What Is/Are Your Favored Carry Arms For Camping/Hiking?

[TrappedinCalifornia]

When camping/hiking, I generally carry some type of firearm. I say 'generally' in that it is exceptionally rare that I don't. But, the type of firearm varies depending one the type of camping, the length of the hike, where I'm camping/hiking, etc.

If I'm in bear country, I'll generally have something 'heavier' in caliber than when on a backpacking trip where I might be looking to supplement the pot. Meanwhile, a 'cast and blast' trip could entail two or three firearms. In fact, even an hike along the city's 'nature walk' trails is one of the tougher options in terms of deciding what to take; i.e., a firearm suitable for the mountain lions/bears who occasionally use the trail, one geared more toward the two-legged varmints, but one which is readily 'concealable' so as not to 'upset' fellow hikers.

So? What are your favored firearms for camping/hiking and why?

[oak18]

When I’m hunting I carry a Glock 17 in a duty holster since I don’t need to worry about concealment. Usually 17 rounds of Buffalo Bore Hardcast when I’m in cougar and bear territory. Carrying in a duty holster is much more comfortable when hiking.

When I’m fishing I carry a Glock 26 OWB concealed on my hip. I almost always carry appendix normally, but doing that when fishing causes pretty bad chafing.

I’d like to get a Glock 20 or 29 one day as a designated outdoor handgun. The availability/cost of 10mm has stopped me from going through with it many times.

[9Cal_OC]

Hiking: usually G26 or LCP. Hiking locally usually just the LCP. Elsewhere, G26 with a freedom week mag spare.

If I was hiking in YNP or bear county, I’ll probably pack a .40

[TrailerparkTrash]

When hunting black bear and elk, either a Freedom Arms .454 Casull, or a S&W model 29 .44magnum, or a Glock 20 with lead hardcast ammo. All three guns are carried in their own Diamond D “guide’s choice” leather chest holster.

If camping in the deserts, either a Glock 17, 20 or 22; or a Colt Delta Elite 10mm; or a Browning Hi-Power; a Beretta 92FS, a M&P 2.0 5” or a Colt SAA. All are carried in some type of OWB hip or shoulder holster. I like the Safariland ALS paddle holsters or a leather thumb break type belt holster or a Black Hills leather shoulder holster. It just depends on what I feel like carrying on a particular camping trip.

Unless I’m backpack camping, I always bring a grip load of guns with me, including long guns.

[Ora Serrata]

General close to city trail a LCP. But if away from civilisation a Springfield XDS-45

[TrappedinCalifornia]

Remember, it's not just about handguns. Yes. There are times when they will prove to be the only socially acceptable or pragmatic solution.

But, camping/hiking is a rather broad title and the inference ends up being a panoply of possibilities.

For instance...

• 2 legged varmints = 1911 and/or Shield/snub 38 Special as backups
• bears/lions/rattlesnakes = Model 29, 12 gauge
• filling the pot = a wide variety of choices including Savage Model 24, M6 Scout, H&R 12 Gauge single shot with caliber adapters, Ruger Single Six Convertible, and more

There was a time when all I had was a deer rifle, a shotgun, a .22 LR, a 1911 and a 44 Magnum and made that do for all circumstances. I could do it again if'n I had to; but, it would not be my preferred choice, especially these days. I'm fortunate that I can adapt to what I'm doing, yet I get that not everyone is in that same boat or mindset.

Such is why I'm curious.

[Reecek]

I have carried a 44 magnum on my hip while hunting and a 357 magnum in a chest rig while backpacking.

Sent from my SM-S901U using Tapatalk

[ar15robert]

Bought a Glock 20 6 years ago specifically for camping. Was considering a 4 inch wheel gun in 357 but prices seemed high so began looking into 10 mm it was a no brained since I also reload and it had capacity.

Now in az I just increased capacity to the original 15 rounds. I don’t like it as a target gun or home gun but hard to beat for a camp gun.

[JagerDog]

Camping, I usually have a revolver and a lever carbine of the same caliber.

I boondock most often, so open carry. Often the SA revolver is in a crossdraw holster.

[PoorRichRichard]

Hiking- light weight synthetic stock Rossi single-shot 20 gauge shotgun (copper slug or number 3 buckshot depending on the area I?m hiking) with a cool old Mosin sling. In my pocket you would find my S&W 638 loaded with +P hollow-points

Camping- good old fashioned 12 gauge 500 or 870 (no plug) loaded with a bunch of 00 buck. Double stack 1911 on my hip in an old Beretta 92fs holster that just happens to work really well with my 45…

[9Cal_OC]

Originally Posted by PoorRichRichard

Hiking- light weight synthetic stock Rossi single-shot 20 gauge shotgun (copper slug or number 3 buckshot depending on the area I?m hiking) with a cool old Mosin sling. In my pocket you would find my S&W 638 loaded with +P hollow-points

Camping- good old fashioned 12 gauge 500 or 870 (no plug) loaded with a bunch of 00 buck. Double stack 1911 on my hip in an old Beretta 92fs holster that just happens to work really well with my 45?

