I’ve been a backpacker since the ‘60s. I started going into the Rockies in Oct. ‘71 and have gone most summers since. My choices have changed over the years, depending upon the perceived threat and, as I’ve “gone past 39,” weight and size.
The guys who taught me backpacking in the early ‘70s were retired military and preferred rifles. One did something I’d not heard of before that, he made his own ammo. His favorite handgun was a S&W (probably a pre-27) and the other guys all said he wasn’t happy unless his ammo could drill holes through the mountains.
Elsewhere in THR you’ll find photos of my choices.
When I got an Anaconda I figured I’d never switch. But I also still carried a Marlin .45-70 in the Bitterroots, but was “encouraged” to give it up after I hurt myself one year, and the Doc said Lighten The Load. Hamilton Bowen modified my Ruger Redhawk to .500 Linebaugh. Lighter than the Marlin, but still weighty, not to mention way more than needed in black bear country.
I got the S&W 629 Mountain Gun in .44 and used my hand loads, which pushed a 240gr bullet at 1,000 fps. When S&W introduced the blue 29 as a mountain gun, I got one of those but prefer the stainless model for the trail. I get wet, sweaty and dirty, and blue doesn’t hold up as well. Today I carry the 329PD. More about it later.
I then loaded .44s with 300-gr bullets at 1200 fps from the Mountain Gun and put four in the cylinder with my lighter loads in the other two. This was because I was packing on the Wyoming Trail in Colorado, camping along Sawmill Creek one year. In one of the other forums on THR, someone spoke on not shooting moose because the moose hadn’t harmed the writer. Welll, I was not killed by a moose at Sawmill because I got away. Momma Mooses do NOT consider humans as objects of interest for their calves! I wanted something in case I can’t get away next time.
You mentioned two-legged predators. In all the years of packing, and other than Mrs. Moose, my worst concerns were about other people. Now, I go remote. No roads, no ATVs usually allowed, only people who like to go out there. All but a tiny fraction are well-behaved (and there are many more people than years ago). Those few usually are breaking rules, such as driving their ATVs or snowmobiles where none are allowed. Once my best friend and I were camping in the Tin Cup Pass area when a group of 4 came in on ATVs, off the allowed road. They were drinking and began shooting across the valley at essentially anything. We were most distressed to learn they planned to camp there, about 100 yards from us. As soon as it got dark we rolled up our tents and moved a mile further away.
I’m a gun guy, but whenever I encounter people who want to “play” with their guns irresponsibly, such as in the National Forests where discharging firearms is prohibited except for hunting, I get suspicious and move on.
I would not have considered any semi-auto as suitable for packing. The Desert Eagle and LAR Grizzly are simply too heavy. My youngest son, a Copasaurus, snitched the Grizz and he’s welcome to it. I used to disparage the .40S&W as a black bear round until I encountered a retired Forest Ranger who said they worked fine. He carried a Ruger. I like semi-autos a lot, but prefer revolvers for backpacking. Less to worry about.
I always carry openly on a belt. Cougars never used to be a threat, but are, now. August ‘09 I encountered the first one I ever saw. It was big and had jumped across the trail and down the slope before I could say “S**T!” Never mind actually getting to the gun, and it WAS on my belt! In ‘98 I was camping in the Idaho Bitterroots. I was sitting on an animal trail about one-third up the slope from a creek when an elk, heading down, failed to see me below him until he had begun to take the small jump to the trail. He leapt almost over me as he bounded down the mountain. In ‘04 I was camping near Buffalo Pass in CO. I found a beautiful spot to range from and stayed there (this was late May) because the road was blocked by deep snow that was too rotten for snowmobiles. Each morning just after dawn what I called the “Elk Delta Elite Attack Force” composed of four elk, each weighing well over 1,000 lbs, came bounding over the fallen trees and passed within 20 yards of my tent. Another summer, along Sawmill Creek, I camped in a nice open area along the stream. In the middle of the night I hear “Kathum kathump kathump WHACK!” I had managed to pitch my tent in the elk “County Fair Grounds” and they were holding their mating competition, without any concern for the dinky human and his tent.
Sooo, I want a round that will seriously deter, if not kill, such critters should I need to. Let me note, I have NEVER felt the need to, not even ( or maybe especially not ) Momma Moose.
