Author Topic: Loaded gun in tent for protection (Read 4753 times)

500 A-SQUARE · « **on:** February 28, 2011, 04:38:38 PM »

Just wondering how many folks sleep in their tents with a loaded firearm and what caliber?

blind ear · « **Reply #1 on:** February 28, 2011, 05:45:43 PM »

Most times it's a 22 semiauto for me. Biggest danger where I go is 2 legged critters and not really much risk of that. Most everything else can be taken care of with a stick, except for skunks and I just watch them through the screen until they leave. ear

streak · « **Reply #2 on:** February 28, 2011, 05:51:25 PM »

Shotgun loaded with #00 buckshot in tent in Alaska on Caribou hunts. .22 or 41mag in tent in Colorado on big game hunts.

cwlongshot · « **Reply #3 on:** February 28, 2011, 11:36:11 PM »

Yup,
12GA period. For near civilisation, loaded with mag #2 shot or #4 buck. Out in the boonies, magnum OO Buck and slugs in rotation I also add a 45 hand gun at or on my side.

CW

rdmallory · « **Reply #4 on:** March 01, 2011, 02:41:22 AM »

Backpacking I carry a S&W Mountain Lite.

18oz of 357

Doug

Curtis · « **Reply #5 on:** March 01, 2011, 05:31:33 AM »

ALWAYS! Smith M&P Compact in 40 cal. I usually camp in pubic and private parks when travelling on my motorcycle.

I guess I should consider something larger when in bear country. Couple of years ago when I rode through Colorado on my motorcycle I stopped at Paonia SP (near McClure pass) just to stretch my legs since I had camped there the previous year and had fond memories of the place. As I pulled into the entrance I noticed that in the small camping area (ten spots or so) there were exactly zero campers and one very large black bear. I quickly turned the bike around and got back on the highway.

I'm thinking my 18" barrelled 870 with pistol grip (stoked with slugs) would travel well since I usually tow a trailer behind my bike.

Curtis

walks with gun · « **Reply #6 on:** March 02, 2011, 06:47:30 AM »

You bet, gun and cal. depends on whay my fancy is that week. As much as I love 22's I like to have something bigger at night. I,m kind of a lightwieght .32 mag fan. Besides who would leave a loaded firearm outside at night and I can't fathom anyone going anywhere without a shooter of some kind.

spruce · « **Reply #7 on:** March 02, 2011, 01:12:00 PM »

Always have a handgun, usually a .45 auto or .357 mag.

Depending on location/circumstances may also have a shotgun or centerfire rifle in addition to the handgun.
Also a good flashlight right next to the handgun.

500 A-SQUARE · « **Reply #8 on:** March 05, 2011, 07:24:28 AM »

After my buddy got drug out of a tent by a black bear I no longer take chances. I now have multiple loaded firearms in the tent while sleeping. My self I have my ruger #1 500 A-Square loaded with 570 grain woodleighs at 2500 fps with a red dot sight and a flashlight mounted to the barrel, that rifle sits at the tent door. My next defence is a ruger m77 416 ruger, this one site next to my sleeping bag. And finally In my sleeping bag with me is a S&W 500 4" hand cannon ready to take anything the night has to offer, even Katahdin......

If my buddy is with me camping I have the above firearms. Then my buddy packs a pistol grip pump 12 gauge with slugs and buckshot, and a sig sauer p220 45 acp.
We decided if we dont take out the creature with all the guns except the 45, we will save it for ourselves

Pat/Rick · « **Reply #9 on:** March 05, 2011, 01:36:52 PM »

Handgun of either .357 or .40 S&W. Outside of hunting season 12 ga 870, 6+1 00bk or slugs (My do it all gun). During hunting season, whatever longarm i have with me. Lotsa two legged vermin as well as four in them thar hills.

kynardsj · « **Reply #10 on:** March 05, 2011, 02:03:16 PM »

My Ruger Single Six and one of my Ruger 45 LC's always goes camping with me. Most times my wife will also take her Taurus 9 shot 22 revolver.

500 A-SQUARE · « **Reply #11 on:** March 05, 2011, 02:46:39 PM »

Quote from: Pat/Rick on March 05, 2011, 01:36:52 PM

Handgun of either .357 or .40 S&W. Outside of hunting season 12 ga 870, 6+1 00bk or slugs (My do it all gun). During hunting season, whatever longarm i have with me. Lotsa two legged vermin as well as four in them thar hills.