Cool guy here

You hiking with that here in CA?

[TrappedinCalifornia]

Originally Posted by JagerDog

...I boondock most often, so open carry. Often the SA revolver is in a crossdraw holster.

That's part of what I was attempting to get at. Where (and when) one hikes/camps can be as relevant as what one's perceived 'needs' are.

It's just like one stretch of creek I've fished for nearly 50 years (even when residing in other states) has a campground which has become increasingly developed in that time. There was a time when a number of us openly carried revolvers as the place was often habituated by rattlesnakes; some of which were measured at 3.5 - 4 ft. long. (It was not unheard of to step to the edge of the creek to fish, straddle a downed limb, only to realize the 'limb' you were straddling was, in fact, a snake seeking hydration.)

While I suspect, but haven't gone out of my way to prove, that a few might still exist there, but are decidedly more circumspect, now open carry of firearms is decidedly frowned upon by the increasingly 'urban' crowds who tie up the campgrounds with their RV's rather than the tents, beds of pickups, and rolled out air mattresses that used to be the norm. Rather than a couple of strategically placed outhouses, it now has (*gasp*) flush toilets centralized in the camping loops.

Let's just say the quality of the fishing/camping and the people ain't what it used to be and, if I'm spending the night or weekend, I tend to 'camp' on a different part of the creek these days which resembles more of what things used to be; without even the outhouses. And, I tend to do it more at 'off times' than before.

[riprap]

My favorite?
Para Ordnance P14-45, double stack 14 rounds of 45 ACP plus 1 in the pipe. Big iron with lots of horse power.

[Garand Hunter]

Nowadays I have moved from a S&W Shield to a S&W 10mm, out hunting, day to day carry rig and its got 15rnds and a 15rnd mag in my left front pants pocket, 180 gr fmj.

Psalm 1

[Trapper]

I carry a hunting license which repels most game animals and carry a Glock 43, 30s, or 20 for predators. All are on my CCW and normally ride in a Crossbreed IWB holster or a cross chest holster if I’m wearing waders.

[Oneaudiopro]

My SP-101 .357 mag always. I carried the same when I lived in Colorado.

[PoorRichRichard]

Originally Posted by 9Cal_OC

Cool guy here

You hiking with that here in CA?

Yes, but everywhere I hike is an area open for hunting. And there are not typically many other non-hunting hikers in these areas.

[amd64]

Glock 19.

[Enzo rules]

When I hiked, I no longer do that because of hip issues, I carried my SP101. When camping I carry my Glock 19.

[bruss01]

Originally Posted by TrappedinCalifornia

When camping/hiking, I generally carry some type of firearm. But, the type of firearm varies depending one the type of camping, the length of the hike, where I'm camping/hiking, etc.

If I'm in bear country, I'll generally have something 'heavier' in caliber than when on a backpacking trip where I might be looking to supplement the pot.
So? What are your favored firearms for camping/hiking and why?

I don't camp/hike in the back country as much as I used to.

But when I did, if it was a hiking excursion deep in the hills, bear and big cats are naturally on my mind. On those occasions I would typically take my Ruger Redhawk in .44 mag. Now, wearing a large pistol like that on your belt can generally make the crunchy granola REI crowd have an anxiety trigger. And when I'm in the back woods, I'm trying to relax, and don't want to worry about someone else's emotional baggage. As a result, for years I had this considerably large pistol on my CCW permit... not for the purpose of blowing away bad guys Dirty Harry style, but rather for bear or cat, and concealed so as not to alarm fellow backpackers. Got a lot of questions about that choice on my permit... no, not "compensating" for anything and my urban carry pistols were much more "mean streets" appropriate.

For car/camper excursions, the Redhawk was typically accompanied by my Marlin 1984 in the same caliber. I have great confidence in .44 mag for this sort of work. I believe that .357 would work in a pinch, but without as much extra margin to get the job done.

One of the benefits of the pistol is that snake-shot capsules can be carried in the first 2 chambers. In case of a venomous snake, one can dispatch the threat in short order. In the case of a larger threat, one can put those two into the air/ground as a warning, and still have 4 shots ready to go before resorting to the speed-loader. If one has qualified under a timed-shooting drill with this for one's CCW permit, that shouldn't present much of an issue.

I would not trust a .357 or worse, 9mm snake shot capsule on deadly snakes. If we had the option to tote a S&W Governor or Taurus Judge here, I could definitely see pressing those into service instead, using .410 and .45 LC, with a companion levergun in .45 LC.

[pennstater]

When fishing/camping in the Eastern Sierra's, it's my Uberti/Taylors .45 Colt. Sometimes the Henry .45 Colt goes along. But, always the U/T.

MLC