Camping Pistol
- Thread starter asharris7
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Either. Probably the 19 because it is lighter and trimmer than the HK.
Neither have any noticeable advantage over the other in any other terms, unless you shoot one much better than the other. I guess the amount ammunition you can carry with the Glock and a spare magazine is a pretty decent boost, especially if your spare is a 17 magazine.
Neither have any noticeable advantage over the other in any other terms, unless you shoot one much better than the other. I guess the amount ammunition you can carry with the Glock and a spare magazine is a pretty decent boost, especially if your spare is a 17 magazine.
SwampWolf
Member
If you're "car camping", just about any quality, reliable, self-defense firearm will do-I think your biggest concern would be two-legged predators. Anything from a shotgun to an Ar-15 or your HK45 or Glock 19 would work. If you're back-packing or hiking, weight and compactability become considerations and change the dynamics of your choice of weapon. Your Glock 19 might make for a very nice "trail pistol".
c919
Member
If you are a risk of bears or boar, I'd go with something a bit larger. For people, either would be fine.
10mm or .357 is as low as I'd be willing to go if any big (non human) predators were around.
10mm or .357 is as low as I'd be willing to go if any big (non human) predators were around.
Mainsail
Member
Wait, couldn't you just get back into the car?
c919
Member
So is this more of a defense for wild beasts or two legged beasts?
Bears are well known for frequenting "car camp" spots being that there is always trash and what not to feed on. Of course, those Yogi types usually try to avoid being seen, but there have been plenty of car campers to encounter a bear or two.
I do mostly backcountry camping, and as of this week I'm making the switch from .357 to 10mm. I thought about going for a .44 mag but there just aren't any light .44's that I would want lug around on long hikes. I just ordered a Glock 20 and I think it will bridge the gap in terms of power, weight, capacity and size. Plus the 10mm is more than suitable for two legged beasts.
Bears are well known for frequenting "car camp" spots being that there is always trash and what not to feed on. Of course, those Yogi types usually try to avoid being seen, but there have been plenty of car campers to encounter a bear or two.
I do mostly backcountry camping, and as of this week I'm making the switch from .357 to 10mm. I thought about going for a .44 mag but there just aren't any light .44's that I would want lug around on long hikes. I just ordered a Glock 20 and I think it will bridge the gap in terms of power, weight, capacity and size. Plus the 10mm is more than suitable for two legged beasts.
easyg
Member
Either will do just fine.
MovedWest
Member
I would opt for something bigger considering you're probably close to grizzly country. I'd strongly consider picking something around the neighborhood of a 44 magnum when you have a spare dime.
Until that time, bring both guns. Carry the one you're best with and give the other to a buddy to carry. Make sure he knows the difference between you and a bear walking around.
-MW
Until that time, bring both guns. Carry the one you're best with and give the other to a buddy to carry. Make sure he knows the difference between you and a bear walking around.
-MW
I'd go with the 19, if it were me. Most of the time, a handgun while camping is simply an insurance policy for a very unlikely event. Where ever I went in this country, I would be far more worried about two legged predators than any wild animal if you are in a tent. The Glock will give you plenty of peace of mind, will carry more ammo, and let's face it...is cheaper to replace than the HK. I don't own anything as nice as an HK, but I've never felt too worried about getting my glock dirty or caught in a rain storm with it on my hip. If I can't get to where I can strip and reoil, I just get to where it's dry, shake out the water, lock back the slide to let it drip out and invert the magazine to make sure it's drained. I don't believe in Glock Perfection, but I believe in a fairly inexpensive firearm that takes a good amount of abuse without much fuss
An animal might get curious and poke around your site while you are gone or asleep, but you probably won't even know it's been there unless he leaves some scat. If you're really worried about bigger critters, I'd skip the handgun and go straight for a shotgun loaded with slugs or a big bore rifle. If it's enough of a risk, bring the right gear.
