Camping with guns

To my way of thinking, the decision to carry a weapon, especially firearms, involves being able to say "yes" to three questions: (1) am I willing to take the time and make the effort to become proficient in the use of the weapon; (2) if the situation warrants it, am I able and willing to use it to the extent of taking a life; and (3) am I willing to deal with the legal consequences of either having it where the possession of the weapon alone would be illegal, or where someone was injured or killed.
 
As to reccommendations as to what to carry, I would recommend either a .22 revolver or a .357 revolver. There are several good .22 revolvers that are reasonably compact and lightweight, it's fun for plinking, the ammo is cheap and easily carried and, frankly, I don't know anyone who would take the chance of getting shot with one, so it would be adequate (imo) for self defense. The .357 because it is so versitile -- it can be loaded with ammo that varies from lightweight .38 loads for plinking up to hot .357 loads (such as those made by Buffalo Bore) that would be adequate for most animals up to black bears.

Personally? My favorite handgun is the .45 1911 style automatic; my daily carry gun is a .40 Firestar; and my usual woods gun is a Ruger .357 Blackhawk, although my Ruger Single Six .22 long rifle/22 magnum convertable is a close second.
 
For a good, all-around gun, a .357 revolver is hard to beat. However, if you're not going to hunt, or try to fight off large game, I'd go with a Glock 19. They are small and light enough to carry, big enough to control well, 9mm which is powerful enough for 2 legged critters, and relatively inexpensive.

Do you hunt when you are out? If so, then your hunting rifle or shotgun should do. I like to carry this:
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When I go out, since hogs are fair game all year here, and most people are polite when they see someone carrying a 4 foot long rifle, and having this hanging off a baldric:
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Another vote for "Why wouldn't I?". I also feel an unloaded weapon is just slightly short of useless. Expensive club.

Doc
 
I carry when camping or hiking. It is unlikely I will need a gun when doing these activities, but if I do need it, nothing else is a suitable substitute.

My primary concern is bad guys. My secondary concern is dogs. I've encountered domestic dogs who's owners thought it was fine to have them unleashed in a park (where there is a leash law in effect) and had they been a bit more aggressive, I might have needed a gun to defend myself.

As to having an unloaded gun with me, or firing at something when unsure of what's beyond, both are foolish. If I'm going to need a gun it's highly unlikely I'll have time to load it, and I'm responsible for every projectile I launch, so I better be able to see both what I'm shooting and what's beyond it.
 
Dave_Markowitz said:
As to having an unloaded gun with me, or firing at something when unsure of what's beyond, both are foolish. If I'm going to need a gun it's highly unlikely I'll have time to load it, and I'm responsible for every projectile I launch, so I better be able to see both what I'm shooting and what's beyond it.
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That was another thought. All I need is to shoot someone who was playing a joke on me or something....I couldn't justify shooting through a tent.....too many bad things could happen.
 
usually when i go hiking i carry a springfield xd 40 subcompact loaded with mag tech solid copper hollowpoints.its good against 2 legged,4 legged,and no legged critters.when i go camping i usually have it,a fixed blade,and my stoeger double barreled coach gun in 12 gauge.its short,lightweight,easily dissasembled and cleaned,and what critter of any variety could argue with two barrels of buck and ball?
 
I think it's safe to say hikers and campers are always armed with some sort of safe keeping weapon such as a knife or firearm. I think it goes back to the early days and having a mindset that when we're out there in the wilderness it's wild in a sense. Criminals and animals play by no rules and regulation. And we are the ones to protect ourselves and families. I carry a knife and firearm, because in my short life I've encountered potential weirdos and thuggish looking individuals that may have been a threat. But lucky they weren't but I won't bet my life on being lucky.
 
I always take a couple firearms when camping or hiking here in WA State. My usual combo is a S&W 686 7 shot 357 Mag with a 2.5" barrel and a S&W 317 8 shot 22LR with 3" Barrel. The 317 weighs less than 14 oz loaded with 8 rounds of 22LR and is the gun I usually carry on my person at all times. I keep my 686 in my Max Fatboy along with a larger fixed blade and keep it within arms reach. Seems to be a decent combo.
 
