what are you packing?

O

Old Painless

Joined
Apr 10, 2006
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174
Any of you ever go hiking/backpacking/bushwacking with a sidearm? If so, what do you take, and why do you?
Thanks all.
 
I know not many in canada will, damn gun laws, If someone wants to do harm to someone else, a few courses dont make that much of a diffrence.
 
If it's personal protection I'm interested in, a Springfield Armory Ultra Compact .45. Easily concealable, effective, reliable as anything out there.

For plinking fun, Ruger Mark II Target Model .22. Probably the nicest .22 handgun I've ever shot.
 
Usually my S&W 38 unless we are going to a place where we can openly shoot , then I bring nearly everything.
 
Oh no..not another legal question!??? :D ;)


No offense old painless, I just got off my pedestal about silencers and legalities.
Part of my point was that we have readers from all areas, all ages.
So, first, everyone reading needs to know about legal carry, and possession on Federal lands, parks, etc.

Ok, so assuming it's legal, are you talking for personal protection?

I read a thread within the past month, may have been Tactical/Practical forum about this topic.

-People are stalked and harmed in parks and federal lands.
- It is thought that the badguys may prey in these areas because hikers/backpackers are most likely un-armed, as they are following the laws.
-Judged by 12 or buried by 6 was discussed.

My personal opinion is that if you are in bear country, better make it a nice powerful round. .357, .44 .45, like that. Although bear attacks are still very very rare. If it's grizzly country, your handgun round should probably start with a "4", that's just my personal opinion. If it's Polar bear country, you don't want those beasts within pistol range! :eek: 30.06 would be my personal choice. But, for handgun, like sleeping and such, a .44 or .45acp hand-cannon would probably get their attention.

If it's general personal protection from 2 leggers and 4 leggers, I would just make sure it can do the job.

But, I would weigh the threat-level with the legal issues, too.
 
I usually carry either a compact Glock (23, 19, 30, 36) or a medium (K) frame revolver in .357.

Now and then I'll carry my G20.

I'm not generally concerned about animals, except for the occasional mountain lion, feral dog, or rabid whatever.

I'm more concerned about meeting unsavory people.

Andy
 
I only carry durring small game season.
A Ruger Mark II 678 to use when the hunting is slow and I feel the urge to do some plinking (private land). Haven't had a chance to take any tree rats with it yet. Maybe after Christmas since I'm off 'til Jan 2.

Getting off topic...

When hiking or exploring the woods in the summer, I usually don't go armed.
 
I used to carry a Smith and Wesson model 63 kit gun for about 20 year, but I traded it off durring a general firearms downsize. Now I carry my old 60's vintage Ruger standard model I bought for 39.95 along time ago. It was my general woods gun till the early 80's when I bought the kit gun, now I've went back to it.
 
Taurus Ultra-Lite Titanium in .44Mag. Good all-around revolver to handle most anything thrown your way. Lighter than my .40S&W.

--Carl
 
pricecw said:
Taurus Ultra-Lite Titanium in .44Mag. Good all-around revolver to handle most anything thrown your way. Lighter than my .40S&W.

--Carl
Click to expand...

Those are good. I have a Taurus .38 'Total Titanium' snubby that's so light I forget it's on my belt sometimes. Nice quality, and a lot lighter than the similar S&W mod 640 I used to carry...
 
I carry a Ruger 22/45 with a Tactical Solutions upper. It is very light and very accurate, I carry it mostly for hunting and recreational shooting but it could be pressed into service for self defense if I had too. It is the pistol on the bottom, and yes it is nicknamed the purple monster. Chris


Picture681.jpg
 
My little smith 317 titanium .22 revolver.
Small light and shoots well.

Randy
 
When I go out for a wild walk I rarely take a gun with me but when I do its a choice between a beretta 92fs and a s&w model 619.

Fact is, I need a smaller sidearm. and now I have the perfect excuse!

On another note, Sen. G. Allen sounds like a stand up guy.
 
I carry a first gen Kimber .45 unless the situation allows my 870 police-- sadly, Sen. Allen lost his reelection campaign...

Bill
 
Skunk, good point about who reads these posts and what is legal. We don't want people getting into trouble.

Personally, I have a pistol permit that allows me to carry open for hunting and trapping, and transport to a firing range. That's it. No concealed carry.

Personally, I would prefer to carry my Ruger Mk1 .22 LR as a field pistol. However, considering two-legged and four-legged critters in my neighborhood, I now prefer to carry a 1911.

As far as hiking on public lands...judge the circumstances and be discreet.
 
In the truly wild areas I don't carry.
If I'm in an accessible area I carry a stainless Colt officers model in .45 with 3 mags a 7 rounder in the weapon and 2 - 8 rounders in the pouch all have been modified to carry one extra round. I also carry about 16 rounds loose in a pouch.
Enjoy!
 
I only carry outdoors on my family's property, so I can carry whatever I want. Most of the time I carry my Glock 19 with el-cheapo ball ammo, so I can shoot cheaply if I feel like it. My favorite long gun for bush-whackin' is my Grandpappy's Stevens Savage side by side 12ga. I love that gun, I've been toting it through the woods since I was a little boy. More rabbits, squirrels and deer have fallen to that than all of my other guns combined. I inherited it when my grandfather passed, it's one of my favorite things in the world.
 
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