Hiking and a handgun

[litework]

I live in Virginia, and can't carry a firearm on the trail. I noticed a sign on the trail that read "No Weapons." Pretty vague statement to make, and I was already a couple hundred yards into the hike. I'm not going to take my ASP, err... I mean retractable walking stick, back to the truck for that one.
When I am not prohibited to carry, I use a Glock 20 in the woods. I got tired of carrying large framed revolvers, and a heavily loaded 10 mm should be plenty powerful for the small bear and large humans that frequent my area. I have a concealed carry permit, and I'm a little miffed that I can't have a gun in the park.

Someone mentioned throwing stars...I don't think it's legal to have those in Virginia, either. I don't know if a bag of copperheads is considered a weapon.

 

[Majic]

Litework,
You have to be careful on the AT. Parts of it runs thru national forest and national park lands. Parts run thru VA owned land. Federal law prevents carrying on the trail in their districts, but VA laws apply to the state owned lands. Open carry can be a sticky situation, but state CCW's are reconized.

 

[litework]

Majic,

Yeah, I don't carry at all when hiking in the National Park. I'm probably breaking the law by having a firearm in my vehicle when entering the National Forest. I frequent Sperryville and the road I travel flows inside and outside the National Forest.

 

[MCNETT]

National Forest carry is fine, National Park carry is not fine.


"The park Rangers will save us"


My vote is for the G29 or G20, I have taken deer and black bear with the G20 and feel confident in it for any and all hikng/ camping applications.
-Mike

 

[tango3065]

I always carry in woods. To all of u guys who do carry do have a bullet in the cahmber and the ones with revolvers do u keep one empty or not,

 

[Majic]

I only carry revolvers in the woods, and only my OM Blackhawk has the hammer down on an empty chamber.

 

[44]

10mm

It is true that you will probably get more shots into the animal with the 10mm.

And you can put a light on it for after dark. Which is a lot easier than shooting a heavy-recoil revolver one handed, trying to get a decent hit, with a flashlight in the other hand, in a big fast emergency. And with a light on the gun all you have to grab is the gun - in the dark.

I thought about going to the 10mm myself. Also considered the 45 Super. But in gearing up for black bears, I figured a person has to gear up for the biggest ones - which around here can be 400+ pounds. In fact, they took a 600-pounder south of where I am. So I stuck with the 44mag.

Just my thinking so far, which I know could all change tomorrow. I'm still learning these things. 44

 

[Lee F]

Virginia is left of California

I get over to Mount Rogers and the Washington-Jefferson National Forests sometimes so I just researched VA's firearms laws.

http://www.dgif.state.va.us/hunting/regs/section5a.html

You have got to be kidding me! Even California has more reasonable laws about guns on Federal land. The next time I hear someone say VA is a gun friendly state are they in for it. All SE states limit carry in State Parks and National Parks, but in National Forests! I know its a VA law because NF land in NC is much less regulated.

 

[Majic]

As VA law states, you can carry with a CCW.
After reading the extensive Kali laws, unless you are engaged in hunting, no bow, rifle, revolver, pistol, air gun, or propulsive device of any kind is permited on ANY wildlife area.
I have to wonder about someone comparing Kali over VA in gun laws!

 

[Lee F]

Majic,
I don't have a CCW in VA neither would 95% of people coming in from out of state to hike. I've lived in California (don't know if you've been there) and BLM areas are pretty much wide open to guns and for the most part shooting. The thread is about hiking which for the most part would be on state or federal owned land.

 

[jercamp45]

Rather than discuss the Law to protect us..unread by bears annd criminals I am sure..

I used to hike alot....not so much any more(been citified, I guess and got alot older and more used to creature comforts!! LOL)). Back then I carried a Ruger 44 mag carbine(it was Alaska and I was young) and a .22 pistol. On most of my other long hikes, I carried a 1911 .45 auto(mostly a lightly modified Commander, but the heavily modified Government got used too) because that was what I had handgun-wise at the time(lost my others in a fire!). The Commander was with me on a 100 mile chunk of the Pacific Coast Trail in Washington(Beautiful!!). In a military cross chest surplus leather rig and YES, always a round in the chamber!(someone asked!!) an unloaded gun is useless!
Now, I take my LW Officer's .45 and a couple of spare Wilson mags with Plus p 230's. I have tried the Speer shotshells and they are reliable, and handy..if only for extremely short range. If I was going on a LONG trip in the lower 48...I would add my Ciener .22 conversion unit and 100 rds of .22 lr to the load(A very nice combo, alloy frame, alloy, right ammo makes a nice accurate kit gun!).
Back to Alaska?(doubtful) Then one of my Government's would come out more often, equipped with a .460 Rowland conversion unit from clark custom guns(45 at 44 magnum velocities!). And a Quad pack of 10 round Wilson mags! That is for defense only! I have no need to hunt big critters anymore unless I gotta have meat, but that is the time to break out the rifle. I have done some handgun hunting in my past, and the bigger the bullet the better!!
Never used pepper spray on a bear, but a can would be with me too(to give me a nonlethal option). As would an intense white light(surefire) and a good blade or two(mostly as tools!).
Nowadays, the pistol would be concealed until needed, unless I was in the WAY back woods.
The the oft mentioned Glock 20 is a very viable option for the mission, but I only have 1911's(other than a smaller pistol for the pocket as back up/deep cover, but that is another story), I like 'em alot, and am very familiar and well trained with them.
Good Hiking!!
Jercamp45