Author Topic: Trail/Hiking gun (Read 7921 times)

Concho Mike · « **Reply #30 on:** November 08, 2011, 08:26:59 PM »

I'd suggest you carry whatever you shoot the best.
For whatever reason the most accurate gun I shoot is an old pawn shop find Heritage 22lr from the early '90s. I've never felt like a 22lr wasn't enough gun for trail use.

coalcifer · « **Reply #31 on:** November 09, 2011, 03:02:58 AM »

Mark, I understand your shock over the price of .44 cal. reloading components. Even loaded ammo is expensive for the .44 special, but I consider my life more precious than gold and protect it accordingly. Good luck in your quest for a concealed trail/hiking handgun, I am sure you will find the best combo that works for you.

cwlongshot · « **Reply #32 on:** November 09, 2011, 03:30:06 AM »

Quote from: Concho Mike on November 08, 2011, 08:26:59 PM

I'd suggest you carry whatever you shoot the best.
For whatever reason the most accurate gun I shoot is an old pawn shop find Heritage 22lr from the early '90s. I've never felt like a 22lr wasn't enough gun for trail use.

VERY good advice!!

Different people have different "needs" from a trail gun. For my idea a 22RF is just fine, a 22M is just a bit more margin for error!

If I needed protection from bears, no one in there right mind would recommend any rim fire.

CW

S.B. · « **Reply #33 on:** November 09, 2011, 12:51:03 PM »

Easy choice

light, accurate, shoots anything I put in it.
Steve

Ak.Hiker · « **Reply #34 on:** November 09, 2011, 07:53:59 PM »

If I want to go light either my Glock 36 45 auto or my SP 101 357 Magnum. I load both the Hornady 230 grain TAP +P and Buffalo Bore 230 grain FMJ in the Glock and a good 180 grain hardcast in the 357. When the bears are out I do prefer my 5.5 inch Ruger Super Redhawk in 454 loaded with a good 300 grain full power load like the Winchester or Hornady. In the winter I will carry just about any of my handguns with one of my Glocks usually a first choice. Glocks are good trail guns being light weight and reliable. The model 29 in 10mm is one of my favorites. It is a good combination of power and light weight.

azmark · « **Reply #35 on:** November 12, 2011, 05:30:34 AM »

I will go to the gun show in Tucson next weekend to handle some things. Also I'm not going to dismiss the .44 just yet. Factory ammo costs about half per 50 rds as brass does. Maybe buying loaded ammo and reloading the brass is the best deal for that caliber, and it is likely I can find a good price on ammo at the gun show.

woodchuckssuck · « **Reply #36 on:** November 15, 2011, 06:21:25 PM »

My 4" barreled 1911 stoked with 9 (8+1) Remington Golden Saber 230gr loads. Accurate, and will work for all I would encounter (2 legged critters/wild dogs) Along with the NAA .22mag in my pocket...

gstewart44 · « **Reply #37 on:** November 16, 2011, 05:24:14 AM »

My trusty SW 1917 in 45 acp, with 4 full moon clips, handloaded with 250 gr LSWC.
Down in Sou' Jawja we can hunt pork year round so this is my pig companion most of the year. During the fall game season when I am sporting a rifle, I will walk with a Ruger MkII pistol or Taurus 94 both in 22LR.

SHOOTALL · « **Reply #38 on:** November 16, 2011, 06:03:15 AM »

Glock 10 mm. Why ? because its easy to carry in a shoulder rig or belt holster. It carries alot of bullets . If it gets wet or dirty it cleans / drys easy. It resist rust and scratches etc. I'm not a big Glock fan in that I think its is the best but it does have some qualities that make it a cost effective carry gun. And the slide can be used to touch up the edge on my knife.

cwlongshot · « **Reply #39 on:** November 16, 2011, 08:19:39 AM »

Quote from: SHOOTALL on November 16, 2011, 06:03:15 AM

Glock 10 mm. Why ? because its easy to carry in a shoulder rig or belt holster. It carries alot of bullets . If it gets wet or dirty it cleans / drys easy. It resist rust and scratches etc. I'm not a big Glock fan in that I think its is the best but it does have some qualities that make it a cost effective carry gun. And the slide can be used to touch up the edge on my knife.

It's an excellent choice with sound logic I can not argue..

A glock 20 is in my future for certain.

