Hiking carry choices?

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dbracin

dbracin

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I'm going hiking soon and want to pack more than my .32/.380 options. The real only other choice for ME is Kahr PM-9 or S&W 442. Which one and what loads would be suitable for 2 or 4 legged preditors. Please note, these 2 options are the only choices.
 
I'd go with the PM9 also, with FMJ rounds. Though if you plan on ecountering bears then leave it at home cuz it'll just get scratched as the bear tears you apart after you unload into it lol
 
Buy another gun.

You really want to come up against a hungry mountain lion or other 4-legged predator and all you have is a 9mm? :scrutiny: :uhoh:

Be my guest.

I'm going camping/hiking in a few weeks and am taking a couple .45s, a .22 for plinking, and I think my 12 ga will make a cameo on the trip too.

I plan on getting a .500 S&W snubbie that will definitely be with me on any outdoors excursions too. :cool:
 
There is no magic load that will turn a 9mm into a bear stopper but they will kill a cougar or coyote and bad campers just fine. You've already decided on what gun you want so let the gun tell you you what ammo works best with it. I'd stay with 115-125 grains maybe some Corbon +P?
 
My Hiking/Camping gun is a S&W 60-4 I load up some very hot loads with 158gr LSWC and a bunch of powder(not specifying due to your safety, load your own) and put them in positions 3, 4, 5 in the cylinder. All of the rest in my gun and ammo pouch are 158 LWC with a mild +p load. I figure that if I get to rounds 3,4 or 5 then heck with the wear and tear on the gun I need to have some umpfh! These round are marked with a color code, red so I know which ones they are.

I hike in and around Eastern PA and I am not worried about bears or lions, just the 2 legged variety of nasties.


Carry either one of what you have and be safe.

Why does a Hiking/Camping thread always end up with.. You gotta take a .499 WhoppersuperMagnum or the bears are gonna git yew....


Other than WildI'mtoobusysellingunstogohikingAlaska, Kodiak, and Spacemanspiff, How many of you have actually been in the woods in the last year and gone hiking, let alone even seen a bear.
 
A 9mm may kill a wild animal......with a well-placed shot.

If you encounter a cat or coyote, you may only get one shot off. Those things move a little fast, ya know....

As such, it makes sense that you'd want that one shot to be the most devastating shot possible.

I've read many anecdotes of domestic dogs taking multiple rounds from handguns without blinking. :uhoh:
 
I think it depends on where you're hiking and what you might expect to encounter. I only do day hikes in the California mountains, so possible predators may include mountain lions or goblins of the two legged variety. I only carry a snubby Taurus 85 loaded with 3 nyclad hollowpoints followed by 2 +P fmj's.
 
Brian:

How about this:

If you want to trust your life to a 9mm, be my guest.

If I want to trust mine to a 12 ga, please allow me to do so.

The man came here for opinions, and that's what he is getting.


:)
 
I carry my CCW weapon, Glock 27. Might not be known as a bear stopper but I sure wouldn't hesitate to use it. I've usually got too much gear on me to carry much else if I'm hiking. Long guns are out. Besides, hiking around here with a 12 ga. would get you in trouble with the Game Commision or park rangers pretty quick. I see a lot of bears during the spring and summer. I don't worry much about the large males, it's the small young males and sows with cubs that worry me. The big ones got big because they have learned people are dangerous. We don't have any grizz around here. Just get a big walking stick for yotes.
 
I'd go with the lightest wieght one. Load it heavy and practice practice. I guess that would be your 442 with 158 gr hollow points.

Are you open carrying or CCWing?
 
I agree on "buy another gun," but if that's out...I'd load the PM9 with 124 gr +P Gold Dots.

Next step up would be a Ruger SP-101 or a Model 60, either in 3" if you can do it or 2/2.25" otherwise.

My real nomination would be a G29.

The PM9 or 442 will be ok for bipedal threats but for anything bigger than a 'yote or a bobcat, we wish you good luck. :uhoh:
 
Thanks for the quick responses. Due to location, company and weather, my choices were limited. The PM-9 will be in my pocket as I stroll thru some NC wilderness areas. I don't think I'll encounter any great threats from wild creatures, it's mainly the venumous 2-legged ones that worry me the most. I feel quite comfortable with some +P loads in the magazine. But, during the last trip a park ranger warned us of a small ( 200 LB ) bear sighting in the area.
 
Brian:
How about this:
If you want to trust your life to a 9mm, be my guest.
If I want to trust mine to a 12 ga, please allow me to do so.
The man came here for opinions, and that's what he is getting.
Click to expand...


2 things I always post when I talk about hiking, camping, fishing, canoeing, whatever your outdoor sport, are where I do that sport, from that you can derive that I have very few encounters with Bears or Cats and what I carry for that location. When I hike I go with the KISS principle. I want to enjoy my hike and to do so I carry the least possible.

Seriously the guy said "this is what I got and what are your opinions about these givens".

He has a 9mm and a 38. So I replied in kind to his message with information reguarding a 38 that I carry.

Then I mused that these type of threads often become "carry the biggest thing cause them bars is gonna git yew"

Dr Jones you told him immediately get another gun.... This is in reply to a statement
Please note, these 2 options are the only choices.
Click to expand...

Your reply sounds very much like those who run around yelling "Get a Glock" on a 1911 thread.

I can see that dbracin lives in nc and a the possibility of him running into a bear rises with his proximity to the mountains of the western part of nc.

Is he going into wilderness where he might run into bear or mt lion???? I DUNNO...

So I replied to him what he wanted, info for a 442 or PM-9


OBTW My carry rotation includes a 357- S&W 13, a 38spec- S&W 60-4, 9mm-S&W 940, 45 - Sistema 1911, so I should not carry a 9mm I might run into bad guys????


Also many poachers and varmiters use a 22lr, so should they stop using the venerable 22lr and get a new gun???


Kaz_67 has some great info and not what I was talking about... when we respond, respond with what the guy asks for not what you think they need.

You might add what you use for your area but at least answer the original question.
 
I'd tend to think that you're most likely to have issues with 2-legged predators... And as such, I would carry whatever I normally carry. I currently carry a 9mm CZ, so in winter months, esp if hiking, I might entertain the idea of heavier bullets (147s rather than my normal 124 +Ps) for a bit extra penetration.

If it's a small bear or a wolf or mountian lion, I'd just figure I was pretty much screwed and place all those 9mm slugs I could manage.
 
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