Do you carry a firearm in the great (recreational) outdoors?

guncollector

guncollector

Joined
Sep 6, 2001
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I'm curious. Do you folks carry a firearm in the great (recreational) outdoors? If so, what type do you carry and for what purpose?

All you military personnel like Greenjacket, let's presume you carry a rifle while on the job; but let's hear what you'd carry recreationally, while on leave

I know, where legally permitted, I will carry a firearm while hiking, camping, 4-wheeling. Not just because I'm a gun collector and lover, and not because I'm a 2nd Amend believer; but because a firearm is another essential tool (like a First Aid Kit, Shelter, & Navigational devices) in the "great outdoors toolbox". Its either a S&W 342 AirLite Ti (11 oz. unloaded & .38 Spl+P rated), Glock 26 (9mm), 23 (.40S&W), or 20 (10mm)--for defense & signalling). Longarms reserved for hunting trips, and appropriate to the quarry.
 
I like to carry an old Ruger Mark I .22 pistol. Accurate, reliable, and 'enough gun' for most days. There aren't many large beasts in our woods...the odd razorback hog and the more common feral dogs, but there are a lot of vipers. Rattlers, copperheads, cottonmouths, and the .22 is just the ticket for herpetological 'come to Jesus' meetings. If I see a lot of hog or dog sign on the farm, I switch over to a Ruger P-95 9mm (lightweight and tough) or a Ruger Speed Six .357, and a $30 Western Auto 12 gauge bolt action shotgun with a sling that I picked up at an estate sale. This farmers special is well maintained, but nothing to look at and I don't mind it getting a little more beat up knocking around cased in a wagon bed with the axes and chainsaws. With a full clip and a slip-on shell holder of #4 buck and slugs it's a comforting handful of bang for very few bucks.
 
Any Marlin Guide Gun (Lever-action) carriers our there? If so, what chambering (.45-70?) :) I've always thought this to be an ideal and fun (and big-critter medicine) rifle--for roaming the Sierras wilderness.
 
guncollector,

I was the first one on my block to get a Guide Gun! Yep, 45/70. I've put 2 pounds of H322, two pounds of Varget, 1 pound of H4227, 1 pound of IMR4227 and another pound or two of IMR3031, IMR4895 and H4831 through it.

I put an Ashley Lever Scout Mount on it with an old Leopold 2X pistol scope and for backup a Lyman peep sight with a tritium front sight (for those things that growl in the night!). And a sling, of course. I intend on adding a set of Leopold Lever Rings to it so I can take the scope off and on and maintain zero. Also added an E Clip to the safety to keep it from getting accidentally put on.

Took it with me last month to a Lever Action Rifle Instructor School and had (literally!) a blast. Another guy showed up with one. When we had a team shoot the rangemaster would'nt let us pair up. Said it wasn't fair!

Learned a lot about the tactical deployment of the lever gun in a law enforcement situation. Learned also that a man with a pistol caliber lever gun is a serious threat out to 200 yards. A 30/30 or a 45/70 can extend the range to 300 yards!:eek:

GD
 
Tell us more, O Guide Gun Kenobi. I've been looking for an excuse to buy one of those as well. ;) Any feedback from owners of the Marlin 45 version? Any trouble finding those new cartridges?
 
I personally do not carry/pack a fire arm when I hike through the popular trails, on some of the most remote trails I do carry a fire arm. I probably would carry one more often ... but Im a Canuk and carring a pistol is WAY illegal.
I do own a 45-70 and a 450, both Marlins (of corse) but my favorite all-round bush fire arm is still my old .303 Brit.
Ive not had a problem with finding the .450m's since my first order at my fire arms dealer. My first box took me over 3weeks to get though. Personal opinion, the 45-70 is a better round if your a reloader, if reloading isnt in your bag, get the .450m.
But than again thats just my opinion!
 
AJ-

You got an Enfield bolt-gun dont'ya? You being our Northern Neighbor I'm guessing you're totin' a No. r Mk 1? Maybe a No. 5 Jungle (if so, wandering zero on yours?)

Jeff Cooper, a true rifleman's guru, called the Enfield No. 1 Mk 4 on the surplus market a genuine value--and I agree. You could spend more, but you would be hard-served to gain any advantage in a long arm of this size/caliber.
 