+1 on the 12 gauge, those are good bear busters

Rex in OTZ · « **Reply #12 on:** March 07, 2011, 07:54:53 AM »

I know the guy that lent them the 45-70 carbine.

www.alaska.net/~Jlanders/Fatal/Huffman%2006-25-05.htm

500 A-SQUARE · « **Reply #13 on:** March 07, 2011, 05:25:11 PM »

after reading that story I guess it pays to be a very light sleeper. I wake up if I hear a mouse squeek, even at home. Too bad they didn't get to defend themselves. If I get kilt by a bar, atleast I want to be found with no loaded rounds left in the guns. GO OUT WITH A B I G BANG

500 A-SQUARE · « **Reply #14 on:** March 07, 2011, 05:32:18 PM »

I was born and raised in the woods, Im a logger, so I also work in the woods. Animals have it out for me, I lucky to be alive. I have been stalked by packs of wolves many times, stalked by lions, charged by deer, moose and bear. I must put off an smell that critters dont like. I have to pack handgun with me when loggen cause the darn moose keep charging me when hiking into my strip.

Dee · « **Reply #15 on:** March 08, 2011, 01:27:37 AM »

Hell I keep a 357 mag on the night stand when I'm camping in my bed at home. In fact I keep one no matter where I am. In the woods, either a Winchester 3030, or a Model 92 Winchester clone in 357 mag. In a tent, then the hand gun mentioned, one of the rifles mentioned, and a Model 1100 sawed off with #4 buck magnums right next to my cot or sleeping bag.

charles p · « **Reply #16 on:** March 08, 2011, 04:15:37 AM »

Awoke trying to scream during a nightmare while elk hunting in CO a few years ago. So frightened I could hardly make a sound. Scared my hunting partner to death, then he nearly laughed himself to death. Had a dream that a black bear had its paws around my throat.

For certain I would have empted the chamber inside that tent if a loaded pistol had been nearby.

stimpylu32 · « **Reply #17 on:** May 19, 2011, 05:52:17 PM »

I have used the same in-tent gun for over 30 years now , a mod 94 trapper in 30/30 , its easy to swing inside a tent and has plenty of stopping power for most 2 and 4 legged vermin .

stimpy

Empty Quiver · « **Reply #18 on:** May 20, 2011, 12:02:07 PM »

I've taken to using .22 shorts due to over penetration concerns if i should happen to miss

.

I carry a P239 SIG and it has to do camping duty as well as city duty, 40S&W. Hunting season would find all manner of long guns of course.

BBF · « **Reply #19 on:** May 21, 2011, 12:43:29 PM »

Whatever rifle I have with me during the hunt.
Being armed off season in campgrounds is frowned upon here. But then I haven't slept in a tent for many years.

cwlongshot · « **Reply #20 on:** May 22, 2011, 09:42:27 AM »

Quote from: scatterbrain on May 21, 2011, 12:43:29 PM

Whatever rifle I have with me during the hunt.
Being armed off season in campgrounds is frowned upon here. But then I haven't slept in a tent for many years.

I am quite certain if they knew people had firearms in camp grounds "they" would not be so happy...

Reminds me of a saying.... I would rather be judged by 12 than carried by six....

CW

bilmac · « **Reply #21 on:** May 22, 2011, 01:08:32 PM »

In some campgrounds in bear country the bears have developed a pattern of jumping on top of tents, collapsing them, and then sorting out what they want. Something like that would probably be likely anywhere a bear wants in a tent. If that happened, a long gun would be pretty unhandy under a mass of canvas, tent poles and a romping bear.

chefjeff · « **Reply #22 on:** May 22, 2011, 04:07:42 PM »

Always have protection handy,camping or not. Short barrel shotgun or handgun. You can't use it if you don't have it.

gofish · « **Reply #23 on:** May 23, 2011, 02:51:56 AM »

S&W MODEL 29 IN .44 MAG

Hooker · « **Reply #24 on:** May 23, 2011, 05:28:37 PM »

The last time slept in a tent I had my little bride with me.
We got invaded by squalling Bobcat kept waking the wife up so I would get up and through rocks at the critter.
I'm not sure what the cats issue was but it got close enough that I landed a good side rock broadside on it and it finally moved on.
I always have my old 3 screw Smith 38 with me to use if I have to.

Pat

45-70.gov · « **Reply #25 on:** May 23, 2011, 05:48:01 PM »

i don't sleep in tents

my 357 is never more than 10 feet away

in my pocket when sleeping i a dtrange place
i just sleep better that way

Duke0313 · « **Reply #26 on:** June 16, 2011, 08:17:56 PM »

Ruger .41 Magnum Blackhawk. Always!

SHOOTALL · « **Reply #27 on:** June 17, 2011, 03:49:52 AM »

357 mag. revolver and any other gun along. Why not ?

jpshaw · « **Reply #28 on:** January 08, 2013, 05:15:58 AM »

I keep a Kahr P9 under an untucked shirt at all times while hiking. Don't do any overnight stuff anymore but if I did I would carry my Glock 22 in .40 SW and they would just have to frown a lot. I just don't think anyone would ever know.

mardrobe · « **Reply #29 on:** January 11, 2013, 04:30:33 AM »

Even though I woke up with a bear standing on me as a teenager, I didn't worry much about them until a couple of years ago when a bear tried to invade my parents house while we were staying there on vacation, then killed one of their neighbors the next night. I now keep a 357 available and a can of bear spray in each tent whenever we camp.