Hiking/Backpacking Sidearms; My Choices

[bodhi_]

Whats the thinking, I own a G19 and finally after long debates Ms. Bodhi has decided to get a license & gun herself. Main use would SD, she not really into sport shooting at all and I doubt she ever will be.

We basically have two options:
1. Stay within the system and get a 9 MM Glock like the G26. This is logical as all the accessories, the clips all would fit. On top of that in an emergency sitiation you don't have to think if you got the right clip or ammo box in your hand.

2. Go for more power and get a 45, be it a Glock like the G30 or G36 or other brands

Because she is uncomfortable with guns, odds are she is going to chose a smaller gun. What would you recommend getting maybe a single stack like the G36 or stay within the system.

 

[B Hess]

I would get her a G19. If she is not comfortable with the G26 or G19 because of he width of the grip you could look at Kahr. They make some very slim polymer single stack 9mms.

Whats the thinking, I own a G19 and finally after long debates Ms. Bodhi has decided to get a license & gun herself. Main use would SD, she not really into sport shooting at all and I doubt she ever will be.

We basically have two options:
1. Stay within the system and get a 9 MM Glock like the G26. This is logical as all the accessories, the clips all would fit. On top of that in an emergency sitiation you don't have to think if you got the right clip or ammo box in your hand.

2. Go for more power and get a 45, be it a Glock like the G30 or G36 or other brands

Because she is uncomfortable with guns, odds are she is going to chose a smaller gun. What would you recommend getting maybe a single stack like the G36 or stay within the system.

 

[Andrew Colglazier]

LEANWOLF--I agree that a gun is a very necessary survival tool. I have my modded 10/22 for that. I just dont see a modified Glock falling into the category of survival firearm. Its more of the " lets shoot somebody" category and there's really too much of that attitude around. --Just my 2 cents, not trying to be rude or start an argument.--KV

Ah. Well, let's take a moment to address the firearms prejudices which many well-meaning people carry around with them.

At a large shooting range in OK, the shotgun crowd worked very hard to prevent the handgun crowd from organizing a large action pistol match. Their objection? They felt that action pistol was too closely aligned with handguns , and that as everybody knows, handguns are only good for one thing; crime. Only criminals have handguns, if you have a handgun, you are as good as a criminal yourself. Shotgunning (in their view) was a gentleman's sport, no criminal types in their ranks.

And, oh yes. The old "black rifle" vs. "sporting bolt action" deal. Black is bad, walnut good. Parkerized bad, blued good! Fast bad, slow, good.

And etc.

Il Bruche hit one nail on the head when he quoted my preference for Glocks in the field. And he referred to my background in competitive shooting.

I guarantee you, I could use my Glocks for hunting just as well as any of my other handguns, or even some of my rifles. They are entirely accurate enough for that, if I do my part.

As gun owners, it would behoove us to put aside our prejudices and not fall into the "mind traps" the anti-gun owners have set for us.

Andy

 

[Andrew Colglazier]

Whats the thinking, I own a G19 and finally after long debates Ms. Bodhi has decided to get a license & gun herself. Main use would SD, she not really into sport shooting at all and I doubt she ever will be.

We basically have two options:
1. Stay within the system and get a 9 MM Glock like the G26. This is logical as all the accessories, the clips all would fit. On top of that in an emergency sitiation you don't have to think if you got the right clip or ammo box in your hand.

2. Go for more power and get a 45, be it a Glock like the G30 or G36 or other brands

Because she is uncomfortable with guns, odds are she is going to chose a smaller gun. What would you recommend getting maybe a single stack like the G36 or stay within the system.

I would NOT recommend the G36 for an inexperienced handgun shooter. It is not a beginner's handgun, IMO. It generates lots of recoil, and without proper grip technique, it can jam due to limp-wristing.

For a woman, I recommend the G19. It provides plenty of grip and it is large enough for anyone to shoot well, both men and women. It is also concealable, and has good capacity.

The 30 is a good handgun and is accurate and very controllable. But it has a thicker grip which may be a problem for a woman.

The G26 is a good handgun and I have owned one in the past. But it does have a much shorter grip, which might lead to difficulties for a shooter if they can't get a full grip on the handgun. I would recommend the 26 over the 36 for a new shooter, however.

Andy

 

[BlackHills]

Whats the thinking, I own a G19 and finally after long debates Ms. Bodhi has decided to get a license & gun herself. Main use would SD, she not really into sport shooting at all and I doubt she ever will be.

We basically have two options:
1. Stay within the system and get a 9 MM Glock like the G26. This is logical as all the accessories, the clips all would fit. On top of that in an emergency sitiation you don't have to think if you got the right clip or ammo box in your hand.

2. Go for more power and get a 45, be it a Glock like the G30 or G36 or other brands

Because she is uncomfortable with guns, odds are she is going to chose a smaller gun. What would you recommend getting maybe a single stack like the G36 or stay within the system.

