Hiking Revolver, what do you pack?

I spent decades training with and carrying that which was pragmatic and required. Guns were all business and lost their fun.

So, my woods gun is my new Ruger SBH. I do not hunt. There are no bears, cougars, big foots, wild boar, or other dangerous animals in my area. Trespassers are rare and usually a friendly sort who wandered off the neighbors property by accident. I can think of absolutely no practical reason to carry a SBH when hiking my property. I just want to. But that's the point.

upload_2023-2-25_16-5-7.jpeg
 
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Ugly Sauce said:
Yep, kind of thought there must be some Grizz in Wyoming. Here's a big track I came across on Monumental Mountain, Washington State. Google it! :)
View attachment 1135699
Not a great pic, it's in the middle of an old cow-patty. Had a better pic with my Bulldog/.44 in the middle of it to show it's size. It was huge.!!
Click to expand...

ugly sauce I hope you cleaned that bulldog:rofl:
 
For hiking and camping, I usually do 9mm (auto), .40 (auto) or .357mag (revolver). I live in Maryland. Most of my outdoors activities are in MD, VA, PA and WV. We are in the historic range for eastern cougars, but they have been killed off for some time now (though, it seems cougars/mountain lions, like coyotes are making a comeback and their range is increasing, so they may be back soon). They are a relatively thin skinned animal that weighs about the same as we do, so I'm pretty sure that a moderate power defensive cartridge with reasonable penetration will take care of it. Black bear are more likely to be scared of us and run, but if they don't, they don't usually get all that large around here. A 9mm or .40 from Buffalo Bore (not the usual defensive rounds) should do it, though I am far more likely to need to use a gun to defend myself from a human attacker than an attacking bear so I often use 9mm or .40 with defensive rounds when in the woods, and carry bear strength pepper spray in case I encounter a bear. That said, a woods gun is a good excuse for a revolver, and in the middle of nowhere I'm less likely to face a human attacker, so it is often an excuse for a revolver. My .357mag Colt King Cobra (new model) with a 3" barrel is most likely to come, followed by my .45LC S&W 625MG and .357mag S&W 65LS (the Colt is lighter and easier to carry while still packing 6 rounds of .357mag out of a 3" barrel, the 625MG is a bit heavy so it gets significantly less carry, the 65LS is in too nice condition to risk getting banged up so while I sometimes take it, it is far less than the other two). When I go far enough north to possibly encounter moose, then the 625MG is my choice. In a few years when I take a summer to do a cross country camping trip, I'll probably pick up a .44mag or a Ruger .45LC capable of taking "Ruger only" loads since that will put me in grizzly territory.
 
My dad's old single six around the farm for general use. If I'm out back where I might encounter a coyote, I'll have the 22WMR cylinder in with Maxi Mags. Gives a little more distance and knockdown power.
Up to the cabin and the big woods, 3" GP100 44 special, shooting 240 SWC. A cylinder of those should neutralize any situation I may encounter
 
Sistema1927 said:
In an area with brown bears, the one on the top, stoked with Ruger only loads.
Click to expand...

If hiking with my spear, or bow in grizzly land, I think my best choice is this SBH .44mag that I've had forever. About 4-5-? years ago I had Mel Doyle in Plummer Idaho re-blue it, replace the firing pin, and cut the barrel from 7.5" to 6.25".
DSCN1356.JPG
Even though the .44mag is probably the most logical choice, with a good spear in hand, not so much the bow, I like the EL Patron in .45 Colt. Much lighter than the Ruger. Also less powerful, but the .45 Colt isn't chopped liver either. I try to get close to 1000fps with my smokeless loads, which I don't think is stressing the Uberti. Yeah yeah yeah..."don't hot rod a Colt or Colt copy you fool"!!! Whatever, an extra 100fps isn't going to blow my face off, or wear out the pistol. Especially since I only shoot my "full power" loads very seldom, really only to check my zero. All plinking and practice done with standard fudd-approved .45Colt velocity. :) EL Patron is the Stainless one.
DSC02485.JPG
 
Mountain lions and black bears in the Colorado Rockies. I have a 3" SP100 but last winter I bought a 1⅞" LCR 38P+ to lighten my load.

Lots of grizzlies in northwest Wyoming. Yellowstone no longer allows tent camping because of the grizzlies inside the national park.
 
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