Perfect "Camp and Trail revolver?"

[witchhunter]

I see lots of big gins here. I still carry my 22 mag. It has fed me, it's perfect for any small game I am going to eat. I have used it on big game also. It is surprising to some people how well it will kill anything.

 

[Deaf Smith]

Thats a good question and I will admit that I did not read the entire thread.

Not to change the subject, but the answer is IMHO always revolver over auto loader.

I suppose a lightweight, or a lighter weight, .357 is the right answer but with at least a 4 inch barrel. I have been on a lot of long trips where controlling weight is essential. I have also been lost in the woods and while I have never had to actually hunt in a survival situation, I have been close. So the answer for me is a gun with enough power and accuracy to knock down game at 50 yards but not so heavy that it becomes burdensome. I can do that with a security six but its not exactly light. If I ever go on a trip like that again I would look at a GP100.

Buffalo Bore 140gr DPX .357 magnum. 3 inch barrel chronos out at 1430 fps.

I think that will do it.

And note it was just a 3 inch barrel, like my GP100 'Canadian'.

Deaf

 

[dickydalton]

I guess that now would be a fine time to say my S&W Model 51 22 Mag is a fine gun for this but I really say that the one that makes me feel comfortable is my 629 Mountain Revolver 44 Mag.

 

[rhinoh]

If I was hiking it would be my 4" SP101 .357 mag.
If I was just sitting around camp and not having to tote the darn thing it would be my 625 .45 Colt Mountain Gun.

 

[RealGun]

Buffalo Bore 140gr DPX .357 magnum. 3 inch barrel chronos out at 1430 fps.

I think that will do it.

And note it was just a 3 inch barrel, like my GP100 'Canadian'.

What a man! As long as I didn't have to shoot it, it sounds awesome on paper.

 

[Pilot]

Colt Diamondback .38 Spl four inch. It is one of my favorite woods/camp guns. I carry it with full power loads, but often take a bunch of my hand loads which are downloaded for plinking. It is fun around camp with the reduced power loads.

 

[Peter M. Eick]

I thought about the Diamondback's also (love mine) but I think they are a bit frail compared to the 38/44 Heavy Duty I showed above. Good suggestion though.

 

[Pilot]

I thought about the Diamondback's also (love mine) but I think they are a bit frail compared to the 38/44 Heavy Duty I showed above. Good suggestion though.

Beautiful Diamondbacks! I shoot more reduced power .38's out of my Diamondback than anything else, and no +p. One of the benefits of reloading.

They are also getting very pricey to be carrying as a woods gun, but life is short, so I carry what I like.

 

[Edcnh]

Currently my 357 Ruger Blackhawk 6" three screw. I hope to pick up a GP100 4" this year.

 

[Peter M. Eick]

Pilot I have to agree the diamondbacks are beautiful. I have shot my Nickeled one over 45,000 times but it started showing its age and wear. It has been back to Colt 3 times for parts breakage (bolt screw, mainspring, timing etc. So I retired it for rare shooting and got the blued one as a play gun. I keep light 38's in mine also and it works great.

You are right, it would be a great carry gun if you could easily replace it, but I found it a lot harder to replace than my 38/44's.

Enjoy that DBack! They are a lot of fun!

 

[edmo01]

Best trail handgun?

Where am I and are there any big bitey-scratchy things around?

I have two revolvers which make the trip to the woods on a regular basis.

One of my picks is the S&W 629 Mountain Gun in 44 Magnum. It is big, heavy to carry, and kicks like a mule. However, it is good medicine for whitetails and comforting in bear country.

My other pick is the light and capable 640 Pro in 38/357. It is small and light for all day hiking. You can amp it up with 357 Magnums or go mellow with 38 Specials. Generally it will be my stand alone firearm on hiking trips or as a companion on hunting trips where a long gun is primary. The three dot tritium sights make longer shots easier than the standard J frame sights.

Edmo

 

[joneb]

This works http://www.thehighroad.org/attachment.php?attachmentid=64627&d=1190868351
S&W 696

 

[TexasGrayBeard]

Another vote for Ruger SP101. My favorite all around revolver. Try the 327 if you can find one. Or the light 38 loads in your 357.

 

[ZVP]

DPris
I Do love my model 10 and write about it as often as you hound me a bout liking the revolver what's wrong with that?
Why are you harassing me?