I wouldn't consider a Glock or any other semi-auto for her. My first choice would be a small double action revolver in .357 or .38. There are a number of .38+P rounds that are fine for self-defense and she could practice with lower-recoiling (and cheaper) rounds. The .357 gives you the option of loading it with a better round if she becomes comfortable with the recoil; if not it will still shoot .38s.

There are many advantages to a revolver especially for someone that's not really into guns. They are easy to learn, there's no complex manual of arms if there's a problem, just pull the trigger again. Many women have trouble pulling the slide back on semi-autos, with a revolver you take that out of the equation. The grip on a revolver is usually easier for a woman to hold as it's not as large as on a semi-auto, particularly something like the Glock which is a double-stack.

 

[B Hess]

Revolvers are a lot heavier than a polymer framed semi auto and they also have a long heavy trigger pull that is not conducive to accuracy. It causes a lot of people to jerk the trigger instead of squeezing it. I already went through this with my mother and wife. They couldn't keep my 2" S&W on paper but they did much better witht the 5.5 lb trigger pull of my G26. Glocks are lighter, easier to shoot accurately, have more firepower, are easier and quicker to reload, and much less prone to corrosion. 9mm is also about the cheapest round to buy right now, which makes practice less painful on your wallet.

 

[JK Knives]

My wife (5' tall, 120 lbs) has no problem shooting her modified Glock 17. I shortened the grip to G19 dimensions and installed Heinie sights on it. It makes me feel comfortable that she handles it well, I don`t worry when I`m not at home.

If that`s not enough, she has her guard dog, Casey.

 

[BlackHills]

This threadjack probably should move to Gadgets and Gear since it has little to do with the OP.

Revolvers are a lot heavier than a polymer framed semi auto and they also have a long heavy trigger pull that is not conducive to accuracy. It causes a lot of people to jerk the trigger instead of squeezing it.

G26 = 19.75oz empty, S&W 637 = 15oz empty. 10 rounds of 9mm will weigh more than 5 rounds of .38 so loaded the G26 is going to be even heavier than the 637.

If you shoot the revolver double action only then the revolver has a longer pull. If you cock (or stage) the hammer first it doesn't.

I already went through this with my mother and wife. They couldn't keep my 2" S&W on paper but they did much better with the 5.5 lb trigger pull of my G26. Glocks are lighter, easier to shoot accurately, have more firepower, are easier and quicker to reload, and much less prone to corrosion. 9mm is also about the cheapest round to buy right now, which makes practice less painful on your wallet.

The easier to shoot part is subjective, most people tend to be more accurate with a revolver than a semi-auto. I've seen far too many women that had a lot of trouble pulling back the slide on a semi-auto to recommend one to a new female shooter. If your wife and mother don't have that problem then you're lucky.

Yes it has more firepower and I suppose each person has to decide if that makes a difference or not. For me it doesn't, I never feel "undergunned" if I don't have 10+ rounds in my weapon. In fact, I've sold every double-stack pistol I've owned (G19, G21, USP40) because I felt the grip was too wide for me and I don't have small hands. If I carry it's usually a 1911 though sometimes I take my J frame. I always have extra mags/speedloaders, but if I'm in a situation where I have to reload to get out of it I probably should have made choices beforehand to not get myself in that situation.

It may be easier/quicker to reload but I don't think it's a certainty. Both take practice to be quick at it but a revolver can be reloaded a lot faster than you might think. I'm also not sure how much of a difference that makes in a SD situation. If you don't practice it a lot it's probably not going to happen when the time comes. I think most people with little to no training are going to keep pulling the trigger long after the weapon is empty when confronted with danger, but that's just my opinion.

If we're talking about a S&W J model with an alloy frame then the corrosion part is probably about the same.

What works for one person doesn't always work for someone else, if it did we wouldn't have all the choices of knives/guns/<insert whatever>. If the Glock works for you that's great but don't assume it's the perfect pistol for everyone.

 

[B Hess]

That weight is withtheir alluminum frame revolver which is even harder to shoot accurately because of the aluminum frame. The model 36 or 60 weigh 20 and 22 oz respectively. While the weight would make it less attractive to carry it would also make it easier to shoot. I would never reccomend a aluminum frame revolver to a woman.

It's not too hard to find women that can rack the slide of a semi auto. Semi auto are standard issue at every single LE organization and a good percentage of those LEOs are females.

As SD goes you should never cock the hammer before you fire a DA revolver. The chance of a AD in the stessful situation would be great. DA revolvers are supposed to be fired DA in SD situations. Which means about a 12 lb trigger pull. Out of a 2" barrel that is hard to shoot accurately for anyone, especially under stress.

I don't think you'll find many people besides maybe gary miculek thatfind reloading a revolver as quick and easy as a semi. Just push a button and slam a fresh mag in.

As far a firepower, I realize it's highly unlikely to need more than 3 or 4 rounds. I personally would just rather have 10 rounds too many rather than 1 too few.

I agree that each shooter needs to make this decision for themselves after testing each platform. I just think a Glock will be easier to shoot for more people. The key is to pick one you like and practice, practice, practice.

