Do you carry while hiking, rock climbing, etc?

[Tinpig]

I live in the woods and I see coyotes a lot, and hear them most nights. So if I'm walking the woods and marshes with my dogs, especially in the evening, I always carry (concealed.) Browning Hi-Power in the spring, winter, and fall, (sweatshirts and jackets) Sig P238 in the summer (T-shirts.)

Tinpig

 

[david58]

I always carry in the woods, in NM we do have bears and cougars. And plenty of two-legged animals. I normally tote an SP101, unless we are in an area confident that the people are enough that the bears and cougars avoid the place (we have one favored hike that allows a good stretch of the legs and with a small stream for the dogs to romp in and around), when I will carry my LCR in .38. But if further out, I usually carry the 4"bbl SP101, with two speed loaders. I don't have much confidence in my 9mm on bears, and the limited number of bangs in the SP101 is pretty well balanced by the fact that those are five rounds of .357.

And my wife carries a .357, too, so I guess we have ten rounds on the move, plus reloads.

 

[roscoe]

If it is just me hiking, a P32, which is about as light as an effective firearm can be - literally concealable anywhere. Perfect for ultralight packing.

If with my kids, I bring a S&W Shield in 9mm, unless in (black) bear country - then my 3" SP101 (.357) with hardcast loads.

If technical climbing, nothing but a tiny knife to cut webbing if necessary. If I were doing 5.2 pitches where weight was no factor, with the kids say, I might bring the P32, I guess. But I will never pull that 5.12d move with a big chunk of iron on my hip. And I have never heard of a climber needing a firearm once up the cliff.

 

[Old Dog]

Yes.

And as for the OP's follow-up question, I'd opt for a used S&W or Ruger 3" or 4" revolver in .357; easily concealed and generally easy on the budget. Of course, a 10mm Glock -- usually fairly cheaply obtained used -- is pretty much optimum for being able to take care of threats either of the two or four legged variety. And that magazine capacity notion favors a semi-auto.

I hike all over the Cascades, up and around Mt. Rainier, Olympic National Forest, the foothills and along the coast. Usually pack a 10mm 1911 or a S&W .357 with some heavy hard-cast bullets ... Up here in the PNW, concealment isn't really an issue, both because of the weather (one is usually layered-up) and also due to open carry being both legal and common.

A .22 simply isn't a realistic option unless all one is worried about is rabid squirrels.

 

[Manny]

No way in hell will I willingly hang off a cliff, and I with sciatica and some other issues I don't hike that damn far anymore. The last time I went in the woods I toted a Ruger GP100 Match Champion loaded with .38+p's. If I was looking to lighten the load a bit I'd take my new G43 Talo edition with Pearce +1 mag extensions.

 

[Red Wind]

And as for the OP's follow-up question, I'd opt for a used S&W or Ruger 3" or 4" revolver in .357; easily concealed and generally easy on the budget. Of course, a 10mm Glock -- usually fairly cheaply obtained used -- is pretty much optimum for being able to take care of threats either of the two or four legged variety. And that magazine capacity notion favors a semi-auto.

I certainly agree with this advice. My younger son has the Glock 29 10mm. When we hike together in the Everglades, he carries the Glock and I have the 6 round Ruger .357. I carry a spare 5 rounds in a Bianchi Clip wallet. The Glock is 10+1 so he rarely carries an extra mag.

We never feel under gunned, even with a ton of gators scrambling the canal banks in the dry season of the winter months. Thousands of Pythons are roaming the 'Glades,but with all of our treks we haven't seen one yet. They're quite shy unless you accidentally step on one!

They run up to 18 feet, so we're in no hurry to make our first acquaintance! Below, 18 foot Burmese Python.

 

[Kendal Black]

I think that for the OP's needs, the SCCY CPX2 he already owns should fit the bill if it works reliably--light and not too big, and it fires a decent cartridge.

Or take another approach and suppose that if anything is going to need shooting he will want to do a thorough job of it, and take one of his full sized pistols.

You can find a place for a large pistol if you are determined to carry it. (586 dash nothing with the "M" recall bushing.)

 

[bannockburn]

I haven't done as much hiking these days as I use to do but I still conceal carry when I do foray out into the backwoods. Back then I liked to carry a small .22 semi-auto, like my Beretta Model 70S, or else a J frame size .38 Special revolver, like a S&W Model 36 or a Rossi Model 88, both with a 3" barrel. These days I just carry my usual concealed carry pieces: either my S&W Model 638 or my Kahr CM9.

 

[CoalTrain49]

I hike in AZ along the southern border.

Sig P239 or S&W model 19 snubby goes along. I used to carry a 1911 gov't in a shoulder holster but that got to be a little heavy.

Really, the Sig P239 or a Kahr CW9 is made for this kind of stuff.

 

[JO JO]

I do as well , more trail walking then hiking any way I take my shield 40 , small easy to carry. No way will I allow for family to fall victim to 2 legged prowlers , I feel the 2 legged ones Are more dangerous then the 4 legged 80% of the time

 

[Jackal]

Glock 19 while hiking, always.

 

[Dr.Rob]

I always carry when hiking.

 

[Leanwolf]

As some have stated, it kinda depends on where I'm going, what I'm doing there, and the type of terrain as to which handgun I carry. That said, this one has been a fine and trustworthy companion for many a mile in the back country for many years.



