Camping gun. What do you think?

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If I'm in the back woods, I usually will carry one of my two Ruger Vaquero's (.45 Colt). If I will be OC'ing then it's the 7 inch model, if I'll need CC then it's the Sheriff's model in a Texas Yaqui holster. I'll carry 12 extra rounds in an old leather dump pouch, and they'll be holding either Corbon or Buffalo Bore JHP's. Statistically though, it'll be the 2 legged creatures that present the most danger, especially in the deep woods where the Meth/Marijuana farms are hidden.:cool:


LD45
 
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Your Ruger is fine loaded with some Hard Cast. Plenty of black bear in GA. but unlikely will bother you. More danger with two legged varmints there. I prefer a .45acp loaded with 255gr. Hard Cast from either Buffalo Bore or Double Tap. Hope you enjoy your vacation.
 
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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I've thought of that, and of taking my xd 45 loaded with some hardcast rounds instead of a revolver.
 
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.
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I don't ever consider a concealable .357 magnum revolver, especially of the quality of the SP101, to ever be a poor choice for defense, not if you know how to use it. If you don't, stay home. I'd never carry a Glock. JM bias, though. And, .357 is a better caliber fired out of 3" or longer barrel with the proper load. Besides, though, the handgun is to fight your way back to your rifle, right? :D

Bottom line, though, I never feel inadequately armed with a 5 shot revolver, especially in .357 magnum caliber. If you're not seeking cover and you're taking on 20 armed bad guys, you're a dead man, anyway, if you're in the open at close range, unless maybe you are carrying an M60 or at least an MP5. Probably dead anyway, but the full auto fire might scare 'em enough for you to win. :D Cover, tactics, tactical order, that's how you fight against multiple attackers.
 
Hello friends and neighbors // You mentioned a "larger" .357.This would be my choice, dress to conceal if needed.

I'm much more accurate with a 4" or 6" at the ranges/distances necessary when camping.
The longer barrel also gives you a bit more punch at 50yards and a better pattern close up with a shot shell.

I load a shot shell first for snake, dog, rabid whatever then 5 JHPs my revolver shoots accurately. I also use a horizontal camera belt pouch that holds 3 speed loaders securely when carrying my 6" S&W 586.

I'd do a search for two legged problems in that area.
If the numbers are high go somewhere else.

Reguardless of the numbers is it possible for another family member to carry the SP 101 or .45 as a just in case option?
 
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I like the SP-101 too.
I thought about this the other day. Other than black bears I don't really have any real predators in my area... unless you count people.
Even a 9mm or something of that nature would deal with two-legged predators just fine. As for the bears, I've found that a bit of common sense and the fact that they don't generally want trouble has done me way more good than any gun. So I could almost say a .22LR would be adequate... almost.
 
I think the SP101 is an excellent choice. There are so many loads available to suit most any situation, from mild .38 SPL up to Buffalo Bore 180gr .357 magnum.
 
There's not much cover available fishing. No one said anything about being attacked by 20 armed badguys.

For the same size and weight of an Sp-101, there are better choices for a personal defense handgun.
 
There are arguably better choices for a personal defense handgun but for the situation that the OP describes, the SP101 would be at the top of my list.
 
Personal defense in a remote area is what the OP's situation calls for.
 
For the same size and weight of an Sp-101, there are better choices for a personal defense handgun.
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Perhaps for you, but the OP knows (I'm assuming) his weapon. Hell, I've been pocketing my .38 Taurus 85UL lately and I feel fine with it because I know I can hit with it as well as anything I have. Snubbies are quite accurate, it's the shooter that isn't if he can't hit with one. Practice, practice, practice, but hey, it's fun.
 
Yes, the gun itself can be accurate if the shooter can wrangle the accuracy out of one.

I qualified with a S&W Model 38 (Airweight Bodyguard) by posting a 97.2% on the 50 yd course of fire that included weak hand double action shooting from both the 25 and 50 yd line. I outshot everyone on the line that day and handily beat the standing 90% top score of the resident snub gun wizard.

But it's still not my first choice.
 
I am not sure what the OP means by "camping". For some that means an huge RV that is a house on wheels, to others it means a canvas (nylon) tent. What you take with you depends in part on what you can secure and your activities. You aren't going to take a rifle or shotgun to a public swimming beach nor would you want to leave it in a tent. However locking a long gun in an RV would be acceptable. As was pointed out in most places 2 legged predators are a much larger problem than the 4 legged kind. Personally I would be taking a Glock 19 and using a Maxpedition versipack to carry it in.
 
In re-reading the OP it does sound as though this camping trip will not be in a remote "wilderness" area. If that's the case and I thought the chances of encountering a black bear or mountain lion were extremely remote I would consider carrying a polymer semi-auto. On the other hand, if I were traveling in a truly remote area were encounters with animals would be more likely than with people I'd choose a revolver in .357 or .44 magnum, depending on the location, and load it with the appropriate ammo.
 
If you get down there and get eaten by a bear, or outgunned by some rebs....let me know. My family and I are going to Lake Burton, Ga at the end of July. We are going to hang out around the lake, and maybe do a short hike on the AT.
I'll be carrying my SP101.
 
My 3 inch SP101 backed up by a number of Speed Strips with a variety of ammo is my primary woods handgun. It is light, compact and powerful.
 
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