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What's is your choice for a woods/Backpacking/Hiking gun?

17K views 160 replies 123 participants last post by  GcB 
#1 ·
I know, depending on where you live the caliber of your gun may vary.

What caliber do you carry with you in to the woods?

I carry a G21 in the 45 Super.
 
#62 ·
Probably my Glock 30 Gen 4. Hemmed and hawed about getting a 10mm, but there's no dangerous game here, biggest "predator" is black bear and mountain lion. I'm less worried about bears and more concerned about feral pigs, wild dogs, cougar/mountain lion, rabid coyote, etc. I'm perfectly happy with a 10 round mag loaded with Underwood Ammo's 45acp+p 255 grain hard cast flat nose moving at 925fps out of the stock barrel, or around 975-1000fps out of an aftermarket 4.6" barrel. That load in my Glock 30 essentially recreates the standard pressure 45 colt load that's been around forever and from my research is pretty formidable in terms of penetration against game.
 
#63 ·
Balancing power and weight is the issue. What you might run into is another issue. Two options; S&W 640 .357 magnum; first two rounds are snakeshot followed by 3 FMJ 140 Fiocchi that clock almost 1200 (!) out of that gun.
The other choice is a G43 with two snakeshot followed by 5 FMJ. Yes, the 43 will run snakeshot.
Moon
I like your choice of guns, but I could never see myself having snakeshot in my defensive gun. Instead, if snakes or such are a concern, I think that would be time to carry two guns.

The primary loaded with typical self-defense loads, and the offside loaded with snakeshot.

Just a thought :)
 
#64 ·
but I could never see myself having snakeshot in my defensive gun.
When I was younger and hunted all the time, I always carried snake shot in my defense gun. It was the 12ga., #00 kind. ;)

Honestly, I remember dozens of times coming across an EDB rattler, but I can't recall ever having to shooting one. We just walked around it or moved it.
 
#65 ·
It shoots just fine. I'll admit, I get a bit nervy hammering all that powder in with the brass dowel.
I'm really having a difficult time believing you.

Titegroup is a low charge weight, fast powder which is known and well-documented to have pressure spikes with max loads. Anytime someone says "a TON of a fast powder" in a handgun, I want to warn them for their own sake. Yet, you say that you use a brass dowel to hammer in all that powder, which indicates a compressed load. That's ridiculous IMO even for a Ruger.

What is this "TON" mention? If you're talking max loads for .44 Magnum per a published load data book from Speer, Hornady, Sierra, etc., okay. If you are using a compressed load or even a load that "softly" fills a .44 Magnum case, please add me to your will before you shoot those loads.
 
#73 ·
This 5" Model 29 44 mag see a lot of trail/hiking time.






The 4" M29 see a lot of trail time too, but the 5" is still my favorite.

4" 29-2:






That said, when trying to shed ounces, like when truly backpacking, or going into high mountain lakes, the G30S is my top choice.


 
#76 ·
There are black bears around here, but they're not very big or aggressive. Two legged predators are the more likely threat.

I had been carrying a G35 with a 357 barrel in it, loaded with Hornady 147gr XTP. But I just recently bought a couple 357 barrels (4" and 5.3") for my G23, and I think I'm going to start carrying that.

If I ever venture into areas of the country with bigger bears, my G20 or .44 Redhawk is what I would carry.
 
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#78 ·
It depends... if I’m trying to pack light, it’s a Glock 30s in a Kenai chest rig. If not, it’s either a Glock 20 or 21 in a Kenai chest rig. The key for all day comfort is the chest rig. It’s much more comfortable than lugging a gun all day on the hip through the back woods. This is especially true if wearing a backpack with a waist strap.
 
#80 ·
Wait...you folks actually go, like, outside? in the wild? where these animal things supposedly live? yikes! Scary! :couch:

On the days I do crack my curtains open to peer at nature (aka: the concrete jungle), I mostly have a G39 aiwb.

These are the only "trees" I see most days. Even scarier!



Kidding aside, when we do venture out on the ATV's, I carry my G31 or 37, depending on how I'm feeling that day. We've seen a couple black bears over the years - hastily beating feet away from us.
 
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