For me, when camp on site at my mom's fiance's property, I usually grab a 12 gauge or a .22 and call it good for the site. Really, it depends on the time of year, how many people might be poking around, and where we are actually camping. Most of the time, the .22 is enough "firepower" for me to plink off a few shots for fun. Raccoons are the common enemy, but I rather like the lil' bandits. They don't bother me any. However, should one come up acting rather aggressive, get ahold of my dog, or seem sick, a couple pops from a .22 in the bucket will put him down. 12 gauge is for coyotes, hillbillies, and cougars
For stomping around in the woods or hiking, I go with either an old Nagant revolver or my CZ-52. I really don't feel the NEED to have more than a packable pistol on my person. Plus either one wouldn't cost me much if I lost it. The Nagant is nice for plinking stumps with or tree rats should I need to eat one. Plenty accurate for that, and actually really reliable with .32 long. I like to carry the CZ-52 when I might run into thicker trouble. The ugly soviet bastard child of a 1911 (grip angle (ish), weight, capacity, etc) and a .357 (penetration, report, flash, etc), the 7.62x25 caliber will punch holes in just about anything. I can carry more ammo than I could with a .357 should I feel the need (a milsurp 70 round box is about the size of two boxed bars of soap...if a bit heavier), I don't have to worry as much about innocent bystanders in the middle of nowhere, and the gun packs really nicely in the field holster that came with it.
But I digress. Of the two if you're going to pack them around on your person, I'd have to go with the Glock just because the likelihood of NEEDING the gun is outweighed by the downside of losing, muddying up, fouling the gun. If you're a good shot with it, it should have enough caliber to do what needs to be done. Bigger critters need bigger ammo (unless you're an Inuit that sneaks up and shoot them in the ear
). For bigger ammo, I'd bring a bigger gun.
An animal might get curious and poke around your site while you are gone or asleep, but you probably won't even know it's been there unless he leaves some scat. If you're really worried about bigger critters, I'd skip the handgun and go straight for a shotgun loaded with slugs or a big bore rifle. If it's enough of a risk, bring the right gear.
For me, when camp on site at my mom's fiance's property, I usually grab a 12 gauge or a .22 and call it good for the site. Really, it depends on the time of year, how many people might be poking around, and where we are actually camping. Most of the time, the .22 is enough "firepower" for me to plink off a few shots for fun. Raccoons are the common enemy, but I rather like the lil' bandits. They don't bother me any. However, should one come up acting rather aggressive, get ahold of my dog, or seem sick, a couple pops from a .22 in the bucket will put him down. 12 gauge is for coyotes, hillbillies, and cougars
For stomping around in the woods or hiking, I go with either an old Nagant revolver or my CZ-52. I really don't feel the NEED to have more than a packable pistol on my person. Plus either one wouldn't cost me much if I lost it. The Nagant is nice for plinking stumps with or tree rats should I need to eat one. Plenty accurate for that, and actually really reliable with .32 long. I like to carry the CZ-52 when I might run into thicker trouble. The ugly soviet bastard child of a 1911 (grip angle (ish), weight, capacity, etc) and a .357 (penetration, report, flash, etc), the 7.62x25 caliber will punch holes in just about anything. I can carry more ammo than I could with a .357 should I feel the need (a milsurp 70 round box is about the size of two boxed bars of soap...if a bit heavier
), I don't have to worry as much about innocent bystanders in the middle of nowhere, and the gun packs really nicely in the field holster that came with it. But I digress. Of the two if you're going to pack them around on your person, I'd have to go with the Glock just because the likelihood of NEEDING the gun is outweighed by the downside of losing, muddying up, fouling the gun. If you're a good shot with it, it should have enough caliber to do what needs to be done. Bigger critters need bigger ammo (unless you're an Inuit that sneaks up and shoot them in the ear
). For bigger ammo, I'd bring a bigger gun.Just remember that when camping in a State Park here in old NC, firearms are prohibited.
Many areas of National Forest Land are also NC Game Lands.