CW

painted horse · « **Reply #40 on:** November 18, 2011, 12:22:30 PM »

45 colt BBH, hip holster, six loaded, 12 in a slider. William, scabbards go on the saddle with a lever rifle installed...

and I'm pretty ol..er "experienced" too.

Ak.Hiker · « **Reply #41 on:** November 29, 2011, 04:34:52 PM »

Quote from: painted horse on November 18, 2011, 12:22:30 PM

45 colt BBH, hip holster, six loaded, 12 in a slider. William, scabbards go on the saddle with a lever rifle installed... and I'm pretty ol..er "experienced" too.

Nice set up. What lever gun are you carrying? I also would be interested in your choice of loads in your 45 Colt.

Dale53 · « **Reply #42 on:** November 30, 2011, 03:34:53 PM »

I favor the .44 Special for trail use. You can get some of the finest brass available for much less than $30.00 per 100:

http://www.starlinebrass.com/shopping_cart.php

Shipping is free.

I am not limited to a particular caliber when hiking or just trail walking. I will carry most anything from my 4" Model 631 Smith (.32 H&R) to a .44 Special or .45 Colt. My favorite trail gun in .44 Special is either the Smith 4" Model 624 or a Ruger Flattop. Either will handle most anything you will encounter. Plus the .44 Special works VERY well with Speer shot capsules - great snake medicine. I have often hiked and hunted in serious snake country and NEVER felt under armed.

Dale53

tinman · « **Reply #43 on:** December 02, 2011, 05:30:42 AM »

6" single six 22mag for over 30 years and we both show it. never been in the way hunting, fishing, boating ect. got bears, coyotes, wild dogs, pot growers. never had to use it for more than fun. worlds not the same as it was 30 years ago. ( or maybe working as a prison guard has change my outlook) if i had to start over again i think a 357 would get the nod.

sachel.45 · « **Reply #44 on:** December 02, 2011, 12:14:39 PM »

My XDM in .40 s&w with 180 JHP

Ranch13 · « **Reply #45 on:** December 02, 2011, 12:58:55 PM »

You might want to give one of the variations of the Single Six in 32 H&R some consideration. Handy little buggers with a cartridge with plenty of zip for most walkingaroundtrail gun types.

longwinters · « **Reply #46 on:** December 02, 2011, 02:33:51 PM »

I've got a Smith and Wesson model 60 pro. 357/38. 3" barrel with a real grip (not one of those pinky hangers). Great carry gun.

Long

McDerry · « **Reply #47 on:** December 04, 2011, 09:37:16 AM »

Quote from: Ranch13 on December 02, 2011, 12:58:55 PM

You might want to give one of the variations of the Single Six in 32 H&R some consideration. Handy little buggers with a cartridge with plenty of zip for most walkingaroundtrail gun types.

Great little cartridge for a trail gun.

TScottW99 · « **Reply #48 on:** December 10, 2011, 10:46:12 PM »

S&W 65 4" in .357mag. It is a great handgun, accurate, reliable and carries nicely in my Bianchi 5BL. Has plenty of power for anything I might face while in the woods.

simplicity · « **Reply #49 on:** December 11, 2011, 11:00:51 AM »

Glock 20 here loaded with either 180's at 1250fps or 155's at 1470 fps. 10mm is such a under rated caliber

cwlongshot · « **Reply #50 on:** December 11, 2011, 11:16:28 AM »

Quote from: simplicity on December 11, 2011, 11:00:51 AM

Glock 20 here loaded with either 180's at 1250fps or 155's at 1470 fps. The 10mm is such a under rated caliber!

BIG thumbs up on that one!! It's "Uncle Ted" endorsed too!

CW

Old Griz · « **Reply #51 on:** December 24, 2011, 06:40:50 PM »

My woods gun is a 4" S&W 65. It was a police trade in and turns out to be a real tack driver. I was amazed.
I carry it in a WWII should rig (very comfortable) with a 10 round ammo carrier. In the different loops I have a few snake shot loads, .38s for small game, and the speedloader always has .357s for the dangerous two-legged varmints.

375supermag · « **Reply #52 on:** December 26, 2011, 03:50:57 AM »

I have carried several different handguns over the years when hiking/hunting. When I think back over the number of years, it has actually been quite a few and in a lot of different calibers.

