shotgun for hiking and camping?

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old fart

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well things have a way of changing, and in my case they change alot. i love to hike and camp on private property near my home here in kentucky. i thought i would have a handgun to take with me, i had bought a stoeger cougar 9mm. but some things came up i had to sell the gun, now it will be next year before i will have a chance to have enough for another handgun. i do however have h&r pardner pump protector with 18.5 inch barrel, it weighs however 7lbs. would the shotgun be a good choice fo hiking and camping? at one time i thought i might have to use it for this purpose but i was able to get the handgun now i'm back to the shotgun. what do ya'll think about carrying a shotgun for camping and hiking? also i put the regular stock back on it, which gives me better accuracy. thanks
 
I think shotgun would do at least as good a job, as long as the added size/weight doesnt prevent you from bringing it. Assuming your intentions are protection and maybe fun while camping, I think its as good, if not better choice than a handgun. Its more powerful than a handgun and easier to shoot with less practice, especially for 'good enough' accuracy out to 25(ish) yards (maybe longer, not sure how the short barrel would affect that range).
 
Back when I was young and used to do a lot of hiking, I carried a Savage (I think - or was it a Stevens?) single shot/double broken down in my backpack. It was an o/u, .22 on top, .410 under. I loved that thing and am sorry I traded it. It took a lot of groundhogs with the .22 and squirrels/rabbits with the .410.
I tried carrying it with a sling while hiking, but got some adverse reactions from some, therefore, the backpack.

If you think a .410 is too small, just remember it has more energy than a .357!!
 
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I have one of the springfield M6 .22/.410 that is compact but would rather have one of my savage 24s (.22/20ga) at camp.
 
I'd prefer to just sling it up instead of using a scabbard. Scabbard basically does the same thing as a sling but protects the gun and makes it slower to deploy. I recommend for the OP to get a Mossberg 500. They have aluminum receivers and make the gun lighter especially when used with plastic furniture.

My thoughts are to carry a rifle or carbine. I prefer to carry my AK 74 if I were to carry a long gun with just a regular sling slung African style.
 
I don't know much about Kentucky, but in my old stomping grounds in the N/W (N Idaho; Mt; Wa) the single bbl .410 is most versatile. Grouse, rabbits, etc - and can double for defensive use with heavy Brenneke slugs. My cyl bore Snake Charmer with skeleton stock is 3 lbs and breaks down in 2 seconds - about as light and bulky as a 6" .357 but much more useful. I started hunting in the forties and have used just about everything. For me the tiny .410 is the best of the best.
 
Mossberg has a JIC "Just In Case" model 500 which can be quickly broken down and has it's own softcase which can fit in a backpack:

55340.jpg


http://www.mossberg.com/products/default.asp?id=28&section=products
 
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I have a Maverick 88 with a 20 inch cylinder. It holds a pattern with large buckshot as well as any shotgun. 45 yards is the effective range of buckshot. Buckshot slows a lot between 40 and 50 yards and gets a lot slower with each yard over 50 yards.

The upside is things in nature that are over 40 yards away aren't a threat. Don't get me wrong you should keep an eye on nearby animals. A shotgun loaded with buckshot & slugs will take any North American predator, including the great bears of the north in close quarters. The shotguns with rifled barrels loaded with slugs are a standard weapon in grizzly country. The 3 Inch mag slug delivers 1958 ft/lbs of energy at the muzzle, shooting plain 3 inch mag SuperX ammo. Same Super X ammo that comes in the 15 round value pack at Walmart.
 
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The only drawback I see with a shotgun or rifle as a hiking gun is that someone could call the Game Warden and claim someone is hunting out of season. Other than that a medium gauge short barreled shotgun may be just the ticket.
 
Mossberg has a JIC "Just In Case" model 500 which can be quickly broken down and has it's own softcase which can fit in a backpack:
Click to expand...

Bout all you're going to do with that is make noise. Hitting something would be pure luck.

My camp, hike, store in my back pack gun is a 20" Spartan coach gun which also is one of my favorite guns for dove hunting. Comes with 4 chokes, cylinder through full. It breaks down and fits in my back pack. It makes for a handy combination gun loaded with slug/shot if you need a rifle/shotgun combination. It's under 6 lbs, shoots straight and I've botten in probably 6 cases of ammo through it so far no problems. It has only gotten better, really.