I've been wondering about this too, especially with the reported pot farming activity in Northern California. In asking around, I've been advised to never go into the back country unarmed. So far, the people I've talked to open carry, partly for the convenience, but also because most people in California can't get a CCW.

If memory serves, there is an odd exception in the California penal code that says if you're out fishing you can carry concealed, so a fishing pole and a fishing license might be just as good as a concealed weapons license in the back country. But nuts to it, I'm looking into a thigh rig for my Sig P229 so I can get it below the hip belt on my pack.
 
I pretty much carry the same thing camping/hiking that I do every day. A 9MM semi-auto CZ-75D PCR. Its the lightweight, alloy version of the venerable CZ-75 and carries nicely. Unless you are going into Grizzly country, anything in the .38 Spl/.357, 9MM, .40 or .45 ACP is fine.
 
bladefoolish said:
There are several good .22 revolvers that are reasonably compact and lightweight, it's fun for plinking, the ammo is cheap and easily carried and, frankly, I don't know anyone who would take the chance of getting shot with one, so it would be adequate (imo) for self defense.
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that's assuming that you have the opportunity to present the weapon in response to the threat BEFORE the attack, AND that the aggressor is thinking clearly.

while i'm sure as heck not going to volunteer to get shot with a .22, be aware that while .22 can be lethal, it sometimes takes a whiile for that result... it's not as good at STOPPING an attack as any of the "service caliber" rounds.

however, a 617 Airweight revolver would be nice for plinking.

a .22 beats no gun, but if i'm only taking one gun it'll be something larger.

while some of the modern .380s are very compact and light, most people seem to keep them for defensive tools and not as fun shooters for the range. and .380 ammo is usually more expensive than 9mm, and for a while after the last election it was VERY hard to find.
 
I car camp alot, I carry a Glock 29 (10mm) with spare mags. Ill also try to bring either my 870 shotgun or my Marlin 30-30.
 
OK, two thoughts/problems here:

Kirk_Ferentz said:
I don't ever carry anything on my person but it definitely feels nice to have a my auto combat 12 gauge there next to my air mattress in my tent at night. I don't keep it loaded (carrying guns with you and/or keeping them loaded strike me as creating more potential problems than they solve), but keep some three inch mag slugs and some lighter 00 buck loads in the side saddle and the stock shell holder for quick access. The lighter loads are in case I need to shoot through the tent (when I can't be sure about my background).
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First if its not loaded there is no point in bringing it. That animal (two legged or four) will not pause for you to chamber a round, let alone several, then wait for you to pop the safety off and aim. Maybe if it's light out and they come running and shouting from 100yrds away you might have a chance. While an empty gun might pose some intimidation when they pull a gun or call your bluff... not good. I'd rather carry a knife than an unloaded gun.

Second, it seems like a very unsafe/horrid idea to shoot through your tent. What did it ever do to you? :P But really not a good idea. What if its a friend going out for a piss and you get jumpy or any number of possibilities. My opinion is that its best to look at what you are shooting.

I do have my concealment permit and do practice. I carry 1911 Colt 45, S&W 44mag, Colt 25 auto, or often a rifle if I'm hunting or shooting for recreation. Not all at once :D If your worried about the 2 legged kind of animal I would suggest a smaller .40, .380 revolver for concealment and weight. A Glock is always great for durability/reliability too.
 
yep, pending where you are intending to camp hike is going to vary on what to bring..