Anyway I enjoy the debate. Have a good one.

This threadjack probably should move to Gadgets and Gear since it has little to do with the OP.



G26 = 19.75oz empty, S&W 637 = 15oz empty. 10 rounds of 9mm will weigh more than 5 rounds of .38 so loaded the G26 is going to be even heavier than the 637.

If you shoot the revolver double action only then the revolver has a longer pull. If you cock (or stage) the hammer first it doesn't.



The easier to shoot part is subjective, most people tend to be more accurate with a revolver than a semi-auto. I've seen far too many women that had a lot of trouble pulling back the slide on a semi-auto to recommend one to a new female shooter. If your wife and mother don't have that problem then you're lucky.

Yes it has more firepower and I suppose each person has to decide if that makes a difference or not. For me it doesn't, I never feel "undergunned" if I don't have 10+ rounds in my weapon. In fact, I've sold every double-stack pistol I've owned (G19, G21, USP40) because I felt the grip was too wide for me and I don't have small hands. If I carry it's usually a 1911 though sometimes I take my J frame. I always have extra mags/speedloaders, but if I'm in a situation where I have to reload to get out of it I probably should have made choices beforehand to not get myself in that situation.

It may be easier/quicker to reload but I don't think it's a certainty. Both take practice to be quick at it but a revolver can be reloaded a lot faster than you might think. I'm also not sure how much of a difference that makes in a SD situation. If you don't practice it a lot it's probably not going to happen when the time comes. I think most people with little to no training are going to keep pulling the trigger long after the weapon is empty when confronted with danger, but that's just my opinion.

If we're talking about a S&W J model with an alloy frame then the corrosion part is probably about the same.

What works for one person doesn't always work for someone else, if it did we wouldn't have all the choices of knives/guns/<insert whatever>. If the Glock works for you that's great but don't assume it's the perfect pistol for everyone.

 

[Andrew Colglazier]

Personally, I don't consider this type of discussion off-topic for this forum.

Lots of people carry a handgun when hiking/backpacking/woodsbumming. For me, I would no sooner head for the hills without a handgun than I would a knife or a cooking stove.

The debate re what type of handgun, considering what kind of skills people have, size, experience, etc., certainly seems an important one to me.

Andy

 

[muddog49]

Which Glock doesn't matter, but hiking and camping these days does necessite a firearm. There's too many mean people and the occasional 4 footed animal out there. Carry something you are comfortable with and hope you don't need it.

 

[el dub]

great looking stuff andrew...:thumbup: i like glocks too...:thumbup: i have been meaning to get one for a while.. i wish we could carry handguns in the backcountry here in CA...

i really like that chest pack/holster.. those things are cool.. a buddy of mine has one..

What makes you think you cant carry a gun in the backcountry of california.

 

[Leanwolf]

68SHAKENBAHEMOPAR (To MtnMan) - "What makes you think you cant carry a gun in the backcountry of california?"

MtnMan, 68ShakeN is correct. You can carry a handgun in the U.S. National Forests of Calif., in most cases, openly, without a CCW permit. Even concealed, without a permit, in some cases. You can not carry -- legally -- a firearm of any kind in a National or State PARK.

I lived in Los Angeles for 35 years, hunted, hiked, camped, etc., in -- if I recall -- every Nat'l. Forest in Calif., and other than once, I carried a handgun without any problems from authorities.

(Ordinarily, if I am carrying a high powered rifle, I don't carry a handgun, but there will still be one in camp.)

Check your Nat'l. Forest regs. If they are the same as when I left Calif. in 1997, you can carry your handgun out in the N.F. boonies. :thumbup:

L.W.

 

[thomasFATCAT]

these are my sidearms for hiking in jungle.

 

[Robert H]

You've already got the 10mm, Andrew. You're in Texas, man!

 

[Andrew Colglazier]

You've already got the 10mm, Andrew. You're in Texas, man!

Are you saying everything is 10mm in TX?



Andy

 

[Mtn Hawk]

When I carry in the wilderness, it's a Ruger SP101 3" barrel .357 Mag. I prefer larger revolvers but like to keep the weight and size down, especially for something I'll probably never use. One reason I prefer revolvers to semi-automatics is the much greater choice and versatility of ammunition and bullets.

 

[HornyToad]

Having both a Ruger SP101 3" barrel and a S&W60 5" barrel I can say the S&W seems to kick less and is easier for me to shoot accurately. The longer barrel really does help and is still compact and easy to carry. I like it for woods carry if I'm not carrying a 22 for fun.

 

[TWBryan]

I usually tote my Ruger Sp101 with a cylinder-full of hard cast .357. I also favor my Glock 21sf .it's the only gun I own which won't rust when it comes in contact with my sweat.

 

[ROCK6]

I strayed from Glocks and recently came back...they are such a practical pistols and that Glock 30 of yours is on my short list...thanks for sharing Andy!

As to relevance of the OP...it definitely has its place in this forum for many of us.

ROCK6