Owen
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I bet you were sure of your backstop too...
Calling all mountain men: Best Sidearm for remote hiking or backpacking
- Thread starter trueblue1776
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I bet you were sure of your backstop too...lee n. field
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jackdempsey
Member
hmm back stop ill bet money it hit snow
I love reading the Bear/Hiking what to carry threads.
I am with PAX on this - I think a glock in 10mm is what I would carry as a pistol (vs. a revolver). To me weight is the biggest issue. When I was in my twenties a bunch of us woukld go hiking in New Mexico by the third trip all heavy .357 revolvers stayed in the trucks. I switched to a model 10 cause it was light!
It gives lightweight , lots or rounds because in the panic of a bear attack you might be less accurate than at the range or at least I might, and the 10mm is comparable to the .357 in power. For myself I don't think I could be very accurate with a lightweight .41 or .44 magnum. I can shoot the Ruger SBH fine but I know I can't carry it very far.
If I was going to lug around a heavy revolver I'd rather put a sling on my 12 gauge single shot with the 18 1/4" barrel - very light and handy - but only one round at a time.
I am with PAX on this - I think a glock in 10mm is what I would carry as a pistol (vs. a revolver). To me weight is the biggest issue. When I was in my twenties a bunch of us woukld go hiking in New Mexico by the third trip all heavy .357 revolvers stayed in the trucks. I switched to a model 10 cause it was light!
It gives lightweight , lots or rounds because in the panic of a bear attack you might be less accurate than at the range or at least I might, and the 10mm is comparable to the .357 in power. For myself I don't think I could be very accurate with a lightweight .41 or .44 magnum. I can shoot the Ruger SBH fine but I know I can't carry it very far.
If I was going to lug around a heavy revolver I'd rather put a sling on my 12 gauge single shot with the 18 1/4" barrel - very light and handy - but only one round at a time.
Oregongundude
Member
I would go with the 10 mm and some double tap ammo
I would differently go with the 10 mm in a light weight automatic. Round capacity, and power. A lot of 10 mm loads out perform .357 loads especially in the energy area.
I think the Glock 20 would be an excellent carry gun in the woods against Black bears.
This loading provides a hunter with a controlled expansion bullet at serious speeds!
Caliber : 10mm
Bullet : 180gr. Controlled Exp.JHP
Ballistics : 180gr. @ 1350fps/ 728 ft/lbs- Glock 20
Box of 50rds.
For the hunter that needs deep penetration AND expansion, with this one you can't miss!
Caliber : 10mm
Bullet : 200gr Controlled Exp. JHP
Ballistics : 1250fps/ 694ft./ lbs. - Glock 20
Compared to a .357 hunting round.
357 Magnum 180gr WFNGC Hardcast
Finally, a serious, heavyweight load for the .357 Magnum for the woods and hunting! These hardcast LBT-style bullets create wide DEEP wound channels for hunters and those concerned with woods protection.
Velocity is from a 4" bbl.
Velocity: 1300fps / 4" Ruger GP-100
Muzzle Energy: 676 ft. lbs.
Anyway, I have heard that Dessert Eagle has a automatic in .357 magnum also but it's real heavy.
I would differently go with the 10 mm in a light weight automatic. Round capacity, and power. A lot of 10 mm loads out perform .357 loads especially in the energy area.
I think the Glock 20 would be an excellent carry gun in the woods against Black bears.
This loading provides a hunter with a controlled expansion bullet at serious speeds!
Caliber : 10mm
Bullet : 180gr. Controlled Exp.JHP
Ballistics : 180gr. @ 1350fps/ 728 ft/lbs- Glock 20
Box of 50rds.
For the hunter that needs deep penetration AND expansion, with this one you can't miss!
Caliber : 10mm
Bullet : 200gr Controlled Exp. JHP
Ballistics : 1250fps/ 694ft./ lbs. - Glock 20
Compared to a .357 hunting round.