I started out with a convertible.22/22Mag SA revolver and about 50-100 rounds of ammunition. Then I started carrying a S&W 1917 in .45AutoRim with a couple of speedloaders. Carried a Ruger Security Six in .357Mag for a while.
For a long time, I wore a Ruger Blackhawk in .41Mag when I hiked in the mountains of northern Pennsylvania, mostly because of the coyotes and black bears.

I have carried a S&W M57 in .41 Mag, a M25 in .45 Colt and for a few years a S&W M686 Silhouette with an 8-3/8" barrel in .357 mag in a shoulder (bandolier) rig.

I also carried a Vaquero in .45Colt. Probably a few others that I carried once or twice. I remember carrying my Taurus 5-shot DA .44 Special more than a couple of times.

Lately, it has been a Lipsey's Blackhawk in .44 Special. Still enough bullet and velocity for coyotes or black bears.

Strangest thing, no matter what I carry in a belt or shoulder holster for plinking, ground hogs, etc., I always carry either my SA .45ACP M1911 or Colt Commander .45ACP in the small of my back., just in case I run across some of those two-legged predators.

S.B. · « **Reply #53 on:** December 26, 2011, 09:08:20 AM »

375supermag, what a load you carried, whew! I always thought you hikeres pack lite?
Steve

azmark · « **Reply #54 on:** December 27, 2011, 08:52:52 AM »

I have gone nuts with this quest. Lately, I've been kicking around the idea of a CZ 83 in .32 ACP because it seems fun. The little Kel-Tecs are just too small IMO. I can reload 23 ACP for about half of what .22 Mags cost. I'm assuming it would have more punch than a .22 Mag because the bullet's twice as heavy. Plus, the gun itself costs less than a .22M revolver. There are compact nines from Ruger and Sig that are cool and 9mm is available inexpensively everywhere.

There's too much to choose from

375supermag · « **Reply #55 on:** December 28, 2011, 08:03:16 AM »

Quote from: S.B. on December 26, 2011, 09:08:20 AM

375supermag, what a load you carried, whew! I always thought you hikeres pack lite?
Steve

Well, most of my hikes are 1 day affairs...usually start at daylight and get back to the truck by dark.

I generally carry one or two water bottles or a canteen, a couple of sandwiches and granola bars, a knife of some sort, a gun belt or shoulder holster with a revolver plus two reloads and my 1911 with two reloads and a first aid kit.

It really isn't that much weight...my son carries his own food, water and a camera. In January when he turns 18, he may start carrying his own handgun (I need to check the laws in Pa. on that).

jlwilliams · « **Reply #56 on:** December 28, 2011, 08:17:35 AM »

Since you have a GP100 and want something a little lighter and you already mentioned it as a likely candidate, J frame S&W in 38 may be just the thing.

IMO a 3" 38 revolver is a pretty happy medium. You can shoot it way better than you can shoot a snubby and it's still light and compact. 38 special is an effective round when loaded properly and is easy to find/ economical. Since you already shoot 357 you aren't stocking up on something completely different. If you load you already have components and if you aren't a loader you are still buying a round that can be fed to two different guns. That's just good sense.

Really, if you have a 357 and want something a little lighter, 38 special is the obvious choise.

SHOOTALL · « **Reply #57 on:** December 28, 2011, 08:23:51 AM »

Or a 340 PD from S&W . 12 ozs .

scootrd · « **Reply #58 on:** December 28, 2011, 11:20:02 AM »

I've always hiked with my old 1980 , .357 Security Six, 2.75 inch barrel,
Weight a bit over 2lbs, and fits well and easily accsessable .

Flash · « **Reply #59 on:** December 28, 2011, 02:48:19 PM »

Quote from: 375supermag on December 28, 2011, 08:03:16 AM

Quote from: S.B. on December 26, 2011, 09:08:20 AM
375supermag, what a load you carried, whew! I always thought you hikeres pack lite?
Steve

Well, most of my hikes are 1 day affairs...usually start at daylight and get back to the truck by dark.

I generally carry one or two water bottles or a canteen, a couple of sandwiches and granola bars, a knife of some sort, a gun belt or shoulder holster with a revolver plus two reloads and my 1911 with two reloads and a first aid kit.

It really isn't that much weight...my son carries his own food, water and a camera. In January when he turns 18, he may start carrying his own handgun (I need to check the laws in Pa. on that).

What forest do you hike in? I believe he can't carry until 21. I use my 4" SP101 in 32 mag or my 4 5/8" 41 mag Blackhawk.