As to bears, I’ve heard them around my camp a time or two, but never been threatened by one. BUT, just in case I encounter one that skipped class the day they taught bear-human socialization, I want my gun instantly accessible.
Which brings up holsters. After an impromptu roll down a mountainside in ID, where I confirmed something I intuitively knew: that my backpack would probably float but my revolver would sink, I had a custom one made for my 29/629 Mountain Guns and the 329.
Note that National Forests allow open carry. National Parks have not, though I read that is changing. Don’t trust them. Call ahead. Many states do not allow carry of any kind in their state parks. Always check. Though I can’t really advocate breaking the law, I am most leery of other campers in state parks. For one thing, the parks tend to be smaller and closer to civilization, so people go there to party. My wife and I had some ugly confrontations with rowdy campers in state parks. I would always feel safer armed, but if you pull your gun to ward off someone threatening you, the rangers will arrest YOU. I think the old rule of don’t draw unless you intend to shoot, and don’t shoot unless your life is threatened applies.
I do carry a backup when backpacking. Where legal, it is loaded and in my belly pack. Under another forum you’ll find photos of my much modified S&W 386NG. That’s my main backup on the trail.
The 329PD. I got this gun with much doubt I could make it work, especially with heavy loads like the 300-gr bullets. I read John Taffin’s recommendations on firing heavy recoil revolvers and found they work. Basically, do not attempt to control the recoil. I really hurt my wrist one year until I learned this. Let your arm rise with the gun. I can now fire six to 12 rounds in practice without pain, something I do every year to sight in. Before I bought it I called S&W to specifically ask if the gun would handle the heavy, but still SAAMI-spec hunting loads, and they said “No problem.” Good enough for me.
The rubber grips are mandatory. I got LaserGrips Hoghunters and recommend them. I then had MagNaPort drill holes in the barrel and added Cylinder and Slide’s Extreme Duty tritium sight to the rear and the Ashley Big Dot to the front. I can find and aim the gun in any light, or point and shoot as needed.
You’ll find a lot of opinions about caliber. I am comfortable with the .44 Magnum and like the variations I can make at home. If you don’t reload, I recommend Garret 305-gr Hammerheads for big bears, elk, etc., and the new Hornady LeverEvolution rounds for anything else.
Hornady also makes that round for the .357. It does not kick badly in the NG and will stop cougars and, I’m told, black bears.
When I was half my age I also carried a .22 revolver, the Ruger Bearcat. Loved it. Loaded with shot shells it was a fine camp gun for the worst pests: rodents and stinging insects. I don’t carry one any more to save the weight, but carry shot shells for my .44 for rodents. I’ve carried .45-Colt and did not feel under-gunned in black bear / cougar country. I do think a S&W 25 fitted for .45ACP would do as well as .45-Colt and possibly better. I used to load 260-gr bullets in ACP as feed-test rounds for my autoloaders. Here again, if you load your own you can create some effective ammo, just be sure you are not exceeding the 45-Colt pressures.
9mm: Good for people, not so good for big critters (IMHO). That said, law enforcement rounds of 147-grains at +P+ pressures will likely do about as well as .357 Magnum. Some may argue with this, so it’s only a suggestion. I’m still not as comfortable with semi-autos as I am with revolvers on the trail, so you might look for a wheel gun made for the 9mm.
I am nearly always solo. My long-time friend has given it up for city life, and our children are getting on with their own lives. Since 1996 (an arbitrarily picked date) I have had companions four times. In addition to firearms I carry rocket flares and now, upon insistence of family, a device that will send a distress signal via satellite.
Sooo, to summarize, I advocate open carry in a quick-access holster. Unless you are in brown bear country or wish to be able to defend against huge four-footed critters, the .357 Magnum is plenty, or 9mm in a revolver. .40S&W or 10mm would also work fine. Lighter is better for a backpacker, but learn how to shoot it. For actual backpacking, I advocate for tritium sights and laser pointers. If you can, take a backup and take a camp gun in .22 for pests. For people I recommend just getting away from them, even if that means abandoning your stuff and running. They can be a problem in state parks and you should call the rangers or sheriff as soon as it even APPEARS trouble might start. Human predators don’t frequent National Forest or Park trails, so once outside the established campgrounds you’re really quite safe.
BTW, for day hikes I still love my Anaconda. If I didn’t have it I’d carry a Redhawk.
-Backpacker
