Camping gun. What do you think?

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harmon rabb

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I'm taking my wife and son camping in Georgia over the July 4th weekend. We will be camping, hiking, bumming around, fishing, etc. Nothing hardcore, just relaxing.

Since I have a Florida CWP, I can concealed and open carry in Georgia. Therefore, I can take pretty much whatever I want there. I won't bother listing all my guns, but I probably have something similar to whatever anybody can recommend.

This said, what would you guys recommend?

Right now, I'm leaning toward my SP101 and nothing else. It's easy to conceal IWB in town; it fits comfortably in an OWB holster I have for other times. It can take anything from big nasty buffalo bore loads for the woods, to more sedate personal protection rounds in town, to snake shot. It's stainless, so I don't need to worry about rain and rust. It can take anything from a black bear on down with the right ammo selection. It's reliable and won't break.

Am I being entirely reasonable? I could bring a high cap 45 or 9, or a larger 357, or you name it and I probably have it... but I can't think of why, when I can bring one gun that would do everything I need.
 
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Take the SP101 and live happy. Carry some heavy loads for better ballistics, both exterior and terminal, on heavy boned critters. They'll work on humans, too. Make sure they're accurate and hit POA, though.

I normally tote a 4" Taurus 66 afield, in a fanny pack if I'm in a national park. The adjustables assure POA and the 4" tube gives it a little more umph. I have carried 3" .38s, my .45 colt 4 5/8" Blackhawk, or my 6.5" .357 Blackhawk, but the 4" Taurus is my default hiking/camping carry. Auto pistols make good short range self defense guns against humans, but outdoors, I'd just rather carry a magnum revolver. The J frame .38 is light, though, and handy. So is your SP101 compared to a K frame sized gun.

BTW, I never had to shoot anything with my sidearm when just camping, but I have taken rabbits and squirrel for camp meat using .38s, adjusting the sight for them.
 
I highly recommend a SP for the kind of activities you are talking about. As a matter of fact, a SP is what I carry camping and hiking 99% of the time, even though I have other choices. I like it because it's a small, durable, yet powerful package. Face it, if you camp or hike you are gonna be in the rain sooner or later. Rain isn't gonna hurt a single part on a SP, compared to a blue gun. In addition, I know that if I happen to drop the gun on a pile of rocks or fall down on it, I won't be crying as much as I would with some of my other choices.
 
I like a light rifle for campsites, and my CZ 527 in 7.62x39mm with iron sights and detachable 5 round mag is good to go, and being a wood stocked bolt action, unliklely to stir any seriously negative attention.
 
I usually take a concealed pistol and a pump shotgun which is left in camper unless needed. One is none and two is one.
 
ColtPython, I always have a sidearm with me - this IS AZ, with Constitutional Carry after all, so the rifle would be a good backup for bad things/wild animals. And yes, the 527M is light and handy enough I could, if I wanted to. :)
 
Whatever you think you need for defense.

But don't forget a .22 pistol or revolver for having some family fun
 
The two most dangerous four legged critters in lower 48 are Euro-asian wild boar and large steer on a pasture. I got charged by large bovine and was able to climb a tree. My camping weapon now is Remi 660 .350 with 250gr slugs loaded to Vo of about 2300fps. The back sight is large apeture ring sight mounted on rear action bridge for quick snap shots. It's reassuring to be able to sort out with any wild critter in North America with ease.
 
I carry my SP 101 whilst outdoors, hiking, camping, fishing, etc. Its a good choice + you could add a few speed loaders of different types of ammo for almost no weight on your person. The Sp 101 is a good choice.

It really is a nice-sized revolver for either IWB or OWB. Sure, I have other options as well, but I just enjoy carrying this revolver.

Enjoy your trip - sounds like a good time.
 
I'd try to define what you think the threat would be, then pick the gun accordingly.

Not being from the South, I couldn't advise. In my area the threat would be about 90% human. After that, you'd be looking at feral/stray dogs, then coyote. Some snakes, but usually a hiking stick and awareness will take care of that.

If you shoot the SP101 well enough, it'd be a good gun. Solid and rugged enough. For me, I'd go with a Glock 19. I'd pick a gun with a finish that I wouldn't have to worry about in a muggy or rainy environment.
 
My go anywhere, hunt anything in Texas rifle is a Rossi M92 I've had for years. It's in .357 magnum. I put a REAL sight on the rear, dove tailed into the original location, it's a ghost ring click adjustable for elevation. I can run the elevation up for my light .38s (105 grain SWC at 900 fps) for small game or down for .357s (165 grain SWC at 1900 fps) for larger game. I'm not always hunting when I camp or have the opportunity, but the opportunity has come up and with one rifle, I'm prepared. Similarly, I like to take along my SxS Spartan 20 gauge during dove season, especially when we go to my BILs ranch. :D We drag the camper up there occasionally, so i guess that's camping.

I never JUST have a sidearm on me. I often have the long guns in the camper, but the sidearm is at hand if I need it and it all depends on the trip what I take. Hiking, I like the 4" medium frame adjustable sight guns in .357 or more for caliber. I'm not going to be totin' the rifle. One of the neatest guns I had for hiking was a Rossi stainless 971. It was a good shooter and was half way between K and J frame in size and weight, just over 30 ounces, but yet, recoil was quite manageable with heavy loads. It was full lugged, which I think helped. I traded it off rather foolishly, really was a nice hiking gun. I like the adjustable sights as i've already said.
 
Camping in black country, kids n dad usually have a 357 or 44Mag on us or in camp......so far, all the blacks have read the bear book and go elsewhere.
Dan
 
Sounds like your planned activities will take you to remote places that are not quite off the beaten path.

To me, that means chances of a four legged problem is remote, making encounters with the two legged snakes the real concern. And they often slither in pairs or groups.

Being in a remote area, probably without cell service, means, to me, that help won't be coming any time soon.

For me, I'd choose a gun intended for defense against badguys that had a bit of capacity. A Glock 19 or 23 carried IWB along with two more mags on the belt would be a very good choice. Impervious to weather, easy to carry, etc.

Five shots in a short barreled gun thats hard to shoot accurately and fast and that's slow to reload wouldn't be MY top choice for personal defense against multiple badguys in a remote location by a long shot.
 
It's stainless, so I don't need to worry about rain and rust.
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That's a good consideration. I have a slight variation on this line of thinking. I wouldn't necessarily take the most durable gun I have if it was a SHORT camping trip. I'd take the gun I was least concerned about (but still worked good.) For me, that's a H&R in .32 S&W Long. (I don't live in bear country) And it has a blued finish.

If it was a long trip, then I'd definitely take the most durable gun. Surely be a stainless. Sounds like fun, have a good time.
 
I think an SP101 is a decent choice.

Personally, I would bring my Glock 23; a compact .40 with 13+1 capacity.
 
Sounds like a great choice to me. I don't own an SP, but I was hot for one until I ran across a snub Security Six. Certainly good for people protection and with .38 Specials you can plink for awhile too if you want.
 
I know you have at least one tokarev or crazy russian caliber pistol you can drag along with you.


SP is a good choice, Glock of any flavor is a good choice too. I would be FAR less worried about animals than I would be about humans. 99.99% of the time animals run in the other direction.... people with bad intentions don't, and as someone already pointed out they travel in packs.
 
I have a 3" SP101. It's a great gun, since I ironed out all the bugs. However, if I were you, I'd carry the High Cap .45. You never know when you may be attacked in force by a pack of 2 legged critters. Seriously.
 
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