I personally do not have a clear understanding on Game Lands carry. I do know that if on NC Game Lands and having on your possession a .22 with a barrel no longer than 7.5 inches you are ok. During non big game hunting season, it is confusing whether you are now permitted to carry anything larger than a .22. The Wildlife Commission seems to now permit carry of larger, given that there is no closed season on coyotes. But their reason appears to be specific to hunting, not self-protection.
Now if you are stopped on Game Lands and have on your possession a g19, you may have some explaining to do as to its use on coyotes. And you better have a hunting license!
Myself, that is why I have a Buckmark, S&W 34-1 and a S&W 620. One of them should work.
Before visiting any of the different Parks you may want to inquire. Then again YMMV.
Good Luck and enjoy.
Many areas of National Forest Land are also NC Game Lands.
I personally do not have a clear understanding on Game Lands carry. I do know that if on NC Game Lands and having on your possession a .22 with a barrel no longer than 7.5 inches you are ok. During non big game hunting season, it is confusing whether you are now permitted to carry anything larger than a .22. The Wildlife Commission seems to now permit carry of larger, given that there is no closed season on coyotes. But their reason appears to be specific to hunting, not self-protection.
Now if you are stopped on Game Lands and have on your possession a g19, you may have some explaining to do as to its use on coyotes. And you better have a hunting license!
Myself, that is why I have a Buckmark, S&W 34-1 and a S&W 620. One of them should work.
Before visiting any of the different Parks you may want to inquire. Then again YMMV.
Good Luck and enjoy.
Al LaVodka
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Guillermo
member
since not carrying size and weight are not an issue so therefore more is better.
Bring the 45
Bring the 45
Marlin 45 carbine
Member
on natl forest land some camping areas that are maintained and operated by forest service no carry is permitted at all. out of reach in vehicle is allowed.
natl forest 'backcountry' camp sites a .22 rimfire (incldes magnum) pistol with barrel no longer than 6" (IIRC) is permitted for carry no hunting license needed. anything bigger then as said before you must have a state hunting license if you wish to use the 'open season on coyote' as a reason you are packing. this applys to long guns as well. at least here in the Pisgah range of n.f..
a call to the ranger's office in n.f. areas could prove beneficial to inquire about the carry in 'backcountry' areas as most wilderness designated areas have at least some part of it as state game lands, some of them are completly game lands.
as always discretion is called for particular if you have any alcohol beverages in your camping supplys. they are allowed in 'backcountry' areas but not in the maintaned campgrounds, at least displayed. this applys to any nearby 'picnic/recreational/ areas also.
state forest campgrounds I'm not sure but again the .22 handgun is allowed in state forests.
natl forest 'backcountry' camp sites a .22 rimfire (incldes magnum) pistol with barrel no longer than 6" (IIRC) is permitted for carry no hunting license needed. anything bigger then as said before you must have a state hunting license if you wish to use the 'open season on coyote' as a reason you are packing. this applys to long guns as well. at least here in the Pisgah range of n.f..
a call to the ranger's office in n.f. areas could prove beneficial to inquire about the carry in 'backcountry' areas as most wilderness designated areas have at least some part of it as state game lands, some of them are completly game lands.
as always discretion is called for particular if you have any alcohol beverages in your camping supplys. they are allowed in 'backcountry' areas but not in the maintaned campgrounds, at least displayed. this applys to any nearby 'picnic/recreational/ areas also.
state forest campgrounds I'm not sure but again the .22 handgun is allowed in state forests.
Zerodefect
member
I thought they outlawed the free crime zones in national parks. And now you can CCW in them.
Gungnir
Member
Mitch from LA
Member
A pistol is no match for the Carolina Grizzly. You can always recognize a Carolina Grizzly by his pink fur, specific gravity, bell-bottom jeans, and the cow-bell they invariably carry with them.
ArchAngelCD
Member.
IMO take the one you shoot best. (although I'm not a big fan of the 9mm for any woods carry)
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