble is, the "local mall" is 30 miles away for me. That's why I said (post #50 this thread) my "backpacking" these days consists of trying to "work up" to a 2-mile hike down to Marsh Creek and back a couple of times a week.
Even at that, when I'm on those hikes, I'm carrying for a couple of reasons. First because I'm hiking alongside a country road, and there just might be miscreants of one sort or another on that road - just like there might be miscreants at the "local mall." And second, as I've mentioned before, there are several farms and ranches between here and Marsh Creek that have large, territorial farm and ranch dogs that will run a hundred yards down someone's driveway just to yell at me for "trespassing" on "their sections" of a public road. Lastly, we actually do have mountain lions in this part of the state, and while we seldom see one, I'm pretty sure more of them have seen me.
BTW, as I've also mentioned before, I've never had to shoot one of those farm and ranch dogs that pester me on my walks. They always back off when I show them my great big hiking staff. But if that didn't work, I also carry pepper spray. My 38 Special or 9mm is a "last resort" kind of thing. I wouldn't want to kill someone's dog just because it didn't understand property lines. I like dogs, and they're only doing their jobs when they yell at me for being what they think is too close to their people's property.
If I ever face that again- and I'm carrying- they get one warning shot and the rest on target if they don't back off. I'll make amends with the owners and the law later.
bdickens
Member
If I was going to rob someone, I would go somewhere I was more likely to run into them without waiting for a long time....
.308 Norma
Member
If I ever do have to fire the gun I'm carrying when I'm on one of my exercise hikes, it won't be for a "warning shot." It will be "on target" as you say.
But I hope that never happens. And it probably won't - we bought this place and moved in here in 1979. That means we have lived here through 4 or 5 generations of the large, territorial farm and ranch dogs that yelled at my wife and me on the literally thousands of 4-mile, round trip exercise hikes we have taken down to Marsh Creek and back. And in all of those years, and on all of those hikes, I've never even had to resort to the cannister of pepper spray I carry to persuade a dog to not come any closer.
BTW, the cannister of pepper spray (if I ever do have to use it) would be what I'd consider my "warning shot."
Bwana John
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I used to backpack a lot with a firearm… A rifle during deer season.
Gordon
Member
Could screw a suppressor on one of the few threaded barrel 9mm I have when hiking, but will NOT for a number of reasons. There is no law against it in Oregon where I go tho. O that note the 9mm in an accurate lightweight and Red Dot AND iron sighted pistol has replaced the .22 Pistol for "survival" purposes for me. The 9mm with fmj really does not tear up rabbit any more than a .22HP does . Same with a turkey or smaller eating bird. The 124 grain or 147 grain HP 9mm would probably work ok on a deer at 50 yards if careful hits are taken. I slaughtered sheep with a 9mm years ago at up to 40 yards very well in a Mauser Pistol. More Bear pistol success stories with 9mm than any other BTW (which I am not sure I want to believe BTW )
)hey smepl this
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I would pocket carry my Ruger LCR and not carry spare ammo. Gotta keep the weight minimized. Make sure you don’t do that hike in the summer.
no spare ammo? i always, everywhere carry at least one reload even for these untactical single-action, carry handguns.
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hey smepl this
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I would definitely take a small pistol but IMO the odds of needing extra ammo are far outweighed by the need to reduce weight and bulk when on a long hike. Plus it’s not like he’s hiking in grizzly territory.
Who needs a gun while backpacking?
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I just pocket carry my lightest pistol. For me that's a Ruger LCP Max 380.
Viral video shows cougar stalking Utah hiker in terrifying 6-minute encounter - FULL VIDEO | ABC7
A man's terrifying encounter with a cougar on a hiking trail in Utah has gone viral after he managed to record a six-minute video of the incident.Full story:...
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I just pocket carry my lightest pistol. For me that's a Ruger LCP Max 380.
Gordon
Member
Reduced the belt load down to this Kenai chest holster by Gunfighters inc. with a Compact 320 nine mm and and one extra mag (total two 15 round mags on rig ) and 30 more rounds in a Sig "stick mag" inside the 45 pound back pack.Could screw a suppressor on one of the few threaded barrel 9mm I have when hiking, but will NOT for a number of reasons. There is no law against it in Oregon where I go tho. O that note the 9mm in an accurate lightweight and Red Dot AND iron sighted pistol has replaced the .22 Pistol for "survival" purposes for me. The 9mm with fmj really does not tear up rabbit any more than a .22HP does . Same with a turkey or smaller eating bird. The 124 grain or 147 grain HP 9mm would probably work ok on a deer at 50 yards if careful hits are taken. I slaughtered sheep with a 9mm years ago at up to 40 yards very well in a Mauser Pistol. More Bear pistol success stories with 9mm than any other BTW (which I am not sure I want to believe BTW
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FL-NC
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I just open carry in the woods. A Glock 23 in a serpa holster.
hey smepl this
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Is 60 rounds enough for a hike?
It is pretty hard to find a situation where a NAA Mini 22mag or P32 can't be accommodated. They will usually fit in a small zippered compartment made for keys or a wallet. An old pocket camera belt case can easily conceal one with extra ammo if wanted. Tiny camera cases are cheap on ebay and are usually designed for quick access.
The only pistol I would add to your list is a Diamondback DB9 at 11oz without ammo, 16.3 oz with 7 rounds.
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i carried a naa guardian 32acp with extra mags when i made a habit of hill-climbing in a state park several years ago. it is a simple and sturdy piece. 32acp seemed ok enough as the worries then were mainly small rabid quadrapeds. plus, while my side of the hills was safe and affluent, i noticed more feral bipeds coming up from the diverse & trashed city on the far side of the hills to party. while i liked the guardian well enough i retired it to my safe when i got a keltec p32, which is an easier pistol to shoot. i don’t bring the p32 into the field though. i don’t exactly know why but i gravitate to metal, not plastic, in the great outdoors.
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jotjackson
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Pat Riot
Contributing Member
S&W 581 = 2.6 pounds or 41.6 ounces
Springfield XD-S = 21.5 ounces
The Springfield has a 20.1 ounce weight advantage.
EDIT: I didn’t realize this thread was 5 pages until I posted. Apologies if this info is old news.
Springfield XD-S = 21.5 ounces
The Springfield has a 20.1 ounce weight advantage.
EDIT: I didn’t realize this thread was 5 pages until I posted. Apologies if this info is old news.
So I ended up sticking my IWB holster in a pocket on the left side of the pack. It was more like a sleeve and held my Springfield 9 mm XD-S so just the back end of the grip was visible. It was readily available there and while not concealed, it wasn't obvious either.
Ks5shooter
Contributing Member
I have this Glock backpack.....
Vern Humphrey
Member
I used to carry a 6-foot bamboo staff, then I went to a 6-foot PVC about 1 1/2" I put crutch tips on my staffs. I cut off a foot from one end of the PCV and insert a 4 - 5" knife blade in a broom stick epoxied in the longer end of the staff and replace the cut off section. When I need it (usually when encountering dogs) I pull off the cut section and suddenly have a spear.
I also carry either a Colt DS in an oil-soaked rag in my belt pouch, or when hiking the Buffalo National River trails (where hunting is legal) I carry 1938 Colt Woodsman in a leather holster.
That's what I was going to suggest.
kerreckt
Member
Hiking or not hiking. I carry a firearm all the time. You do not get to choose when you will need to protect yourself or others from harm.
