Frulk
Member
- Joined
- Nov 26, 2018
- Messages
- 1,581
Having read most of the older THR threads on Mt Guns before I started writing this it's apparent that the moniker means different things to different people depending on where you live and the potential apex predator you may be sharing space with when you leave the pavement.
I like to fly fish. A lot! I also like to fish in solitude. In the area that I live, to get to some of the best spots that provide both exceptional fishing and the prerequisite solitude to go along with it requires a concerted effort on foot through very remote, wilderness designated, challenging terrain. Altitude always exceeds 10,000 feet, and many times while crossing passes and the Continental Divide 12K-/+ is eclipsed. I'm not speaking of walking from the truck on a 1/2 day leisurely hike up a trail with 200-300 foot net gain/loss at a general altitude in the area of 3,000 feet. Carrying nothing more than your rod, a daypack (maybe) and your Mt Gun strapped to your waist. I'm talking multi-day (5-9) day treks. Unsupported by horse, requiring heavy packs right from the trail head. Pack weight is based on how many days out but usually in the 40-45 pound range but can push close to 60.
As a visual reference, this is what Mt Gun country looks like from my perspective. Taken at 12,600 feet looking west across the interior of the Wind Rivers Range.
Based on the description of the geographical area and distance the gun will be carried through weight is of paramount consideration. Add to that the potential (however remote) to encounter a large cat, black bear, grizzlies of substantial stature and caliber consideration for me at least, precludes the .357 Mag. Mind you, that's a not a judgment call on anybody that chooses to carry it where there are very large predators. It's just not for me based on experiences in my "yut" hunting black bear in Canada. I pay my respects at the altar of the wide meplat, 300+ grain hard cast when I'm in bear country.
I've carried all four of the guns shown in the pic below over various mountain ranges in the terrain mentioned above. Over the years the Ruger Blackhawk with .45 Colt 315 gr. hard casts on board logged approx. 500 miles on my belt. Always carried in a cross draw up front to the left of the bear spray. Of the 3 Ruger's it carried the easiest. The 2 inch Redhawk in .44 mag was carried once on a 3-day trip and has never been out again. It carries like a BRICK. Even in the Galco Outdoorsman(?) holster which did an admirable job of restraining it's considerable bulk from flopping around. Next up is the Redhawk in .45 Colt. It too went for a 3-4 day trip and has never seen the remote back country again except in one instance. In that case it rode in a holster on the back of a horse. They've now been relegated to carry duty in bear country when I'm mushroom hunting from a vehicle supported base camp or ATVing, etc.
This is a good time to point out something about the two Red Hawks. They're great guns for the back-country if you're going in on horse or standing on a stream bank in Alaska after you've been dropped off by your outfitter. In any other context as a Mt Gun they are impractical if you're the sole mode of transport for them over mountainous terrain on foot for extended distances.
That finally brings me to the 329PD. I'll borrow a description someone used for it in one of those older THR threads. "It's a gun that's meant to be carried a lot and shot very little". In that context it sums up EXACTLY what I'm looking for in a Mt Gun. I've carried it extensively and only shot it at the range. It's lack of weight precludes it from becoming noticeable even after a hard day (say 10+ miles with a main pack and lots of vertical gain). We keep clean camps (no food etc. in sleeping area). Everything is bear bagged high up in trees. We cook away from main camp. Everyone makes noise in thick growth or when heading into the wind. We all consider our bear spray the primary choice in an encounter. I don't expect to ever have to resort to the 329PD in a life or death encounter miles from nowhere. However, if all else fails its there as a last resort.
My previous 329PD became a wedding gift for one of my best friends son. I taught him how to fly fish and he grew up backpacking with us and spends a lot of time in bear country, such as the Frank Church wilderness etc. He's just starting out in life with his career and family and I wanted him to have a quality, lightweight piece to carry when he's back in there without me.
This particular 329PD came home Monday PM.
It will reside in the holster (sans the wooden grips) that I carried through the back country on many outings. It's inaugural trip will be in August 2019. A 105 miler over 8-9 passes in 10-11 days with two retired friends.
I'll close with this. I'm surprised that S&W doesn't stamp the "Mountain Gun" designation on the 329PD. From my perspective it's the only one they sell that perfectly meets the criteria for the loosely defined mountain niche.