 

[Old Fuff]

For general all around use where Magnum power isn't necessary I've found that Smith & Wesson's model 10/4" fills the bill nicely. That said, I prefer pre-model 10's (.38 Military & Police/1905 hand ejectors) even more.

Then they're is the model 15 (K-38 Combat Masterpiece) that offers the same platform with adjustable sights and some other perks.

Decisions, decisions ....

Concerning DPris.

Before getting upset, notice the smilie following his comment. I don't think he met to be serious.

 

[Panzerschwein]

My Ruger GP100 with fixed sight and 4'' half lug barrel fits my bill:



A mite heavy for some, but plenty o' thump for any man or beast that might encroach upon me and my pards on the trail or in camp. Also a mean little harvester of game with the right wadcutter load. I plan to change the front sight out for an XS tritium night sight soon. This gun can be found in a Simply Rugged Sourdough Pancake anytime I'm in the field or woods, as well as at home.

 

[ThomasT]

I love these kind of threads.

My trail gun choice would be one of my Ruger single sixes in 32 mag with 5.5" barrels and adjustable sights or my Holy Grail gun which is the S&W model 631 32 mag with a 4" barrel and adjustable sights. It took me years to find one of these I could afford and justify the price on it.

The same day I found the 631 for sale I also won the auction on GB for a S&W model 36-6 38 special. I have read S&W only made 615 of these. It has a 3" barrel with the full lug and adjustable sights. It would be a trail gun par excellence.

After trying to find a reasonable priced model 10 with a 6" barrel like my buddy has and not being able to do so my buddy just gave me his. WOW what a friend. I have shot this gun and it shoots right to the sights with 158gr lead loads. Its light weight and would also be a good trail gun to choose from.

You folks have some nice looking guns.

I forgot to mention that when my buddy gave me the model 10 he also included a brand new Schrade Old Timer knife with about a 5.5" barrel with leather sheath.

 

[oneounceload]

I like something light like an I frame S&W 32 SWL. Light, won't destroy a rabbit, cheaper to reload than shoot .22, what's not to like?....

 

[jmr40]

Model 10's are no doubt great guns, but would be way down on my list of acceptable "camp and trail guns".

I can think of 3 possible uses for such a gun, and you aren't going to find any single gun that does all 3 well. Many will work for 2, but none all 3. Of course you could carry 2 guns.

#1, Small game hunting, plinking etc. This is where the small 22 and 32 caliber revolvers shine. A 4" model 10 would get by, but is bigger and heavier than needed.

#2 Large predator protection. I'd say a heavy loaded 357 revolver on up is what is needed here. If you choose carefully it could be loaded with lighter 38 loads or even shot, but once again is much larger than the 22 and 32 caliber options. But the K frame sizes are no larger than the model 10.

#3 Personal protection. While a 6 shot 38 special or 357 is usually acceptable, in remote locations where help is hours, or even more than a day away I want more ammo capacity. One of the compact plastic semi's in 9mm is smaller and lighter than a 4" model 10, with more power and 3X the ammo.

Personally #1 is the least of my concerns. I'm not likely to starve to death while in camp or the trail. I tend to focus on #2 and #3. Primarily #3 as the threat of large predators is really remote.

 

[Monac]

That seems very clearly thought out to me, jmr40. People in this thread seem to be describing guns that fall into those categories.

 

[RealGun]

Now that we have that established, let's go back to which single guns do the best jobs of covering all circumstances. Seems to me it will be on the heavy side. That's why I picked a robust 45 Colt with a range of ammo choices on the belt. For me, that could include snake shot all the way up to about 250 grain level II loads. I have a scabbard for my 45 Colt Henry Big Boy, so it could be even more involved with that caliber.

 

[v8stang289]

Most recently, my 625 has been my hunting and camp/trail companion. It carries well and i shoot it well.

 

[huntershooter]

One of these; all begin with caliber .4X.

S&W "Mountain Guns":



Freedom Arms 97 (.45 Colt)

 

[murf]

the perfect camp and hiking revolver, for me, is my 45 caliber ruger blackhawk (4.625" barrel). loaded with 265gn lswc bullets at 1100fps, it will take care of any situation i may encounter out-in-the-sticks.

murf

 

[Flatbush Harry]

My choice: a 5" SS S&W 629 with Federal 240 gr JHP ammunition. I have, fortunately, never needed it. Not much in CO will bother you while fishing or hunting.

Harry