357 Magnum 180gr WFNGC Hardcast
Finally, a serious, heavyweight load for the .357 Magnum for the woods and hunting! These hardcast LBT-style bullets create wide DEEP wound channels for hunters and those concerned with woods protection.
Velocity is from a 4" bbl.
Velocity: 1300fps / 4" Ruger GP-100
Muzzle Energy: 676 ft. lbs.
Anyway, I have heard that Dessert Eagle has a automatic in .357 magnum also but it's real heavy.
michael_aos
Member
While not "pleasant" to shoot, the Winchester 175gr Super-X Silvertip Hollow point @ 1250fps (607 fp/e) works very well in the lightweight S&W 357PD .41 Magnum.
You can exceed 1000 fp/e with Buffalo Bore offerings, but they're downright painful to shoot.
Mike
You can exceed 1000 fp/e with Buffalo Bore offerings, but they're downright painful to shoot.
Mike
Blacklabman
Member
Glock 20 with DT 200gr JHP's.
wuchak
Member
Glock 20 with night sights and LaserMax internal laser, extra magazine, and a Fenix L1T or L2T (selectable brightness lets it do duty as a camplight, LED means no broken bulbs, and extra AA's are cheap and light) carried in a SafePacker from Wilderness Tactical Products.
A .22 conversion kit and 100 rounds of .22 ammo in the main pack for backcountry plinking or small game hunting, whether planned or emergency.
A .22 conversion kit and 100 rounds of .22 ammo in the main pack for backcountry plinking or small game hunting, whether planned or emergency.
Redneck with a 40
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- Jul 26, 2006
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- 2,273
Out here in Colorado, where black bears are the biggest potential predator, and mountain lions actually pose a bigger threat, I carry my taurus tracker 357 mag loaded with 158 grain JSP's at 1350 fps....my handloads. I figure with its 7 shot capacity, this gun will take care of anything I'm likely to run into.
I figure with its 7 shot capacity, this gun will take care of anything I'm likely to run into.warmrain
Member
Guys... bears and not bears. Yes, some bears will be pissed off from 5 or 6 head shots with a .44 mag. Others will run at the sound of the first bang...
So Alaska... Expect big mean bears and nothing on your hip should be smaller than a .44 mag. though I would rather have a 12 ga. and slugs or .44-70, etc. The S&W 460 or 500 may be the thing if yo can carry the weight.
If you are carrying a .44 or a .44-70 look at these:
http://www.garrettcartridges.com/
So Alaska... Expect big mean bears and nothing on your hip should be smaller than a .44 mag. though I would rather have a 12 ga. and slugs or .44-70, etc. The S&W 460 or 500 may be the thing if yo can carry the weight.
If you are carrying a .44 or a .44-70 look at these:
http://www.garrettcartridges.com/
DFW1911
Member
One of my favorite topics...
Okay, I'm a newbie to the forum, but this topic is of special interest to me as we're (myself and a friend or two) dropped off in the middle of nowhere in Alaska each year to fly fish. For those trips, I carry a SW329 Airlite in .44 Mag loaded with 305 gr CorBons. It's easy to carry due to its light weight, but packs one heck of a recoil. I've had mine worked on by the Performance Center; they compensated it which helped recoil a lot. I also added Pachmeyer (sp?) recoil reduction grips, so now it's shootable. I should mention that the .44 is a backup to my Remington 870, but the shotgun isn't practical to carry around camp while cooking, splitting wood, getting water, etc. However, no shotgun is ever far away.
When I lived in Colorado and hiked frequently, I carried a 4" GP-100 .357. I felt confident it would handle our three biggest threats: Mountain Lions, Black Bear and Two Legged Predators. At times at camp I'd switch to a .45 with 2 magazines, which proved to be quite necessary one evening. Even camping in Colorado a longarm of some sort was always around.
Hope this helps. Enjoy your trip(s) and stay safe.