Remington no longer imports 'em, but you might find it branded "Baikal", the actual manufacturer in Russia and they've been imported as "Biakal" and as Remington Spartan.

Or, you could go with a .22 rifle. Ruger has a 10/22 take down now I'm tempted by, love my stainless 10/22.
 
Bout all you're going to do with that is make noise. Hitting something would be pure luck.
Click to expand...

I'm not a fan of them myself but this is one myth that I really don't understand. Yes they are less effective but no they aren't useless. I folded the stock on my AK74 and was plinking cans at 25 yards with ease and wasn't really missing. I've also fired a Mossberg 500 and held it out like it didn't have a buttstock and I was hitting steel plates 15 yards away. Anything that this type of shotgun would be used for outside of Police and Military work are on things are much larger than cans or those steel plates.

My overall opinion? They aren't useless, just less effective.

That's my opinion formed through observation and testing.
 
Ole' smoothbore Ithaca 'Deerslayer' is impossible to beat. It's light weight and can be used for medium game with slugs and buckshot and small birds at close range with upland loads. There is no more versatile survival/defensive/hunting smoothbore weapon out there. What is amazing is I picked up one in pristine condition for less then cost of new basic Mossberg 500 or Remington 870 Express.
 
It depends on what you mean by "hiking." I'll carry a long gun when I go for walks around my property or relatively short hikes in certain areas. If I'm going on a backpacking trip there is no way I am carrying a 7lbs long gun.

I recommend for the OP to get a Mossberg 500. They have aluminum receivers and make the gun lighter especially when used with plastic furniture.
Click to expand...

If he could afford that he could afford a decent handgun.
 
MCgunner said:
Bout all you're going to do with that is make noise. Hitting something would be pure luck.

My camp, hike, store in my back pack gun is a 20" Spartan coach gun which also is one of my favorite guns for dove hunting. Comes with 4 chokes, cylinder through full. It breaks down and fits in my back pack. It makes for a handy combination gun loaded with slug/shot if you need a rifle/shotgun combination. It's under 6 lbs, shoots straight and I've botten in probably 6 cases of ammo through it so far no problems. It has only gotten better, really.

Remington no longer imports 'em, but you might find it branded "Baikal", the actual manufacturer in Russia and they've been imported as "Biakal" and as Remington Spartan.

Or, you could go with a .22 rifle. Ruger has a 10/22 take down now I'm tempted by, love my stainless 10/22.
Click to expand...

I have both, the baikal coach and the ruger take down.

Wouldnt you know it... they both fit into the ruger case.

I can even fit my buck mark and if I really wanted to, one of my 9mm pistols too.
 
If he could afford that he could afford a decent handgun.
Click to expand...

He should look at the used rack. You can find NIB Mavericks for under $200. He could trade his current shotgun in.
 
Man ... that´s a lot of replies ....

if ur fit to carry it around, where´s the problem?

A .22LR handgun of some form would be good, to have on you.



( ...is this anywhere near Pine Mountain? i´m coming! .-) )
 
Shotguns are great firearms with a broad range of capabilities, but I've never needed a firearm hiking or camping in 30+ years of doing so.

Still, if your area has problems with crime and you'd feel safer with a firearm, it would be impossible to beat a shotgun for effectiveness. Light it ain't, but they're effective. Toss a couple of 12ga flares in the kit and you have signal capability as well.
 
I think the point is that he already owns this shotgun and wanted opinions on its usefulness in his situation rather than opinions on what to buy.

Not sure what you may come across that needs to be addressed, but your shotgun should serve you well for most self defense situations if that is your goal. The down side is that it is going to get a little heavy after a while, make sure you have a comfortable sling. It is comforting to have a nice defensive arm if the need arises. Make use of the tools that you have.
 
The Pardner is a great weapon for hiking and shooting critters around the house. I would put the regular stock back on it. tacti-cool stocks aren't cool in real life. The standard stock is accurate, sturdy and designed just for your gun.
 
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A shotgun Like you own would be my first choice over a pistol in your circumstances. I like their versatility! just sling it or put it in a scabbard attached to a pack and you're good to go!
 
Europeans hike a lot and frequently carry a shotgun equipped with a strap. You could do like Michael Corleone when he was hiding out and hiking in Cicily. He had 2 guys, each carrying a side-by-side equipped with a strap. Have your people carry it for you:)
 
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