Hope all of you have a safe and happy New Year....
I like to fly fish. A lot! I also like to fish in solitude. In the area that I live, to get to some of the best spots that provide both exceptional fishing and the prerequisite solitude to go along with it requires a concerted effort on foot through very remote, wilderness designated, challenging terrain. Altitude always exceeds 10,000 feet, and many times while crossing passes and the Continental Divide 12K-/+ is eclipsed. I'm not speaking of walking from the truck on a 1/2 day leisurely hike up a trail with 200-300 foot net gain/loss at a general altitude in the area of 3,000 feet. Carrying nothing more than your rod, a daypack (maybe) and your Mt Gun strapped to your waist. I'm talking multi-day (5-9) day treks. Unsupported by horse, requiring heavy packs right from the trail head. Pack weight is based on how many days out but usually in the 40-45 pound range but can push close to 60.
As a visual reference, this is what Mt Gun country looks like from my perspective. Taken at 12,600 feet looking west across the interior of the Wind Rivers Range.
Based on the description of the geographical area and distance the gun will be carried through weight is of paramount consideration. Add to that the potential (however remote) to encounter a large cat, black bear, grizzlies of substantial stature and caliber consideration for me at least, precludes the .357 Mag. Mind you, that's a not a judgment call on anybody that chooses to carry it where there are very large predators. It's just not for me based on experiences in my "yut" hunting black bear in Canada. I pay my respects at the altar of the wide meplat, 300+ grain hard cast when I'm in bear country.
I've carried all four of the guns shown in the pic below over various mountain ranges in the terrain mentioned above. Over the years the Ruger Blackhawk with .45 Colt 315 gr. hard casts on board logged approx. 500 miles on my belt. Always carried in a cross draw up front to the left of the bear spray. Of the 3 Ruger's it carried the easiest. The 2 inch Redhawk in .44 mag was carried once on a 3-day trip and has never been out again. It carries like a BRICK. Even in the Galco Outdoorsman(?) holster which did an admirable job of restraining it's considerable bulk from flopping around. Next up is the Redhawk in .45 Colt. It too went for a 3-4 day trip and has never seen the remote back country again except in one instance. In that case it rode in a holster on the back of a horse. They've now been relegated to carry duty in bear country when I'm mushroom hunting from a vehicle supported base camp or ATVing, etc.
This is a good time to point out something about the two Red Hawks. They're great guns for the back-country if you're going in on horse or standing on a stream bank in Alaska after you've been dropped off by your outfitter. In any other context as a Mt Gun they are impractical if you're the sole mode of transport for them over mountainous terrain on foot for extended distances.
That finally brings me to the 329PD. I'll borrow a description someone used for it in one of those older THR threads. "It's a gun that's meant to be carried a lot and shot very little". In that context it sums up EXACTLY what I'm looking for in a Mt Gun. I've carried it extensively and only shot it at the range. It's lack of weight precludes it from becoming noticeable even after a hard day (say 10+ miles with a main pack and lots of vertical gain). We keep clean camps (no food etc. in sleeping area). Everything is bear bagged high up in trees. We cook away from main camp. Everyone makes noise in thick growth or when heading into the wind. We all consider our bear spray the primary choice in an encounter. I don't expect to ever have to resort to the 329PD in a life or death encounter miles from nowhere. However, if all else fails its there as a last resort.
My previous 329PD became a wedding gift for one of my best friends son. I taught him how to fly fish and he grew up backpacking with us and spends a lot of time in bear country, such as the Frank Church wilderness etc. He's just starting out in life with his career and family and I wanted him to have a quality, lightweight piece to carry when he's back in there without me.
This particular 329PD came home Monday PM.
It will reside in the holster (sans the wooden grips) that I carried through the back country on many outings. It's inaugural trip will be in August 2019. A 105 miler over 8-9 passes in 10-11 days with two retired friends.
I'll close with this. I'm surprised that S&W doesn't stamp the "Mountain Gun" designation on the 329PD. From my perspective it's the only one they sell that perfectly meets the criteria for the loosely defined mountain niche.
Hope all of you have a safe and happy New Year....
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