If the animals aren't a problem and you want something just for personal protection.. lightweight is always nice cuz you forget its there......

lots of choices..

btw, I never camp without a gun, period.. and yes If I brandish it I'll use it seconds later if the threat doesn't retreat.. at that point they're meaning to do harm and want to be shot......
 
a 3inch SW M65 or M13 in 357mag has always been one of my favorite pistols...if it were a knife it would have "chi"....there was a reason it was the FBI sidearm prior to the autoloaders...your experience and willingness to master the learning curve for a pistol is is important... single action (hammer already in the cocked position) is easier to shoot more accurately for both revolver and pistol, than double action (pull of trigger must cock the hammer, and in the case of the revolver rotate the cylinder, before releasing the hammer).. Sir Isaac Newton rules the universe.. size and strength of handgun is dependant on the energy provided by the cartridge and induced recoil.. will others not necessarily as experienced as you possibly have to use the firearm...most novices have seen enough TV to work a pump shotgun, or lever action rifle.... and as others have stated, if in dangerous animal areas, what is the 4 legged threat...a 16inch lever action "trapper" carbine in a serious caliber might be the best compromise...
 
bladefoolish said:
To my way of thinking, the decision to carry a weapon, especially firearms, involves being able to say "yes" to three questions: (1) am I willing to take the time and make the effort to become proficient in the use of the weapon; (2) if the situation warrants it, am I able and willing to use it to the extent of taking a life; and (3) am I willing to deal with the legal consequences of either having it where the possession of the weapon alone would be illegal, or where someone was injured or killed.
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I agree with your way of thinking 100%.

I carry a Smith and Wesson M&P 340 in a Mika pocket holster in the woods and around the house. I carry a M&P 45c everywhere else.
 
bulgron said:
I've been wondering about this too, especially with the reported pot farming activity in Northern California. In asking around, I've been advised to never go into the back country unarmed. So far, the people I've talked to open carry, partly for the convenience, but also because most people in California can't get a CCW.

If memory serves, there is an odd exception in the California penal code that says if you're out fishing you can carry concealed, so a fishing pole and a fishing license might be just as good as a concealed weapons license in the back country. But nuts to it, I'm looking into a thigh rig for my Sig P229 so I can get it below the hip belt on my pack.
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Anyone living in California, needs to read this book. Many law inforcement agencies use it as their "textbook", to train their officers: http://www.gunlawpress.com/

You can actually string together a number of "exceptions" to the concealed and loaded gun laws, that will allow you to legally have a gun close at hand almost all the time! One of the most frequently overlooked exceptions are the ones allowing you to have a concealed/loaded weapon in your campsite (put up a tent, and the immediate area surrounding it becomes your "campsite")! In many instances, I prefer a revolver because if it must be carried unloaded, one can quickly throw a couple rounds in the chamber, where carrying a loaded magazine for an automatic might be considered a partially loaded weapon. Read the book!
 
j-mon said:
if your going be using at camp site and not doing a lot walking of i would say a pump shotgun of almost any variety would work fine. but if your hiking a tarsus judge that can shoot either 45 colt or 410 shot gun shells would work nicely and believe there is light weight version. you are more like to see the four leg or if your in warmer climates the no leg variety of threats (snakes).
[QUOTE
If you are backpacking or do a lot of hiking, check out Smith and Wessons ultralight scandium/aluminum/titanium revolvers, like the NightGuard series (.357 and .44 cal) for instance.
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if you are not use to shooting, these guns will hurt your hand possibly make u bleed form the hammer diging into you hand! i have shot them and honesty i had much rather shoot a 4in s&w 500 magnum. no joke they however are good back packing options[/QUOTE]

Some guns (heavy, large frame ones) are meant to be frequently fired but seldom carried. Others (light, smaller framed ones) are meant to be seldom fired, but frequently carried! In any case, a sore hand is a small price to pay for a whole bunch of very portable security....
 
I should have given more information. I occasionally car camp and sometimes go to semi secluded locations. Living in Southern California doesn't allow easy access to totally isolated areas and obtaining CCWs. I have taken self defense pistol courses but have never been in the military or in armed combat. My favorite pistol is a 1911. Great for CQB self defense but not so for bear. One of my instructors said, "It's better to be judged by 12 than carried by 6." All of you have offered interesting perspectives for which I am grateful.
 
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