Survival Handgun Options

[Guest Republican]

When camping/backpacking what handgun do you carry to the woods and why?

[Guest Bonedaddy]

6" bbl .44 mag Ruger revolver. Just in case you need to kill something big.

[Guest 10mm4me]

Ruger GP100 4" .357 MAG. Rugged, Reliable, Accurate, Powerful, Relatively light, and diversive, full power mags, .38's, and shotshells.

[Guest BEARMAN]

4" Dan Wesson model 15 .357 magnum loaded w/ 180 gr. hard-cast boolits...it will handle every two legged and four legged critter in the great state of Tennessee...first round is snake shot...just for the poisonous creepy crawlies!

[Guest manofsteel]

1911 .45 3 etra mags. 3 mags jhp 1 fmj

[Will Carry]

I'll second the GP-100. I have heard people call 22 magnum "trail guns" but I can't figure why. You don't need a gun to shoot snakes, that's a waste of ammo. The .357 whether it be a Ruger, Smith, Rossi, Taurus or even a single action western style revolver, will give you everything you need.

But to answer your question, I don't carry when I go backpacking or camping. It's too heavy for backpacking and when we camp there is often alcohol involved. Booze and guns don't mix. When I hunt I carry the GP-100. (I don't drink when I hunt or fish)

[56FordGuy]

S&W 642 when backpacking. Small, relatively light. I wouldn't want to be walking through the middle of nowhere, living out of a tent unarmed.

[Guest davidz71]

S&W M&P 340 with 38+P

[Guest Republican]

I have read that guides in Alaska carry the Glock 20 which is a 10mm and consider that to be sufficient up there so it must be sufficient everywhere. I have never shot a 10mm, but I know its powerful and holds 15 rounds. I also believe the 357 and 44 are great, but they typically only hold 6 rounds. But then again, I am crazy paranoid.

[Luckyforward]

6" Colt Python in .357 magnum

Period

[Guest SUNTZU]

Keltec PF9. Two legged critters are what I worry about.

[BBill_TN]

Keltec PF9. Two legged critters are what I worry about.

+1

Mostly around the trailheads for that matter. Most criminals are opportunists not willing to walk very far or limit their escape by going too far in. That being said, I have met some crazies on the trail, but fortunately none that were harmful to anyone but maybe themselves.

Not sure what I would carry in real bear country (i.e. Alaska, Glacier NP, etc.).

[Will Carry]

Of all the hiking and canoeing I have done over my 53 years all over the south, I have never traveled armed. My favorite places are in Tennessee. The Harpeth River, Cumberland Plateau, Land Between the Lakes, Reelfoot, Frozen Head, The Pine Barrens, the Smokys and the list goes on. Tennesse has some of the most beautiful places I've ever seen. I go back to Tennessee every spring to ramble up and down them ridges and valleys. It's like being reborn and enables me to tolerate living in the big city of Raleigh another year.

Edited February 8, 2010 by Will Carry

[Sidinman]

I don't have a go to trail gun, I guess it just depends on what I feel like. I carry the 1911 full time so it could just that. But do have some other options Colt King Cobra in 357, or could be one of the Blackhawks. The 357, the 41, or big daddy 44.

[Guest ab28]

I don't because of the parks I hike at, LBL and long hunter, usually. Looking to get some time on the AT again this summer.

[JReedEsq]

With the impending change in the national park carry law, I will probably start carrying in the woods soon. I'll probably just stick my Glock 26 in a pocket holster.

[Lumber_Jack]

If you want the power of 44 Mag in an Auto then go with 10mm, if you are ok with a lesser velocity, then I would just go standard glock, XD, M&P semi in your favorite caliber 45, 40, 357sig. If your ok with revolver then I agree with the GP-100 in a good 357 magnum. IMO 44 is just unnecessary for close range self defense, as far as autos, if six dont save ya, im not sure 10s gonna get the job done either.

[Guest mustangdave]

Taurus Tracker 4 in .357 Magnum and 2 speed loaders...extra ammo. You never know what'll bump into you on the trail or in camp

[gunsablazin]

1911 in .45ACP, It is my carry gun anyway and I see no reason to change guns for a trip to the woods. I have been in close contact with wild hogs, and a couple of bears over the years and have never felt threatened by them in anyway, still a .45 is a nice thing to have along.

[enfield]

I wouldn't hike anywhere I couldn't carry a significant handgun to. If there's booze at the camp I can say no.

[partypilot1]

I didn't see anyone in Alaska, at least in bear country, with just a Glock. I strongly recommend to anyone (that I would want to see again) heading out into backcountry Alaska to take at least one 12 gauge loaded with slug-buckshot-slug (454 casull will do too). A 10mm Glock with good shot placement might be good enough for a black bear but a charging brown or grizzly you need more power and spread.

[Guest Republican]

Good point. I guess before you go to bear country you should practice running and shooting at a moving target behind you. Lol, that skill could come in handy in more than one survival scenario I can think of.

I am starting to see that survival handgun options vary with your geographical location.

[daddyo]

Ruger SP101 in .357 is my outdoor weapon of choice.

[lowbud]

I have a taurus tracker 44 4" 44mag with me when I go camping. it's light, reliable, and will kill just about anything I'm going to run up on.

[analog_kidd]

If backpacking, the Keltek P3AT goes along because it is nice and light. If car-camping, I bring my Springfield 9mm.

Went camping this past summer in the back of my pickup. Got woke up by a bear eating nuts outside my truck. I have a campertop, so I was in no danger, but after watching him for about 45 minutes in my cramped quarters, it was nice to know I could put a warning shot nearby when I was ready to scare him off. Fortunately it was not needed.