Ideal backpacking revolver?

[Nick5182]

For backpacking, personally, I'd go with a smith and wesson 625 Mountain Gun. Stainless steel with a 4 inch barrel and 6 rounds of .45 colt. Not the most powerful round, but will knock down damn near anything you need it to in the U.S.

 

[AStone]

Nick, could you or others offer a sense of the recoil differences between
that .45 Colt in the 625 v .44 mag and .44 spl in, say, a 629 (same barrel length)?

And, anybody know the weight on that 625?
SW's page about it doesn't specify the weight, oddly.

 

[Balrog]

The 625 Mountain Gun in 45 Colt and the 629 Mountain Gun in 44 mag will have a negligible weight difference, but the 45 Colt round is going to be much weaker and not as versatile.

Before 45 Colt fans get bent out of shape by the "much weaker" statement, let me say that is with respect to factory ammo that would be suitable for use in the Mountain Gun.

 

[Balrog]

It used to, I was not a real big fan of it however.

So you are backpacking without a hip belt on your pack? How much does your pack typically weigh? That must kill ya by the end of the 20th mile in a day. If you are strong enough to carry 30 pounds on your back with out a hip belt, then I guess you probably can carry whatever gun you want!

 

[Proff]

This is what I carry for bumming around the woods, a S&W Model 396 Mountain Lite in .44 Special. It weighs 18 oz empty, has a 3-3/8" barrel, and can shoot lead bullets, jacketed hollow points, or home-made shot shells. It's been discontinued by S&W, but is usually available on either Gunsamerica or Gunbroker. When carrying this thing, I usually forget it's there on my hip. Loaded with five rounds, plus another five in a speedloader in my pocket, and I'm reasonably prepared for just about anything.

How is the recoil on your .44sp Mountain Gun?

 

[wheelgunslinger]

So you are backpacking without a hip belt on your pack? How much does your pack typically weigh? That must kill ya by the end of the 20th mile in a day. If you are strong enough to carry 30 pounds on your back with out a hip belt, then I guess you probably can carry whatever gun you want!

Funny.


Ideal backcountry revolver has the muzzle energy of a 458 winmag, the weight of a seecamp, the recoil of a daisy bb rifle, and fits in a chest pocket.

 

[RidgwayCO]

Proff, the M396 Mountain Lite's recoil is definitely there (at 18oz how could it not?), but it doesn't feel as bad to me as a .357 Magnum out of a snubby. The finger-groove Goodyears fit my hand well, and the gun's grip distributes the impact over a fairly large area. For range work I normally shoot 200gr LRNFP handloads at about 850 fps (302 ft-lbs). It's accurate and fun... a "shoot-all-day-in-comfort" type of load. However, I've no problem loading the same bullet up to 950 fps (401 ft-lbs) for social work. Yes it's not as comfortable as the range load, but it doesn't preclude quick double-action followup shots either.

As an aside, last week I finally shot my friend's M329 with .44 Magnum ammo. I'll admit I was apprehensive after all the horror stories I'd read on the internet. But I took a firm grip, squeezed the trigger, and let my arm climb with the gun in recoil. My buddy ribbed me some about letting the gun climb, but I found it effective in maintaining control and getting back on target relatively quickly. Boy, those 240gr JHPs sure do knock down the metal plates with "authority" at 25yds when fired from a full-power .44 Magnum...

 

[The Bushmaster]

I've been carrying a S&W M-19 with 2 1/2" barrel on my hip as a backup when hunting for as long as I can remember. It would also seem that it would be an excellent backpackers carry, too...

 

[Leanwolf]

This Ruger Security Six .357 Mag. has been worn by me -- and now my wife -- on many a rugged mile in the boonies, mountains, etc. I used to backpack with it but as we now only do "day hikes," it is still quite packable and sufficient in the back country. (It's a "pre-warning," BTW.)



Works for us.

L.W.

 

[victory model]

Alaskan.