Take care,
DFW1911
Okay, I'm a newbie to the forum, but this topic is of special interest to me as we're (myself and a friend or two) dropped off in the middle of nowhere in Alaska each year to fly fish. For those trips, I carry a SW329 Airlite in .44 Mag loaded with 305 gr CorBons. It's easy to carry due to its light weight, but packs one heck of a recoil. I've had mine worked on by the Performance Center; they compensated it which helped recoil a lot. I also added Pachmeyer (sp?) recoil reduction grips, so now it's shootable. I should mention that the .44 is a backup to my Remington 870, but the shotgun isn't practical to carry around camp while cooking, splitting wood, getting water, etc. However, no shotgun is ever far away.
When I lived in Colorado and hiked frequently, I carried a 4" GP-100 .357. I felt confident it would handle our three biggest threats: Mountain Lions, Black Bear and Two Legged Predators. At times at camp I'd switch to a .45 with 2 magazines, which proved to be quite necessary one evening. Even camping in Colorado a longarm of some sort was always around.
Hope this helps. Enjoy your trip(s) and stay safe.
Take care,
DFW1911
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I have been taking my 4" bbl Taurus Tracker in titanium for the past three years or so when venturing off road. A 7 shot really light 357 mag that you forget is on your hip. I used to carry a 10mm but this revolver is more accurate and I can hit farther. I don't have to worry about anything bigger than black bears and two legged goblins which are both within this revolver's capability.
I'm planning a trip to Western Wyoming this spring (Wind River area) and am torn between picking up a S&W 329 .44Mag & a Glock 20 10mm w/200gr DT ammo.
The extra capacity of a 10mm semi-auto would be nice against 2-legged critters, but the power of a .44 would be extremely comforting against anything out there.
The extra capacity of a 10mm semi-auto would be nice against 2-legged critters, but the power of a .44 would be extremely comforting against anything out there.
Hello I am new to this forum and just finished reading this tread. I am not trying to offend anyone just add my $0.02. My personal favorite is the 44 mag in a stainless Anaconda with a 5" barrel. I pack it any time I go into the woods with rifle or bow. I have personally killed a 6 1/2 foot 300 lbs black bear with one shot with my Anaconda when I was bow hunting. He came in on a full run right after I had given a calf call. I didn't hit him exactly where I was planning, I was going for a chest shot at 40 yds but he dropped his head as I fired and I caught him 2" above the right nostril in the bridge of the snout and he dropped like a rag doll. I hunt on the Idaho, Montana, and Wyoming border just out of Yellow Stone park so I see a lot of big grizzly bears and since I have seen what the 44 mag I feel it is the right gun when in the woods. By the way I shoot a 240 gr hollow point driven by 23.4 gr of H-110 which I believe is around 1300 fps.
One disclaimer I would like to add is when encountering a wounded animal all bets are off. A few years ago a friend gut shot a small forked horn mule in the morning and didn't catch up to it until the afternoon it took two bullets from my 30-06, 125 gr, to bring it down. The first shot took the spine out at the hips right where the back strap tapers, you could put your fits down into the cavity where the spine use to be. That animal still ran 300 yds up hill on all four legs until I hit it just behind the front left shoulder with the second shot. With that said shot placement is so critical on the first shot even in a crisis, because once the animal's adrenalin kicks you may have a tougher time putting that animal down.
One disclaimer I would like to add is when encountering a wounded animal all bets are off. A few years ago a friend gut shot a small forked horn mule in the morning and didn't catch up to it until the afternoon it took two bullets from my 30-06, 125 gr, to bring it down. The first shot took the spine out at the hips right where the back strap tapers, you could put your fits down into the cavity where the spine use to be. That animal still ran 300 yds up hill on all four legs until I hit it just behind the front left shoulder with the second shot. With that said shot placement is so critical on the first shot even in a crisis, because once the animal's adrenalin kicks you may have a tougher time putting that animal down.
surfinUSA
Member
The slightly faster (1290 FPS) Winchester 175 grain 10mm rounds are very pleasant to shoot from a Glock 20. These are probably the only factory loads in 41 mag and 10mm that actually closely compare to each other in a factory loading. I really like these 10mm rounds. These are available without resorting to the internet dealers and their associated shipping costs and time (actually a big deal in 10mm and I guess in 41 mag too), are powerful and are fun to shoot.