That's a pre-warning Security Six, by the way.

L.W.

 

[Jimster]

My 1911 loves to go hiking.

 

[V-fib]

Let's see S&W 642 .38spl Hiking. biking, into town, cutting firewood, on the tractor, on the kayak, crossbowhunting, etc. Anywhere I can carry I carry. It's been everywhere man.

v-fib

 

[lpsharp88]

I always carry while hiking/backpacking. My Glock 20 probably has around 100 trail miles on it in the last year. I carry that with 2 spare mags (mainly to offset the weight) of some hot handloads. I spend the majority of my time in the Red River Gorge or Pine Mountain, and bears are in both. This is from within the last week

http://www.wkyt.com/content/news/Hikers-come-across-black-bear-in-Red-River-Gorge-394018271.html

 

[Arizona_Mike]

Ruger Super Redhawk Alaskan in .454 Casull. .45 Colt snake shot in the first two chambers. Hardened penetrators in the next 4.

Hike in Mojave Rattlesnake territory. Seen a lot of bear but never been bothered by one, had some close calls with ornery cattle. Was stalked by a strange acting and unusually aggressive coyote once--the snake shot sent him running.

I generally bypass any snake I come across. The snake shot is for the one I do not see or hear--so I could bring him to the ER.

Mike

 

[Kendal Black]

...
Hike in Mojave Rattlesnake territory. ... The snake shot is for the one I do not see or hear--so I could bring him to the ER.

Mike

That's great thinking, there. (I'm a walk-around-'em kind of guy too.)

 

[Vern Humphrey]

Let me tell you a story.

I live in the woods, 3/4s of a mile from the county road. There was another family living back here -- the wife ran a store in town, the husband was a cabinet maker, with his shop about 50 yards from his house.

One day he called me from his shop -- he had knocked off for lunch, and started out to go to the house and fix lunch, and a pack of wild dogs, including two pit bulls, was blocking the door. He was trapped in the shop.

I went down with a gun, but the dogs were gone when I got there.

That evening he called again, "Those dogs are back, on the road."

I went walking down our access road and heard barking. I went around a bend and saw my neighbor and his wife, in his truck. A pit bull was standing in front of the truck, challenging it!

Out of the corner of my eye, I saw motion. The other pit bull was headed straight for me. I killed the dog charging me, and my neighbor shot the other one out the window of his truck. The other dogs ran off.

I got to thinking, what if I had been walking out to get the mail, as I do every day, unarmed, and run into that pack?

I ALWAYS carry when hiking, riding, or just mooching around in the woods.

 

[pittpa]

OP, I carry on my bike, out for walks, in my yard, and definitely on hikes. We have coyotes, coy-wolves, poorly held, misbehaved dogs, and all manner of rabid animals. I don't take for granted that any of them will behave. It's easy to carry a waist pack with a readily accessible SA if hiking or biking and attract no attention. A carabiner on the zipper pull makes access fairly fast. A light revolver in the pocket of light shorts while walking is my choice. Along with pepper spray for dogs.


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[Hypnogator]

My wilderness guns, depending on the type of wilderness, are a Hi-Standard Sentinel 9-shot .22LR with 6" bbl, or a S&W Model 28 .357 Magnum with 6" bbl. Of course, I also usually have a loaded AR-15 in the jeep!

 

[BuzzinSATX]

I typically carry a small 9MM, either a Shield or a G26, depending on the plan for the day.

If we go hiking in "hog country", I'll take my Glock 23 (.40 S&W) with a mix of alternating JHP and FMJ 180's.

Just makes me feel better.


Take Care,

Buzz

 

[MAS8394]

Wow I didn't think the post would take off! I'm officially hiking with a 9mm Sarsilmaz B6P in my little pack (and a can of mace for when I visit states like Jersey that aren't gun friendly). It's cheap ($250) shoots accurately straight out the box and a thousand rounds later, carries 17+1, and it fits perfectly so no matter how hard I toss the pack around, it stays in it's pocket - and it's easily reachable within a second.

 

[Alte Schule]

A 3" LCR x in 38 special has your name written all over it. Super light, accurate, and will not fail you.


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Amen on the LCRx in .38 +P. and, I might add, six shot LCR in .327 Federal Magnum for every day carry. When using my Mitch Rosen holster they both weigh right at 20 ounces.
If I'm roaming the wilds of SW Texas it's the SP 101 in .357 or Model 33 Glock in .357 Sig.

 

[Kendal Black]

Wow I didn't think the post would take off! I'm officially hiking with a 9mm Sarsilmaz B6P in my little pack (and a can of mace for when I visit states like Jersey that aren't gun friendly). It's cheap ($250) shoots accurately straight out the box and a thousand rounds later, carries 17+1, and it fits perfectly so no matter how hard I toss the pack around, it stays in it's pocket - and it's easily reachable within a second.

That sounds like a well reasoned choice. Welcome to THR, by the way. Something you can shoot straight is always good, and unless your only concern is putting small creatures into the pot, something aye bigger than a .22 is called for, in some areas at least.

I see that a fair number here like .357 revolvers for the back of beyond, and that's my first choice as well, but lately I am thinking that polymer pistols are lighter and hold more cartridges, they are rugged and some very reliable types exist. Hmmm...