I can usually be found with my Glock 23. I think it is the perfect handgun for me. Small but not too small. Also 10 .40s + 2 spare mags can handle most anything out there. I do wish that it was carried for Bear and cats, but most of the trouble I have run into is from 2 legged predators. If I am camping for a while I will also have my 10-22 or my Savage Scout .308
 
Tell us about the Savage Scout. The few Savage bolt guns I've seen were extreemly accurate, but I've never handled the Scout.
 
I oft considered picking up the reasonably price Savage 10FCM Scout Rifle. Excellent brush gun, with forward-mounted 2x Optics, chambered in .308. Always lusted after a Steyr Scout, but couldn't bring myself to over $2000.

10FCM.JPG
 
I love my Scout. Accurate sucker too:) It ticks off my friends with "better" rifles, when I out shoot them. The stock isn't impressive but it works for me. Mine has always put the bullets where I want 'em when I do my part. I have a Burris Scout scope up top on mine.
 
I carry a KEL/TEC 32 ACP, while hiking. The gun is lightweight and
a good all around defensive/survival round.
 
Guncolector
Sorry your wrong on the Marks, I actualy prefer my SMLEMark3. I do own one of those "jungle carbines"...looks nice, feels good in the bush...bout as acurate as a rock though!
Wouldnt mine tryin out one of thows Savage scouts. Price isnt too to bad, but some of the reports Ive been reading seem to make it out as an unreliable fire arm. Guess I'll wait on that one for a while.
A good fire arm for monies, IMO is the Tikka "Battue Light". Tikka is renown for there accuracy and the Battue give that while being light and small. Weight is just under 7lbs, length is 38 1/2", and comes with not only the .308, but also the .300Wmag. The Tikka also cost about the same as the Savage...well maybe $50 more. I bought my Tikka Battue for $680CDN
 
I always carry with me either my Glock 17 ( with a couple of 17rd mags) or a .38 smith airweight. I normally go with 17 when camping or hiking because it can take some serious abuse and still come out working. The times where I want to carry consealed I go with the Smith.
 
I carried a gun once while backpacking, mostly for two legged problems. When I was considering throwing it in a creek to lighten my pack, I decided it was a bad idea. Mostly because of the weight of gun/ammo. That said, I would like to find a Ti S$W .22 (317 I believe)with a 3" bbl and adjustable sights. 10oz. of gun plus some ammo would be reasonable.

Scout rifles! Got two, a Savage with a 2x and a Remington 7 with a 2 3/4x, both in .308. Out to 300 yds, they will get the job done. I tried the M7 at 400, but the low power optic combined with forward mounting made it tricky.

Here's a few good Scout links.

http://www.molonlabe.net/johns/
http://www.shottist.com/scout.html
http://www.scoutman308.com/
http://pw2.netcom.com/~chingesh/index.html
 
When I'm out and about I usually carry my S&W 629 3 in. Alaskan Packer or my Marlin 1895 shortened to 18 in. I had it shortened before the guide gun. I hate ported guns but I love a shorthy..All are carried for bear protection..Salmon are beginning to come up the streams.... YEE-HAW
 
I do carry a S&W 317. It is a 8 shot .22lr made of aluminum (titanium is not needed for a .22 and it is heavier than aluminum).
It is the 3 inch adjustable sight. No worry about rust and it is so light that I never notice it.
 
Geraldo & Doctom:

Have either of you handled/considered an S&W 342 AirLite Ti like mine, only 11 oz. and rated for .38 Spl +P (the only caveat being to use metal-jacket rounds in hotter loadings)? You trade off 3 rounds vs. the S&W 317 and gain 1 oz., but get much more oomph for biped varmints.

In the backcountry, I usually have the 1 o'clock chamber filled with snakeshot, then alternate +P FMJ & +P JHP.

I've also considered putting on one of the Crimson Trace lasers, like I have on my Taurus 85. I'm not a huge fan of lasers, but they have their place on snubbies.
 

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As a Canadian these handgun threads are always curious. In Canada our dictatorship /Government knows exactly what we the populace need.... Anyway ... for bush work ( forestry and mine surveys especially ) handguns are seen as next to useless in bear country ( Defender type shotguns are #1 choice ) which is pretty much the only reason for carrying one in the bush in my experience. Handguns seem to get people into trouble more often than out of trouble ... every now and then they can be good to have. To each his own. ;)
 
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