I'd rather take the easier to shoot, higher capacity and lighter G20. But if you like to carry a 41 mag in S&W or Ruger there are substantially more powerful rounds out there that easily surpass any loading in 10mm including double taps.
BILLMAC
Member
New to all this.
It's obvious that the general consensus is to carry when backpacking. My question is what are the laws governing carrying firearms in National Parks and State Parks? Would I need any special permits to carry? Carry concealed? I guess my choice would be SW Airlite in .357. I plan on doing a solo backpack trip in Southern Appalachians and worry more about drunk hillbillies than critters or Black Bears. Could I get some advice here folks? Thanks.
It's obvious that the general consensus is to carry when backpacking. My question is what are the laws governing carrying firearms in National Parks and State Parks? Would I need any special permits to carry? Carry concealed? I guess my choice would be SW Airlite in .357. I plan on doing a solo backpack trip in Southern Appalachians and worry more about drunk hillbillies than critters or Black Bears. Could I get some advice here folks? Thanks.
carebear
Member
Billmac,
You need to check the laws of the State to which you are going, they may or may not honor the permit you carry on. Also, you'll want to be sure of their laws on carry in their State Parks.
As far as National Forests and Parks go, they are treated differently as to whether carry is allowed, you'll want to be sure which kind you are in.
I recommend the US Park and Forest Service websites as well as each State's website on carry. A Google search for (insert place name) and "concealed firearms carry" will usually bear fruit.
A simpler, and I've found almost always accurate, source is www.packing.org.
You can look up rules by State and for the various Federal locations and they have links to the actual sites in question for verification.
I know this answers your question with a "go look yourself" but in the end you are better off trusting official websites than internet gun board info.
Plus, you'll know where to go the next time and can save your High Road time for important things like "what caliber for drunk hillbillies".
You need to check the laws of the State to which you are going, they may or may not honor the permit you carry on. Also, you'll want to be sure of their laws on carry in their State Parks.
As far as National Forests and Parks go, they are treated differently as to whether carry is allowed, you'll want to be sure which kind you are in.
I recommend the US Park and Forest Service websites as well as each State's website on carry. A Google search for (insert place name) and "concealed firearms carry" will usually bear fruit.
A simpler, and I've found almost always accurate, source is www.packing.org.
You can look up rules by State and for the various Federal locations and they have links to the actual sites in question for verification.
I know this answers your question with a "go look yourself" but in the end you are better off trusting official websites than internet gun board info.
Plus, you'll know where to go the next time and can save your High Road time for important things like "what caliber for drunk hillbillies".
Brutus45
Member
From Appalachian Trail Conservancy
Don't carry firearms. They are prohibited on National Park Service lands and in most other areas without a permit, they could be turned against you or result in an accidental shooting, and they are extra weight.
BILLMAC, No explaination given for getting a permit.
Don't carry firearms. They are prohibited on National Park Service lands and in most other areas without a permit, they could be turned against you or result in an accidental shooting, and they are extra weight.
BILLMAC, No explaination given for getting a permit.
dairycreek
Member
If bears are at all an issue (I am asuming black bears) then the 44 magnum is an absolute bottom line choice. If weight is an issue then the choice of the S&W 329 is an excellent one. With the rubber grips I find the recoil to be not too bad. I don't want to shoot it all day but for a few shots the recoil is, for me, not a major issue. For smaller game 44 caliber is not a major player but there are a wide range of ammo choices that could be made to do a job - 44 special is not a realy bad choice.
The Deer Hunter
Member
Is the S&W .50 any good?
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