What ammo do YOU carry for outdoor sports, and how?

[CandG]

Yes, I realize there are 50 "hiking/backpacking ammo" threads already, but hear me out:

I can't seem to be able to make up my mind what kind of ammo I should carry in the backcountry, and how I should carry it. For the purpose of this thread, let's leave caliber out of the question, but for anyone curious, my 2 woods guns are 10mm and 45acp.

Here's what I do currently for both my pistols:

-Pistol with magazine inside, carried either IWB holster or pocket carry.
-3 magazines (1 is in pistol, 2 in IWB mag holster or pant pockets)
-2 of the magazines each have half JHP's and half solid copper slugs, loaded alternately with the JHP being the first round to fire. Both types have similar muzzle energies so the recoil is predictable. One of these is the magazine loaded in the pistol during carry.
-The 3rd magazine is loaded with CCI snake shotshells. 40s&w is used in my 10mm due to lack of available 10mm factory shotshells. Shotshells tend to FTE, so they stay in their own magazine not to be confused with the defensive load magazines.

My reasoning is that JHP's aren't good for large animals (poor penetration), but solid copper slugs aren't good for bad guys (exceedingly good pentration, small wound channel). So as long as a couple bullets hit the target, at least 1 of them should do serious damage. Obviously, the alternating rounds is intended to allow the use of either magazine for either type of target. The 3rd magazine, for snake shot, is kept in a different location than the backup magazine to avoid confusion under stress. It's not for protection from rattlers, so much as it's there because rattlesnake is delicious

So what is everyone else's ammo types/techniques for backcountry carry? And any recommendations for anything I might want to think about changing?

[thomashoward]

you are overthinking. I generally take the round that would anchor the largest animal in the area being hunted. Two legged critters get as many rounds necessary to stop them, as last resort.

[CSACANNONEER]

Never heard the terms "wood's gun" or "wood's ammo" before. Is it different than desert guns, plains guns, mountain guns, etc? I normally carry whatever I am going to be hunting with and the appropriate ammo for the intended game. In certain areas, I might choose to carry a SD gun with the same ammo I would use at home or CCWing.

[CandG]

Never heard the terms "wood's gun" or "wood's ammo" before. Is it different than desert guns, plains guns, mountain guns, etc? I normally carry whatever I am going to be hunting with and the appropriate ammo for the intended game. In certain areas, I might choose to carry a SD gun with the same ammo I would use at home or CCWing.

Haha, ok sorry, my invented terms are just in reference to the sidearm you'd carry during general outdoor recreation (namely hiking, backpacking, or other activities that would apply to the subforum I posted this thread in), and the ammo to go with it, that you presumably don't plan to use, but carry for protection. I'll request that they be added to the Oxford English Dictionary next year Yes, if your activities take you somewhere besides the woods, then insert your own term in place of "woods"

[CandG]

you are overthinking.

I tend to do that from time to time!

[CSACANNONEER]

Haha, ok sorry, my invented terms are just in reference to the sidearm you'd carry during general outdoor recreation (namely hiking, backpacking, or other activities that would apply to the subforum I posted this thread in), and the ammo to go with it, that you presumably don't plan to use, but carry for protection. I'll request that they be added to the Oxford English Dictionary next year Yes, if your activities take you somewhere besides the woods, then insert your own term in place of "woods"

Well, there are "plains rifles" and "mountain rifles" and have been for many decades so, why not? Then again, there is such a thing as wooden bullets and, that's the first thing I thought of when I read the title of this thread. So, I wouldn't support the term "wood's ammo". It could lead to confusion. That said, at least I answered your question in my first post. If I felt the need to carry a gun solely for SD while hiking, etc. I would carry the same guns and ammo as I do at home. Nothing more, nothing less. Well, sometimes I do carry a shotgun and/or a rifle a round while at home but, they are normally just on the rack on the Mule I drive. I probably wouldn't want the weight of a long gun while hiking unless I was also hunting at the same time.

[trackcage]

Interesting. When I think woods/hiking/mountain gun I think wheel gun to be able to carry magnum calibers. I realize 10mm is basically a magnum, but would have thought more along the lines of 44mag, 454, or bigger... depending what you're hunting

[POLICESTATE]

Interesting. When I think woods/hiking/mountain gun I think wheel gun to be able to carry magnum calibers. I realize 10mm is basically a magnum, but would have thought more along the lines of 44mag, 454, or bigger... depending what you're hunting

I think a 10mm would be a good choice for a lot of areas, but anywhere where I might run into a bear I'd rather have at least a .357 magnum and preferably a 44 magnum. Around here a 10mm or even .45 ACP are good choices where the largest things are mountain lions and no bears.

[CandG]

We're starting to stray into caliber discussions... I think we should leave caliber out of the equation as everyone already has their favorites and the topic has been covered at least 1.2 million times already, and I think we can all agree that even a .380 shooting tula ammo could take down a grizzly with good/lucky shot placement. The discussion about revolver vs semi is relevant though, as the method of sidearm and ammo carry varies between the two. For revolver, carry speedloaders? Any snake loads? The cool benefit a revolver has vs a semi, is that if you chose to carry loaded with different cartridge types, you could rotate the cylinder to select the type you want - for example, defensive loads for the first 4-5 shots and a snake shotshell for the 6th. That is, if you cared about carrying snake loads (which I can't imagine why anyone would unless they were planning to harvest snakes)

The argument for carrying nothing but standard SD ammo certainly has merit as well. That's why I thought it would be fun to have a discussion about this

[NorCalFocus]

My rifle is for shooting the 4 legged animals.

I carry my sidearm with JHP and extra mags for the two legged animals.

If a lion or bear ever got so close that I was being forced to shoot at them, one I don't think the type of bullet will matter as much, two I'm most likely screwed at that point anyways.

[CandG]

Well, there are "plains rifles" and "mountain rifles" and have been for many decades so, why not? Then again, there is such a thing as wooden bullets and, that's the first thing I thought of when I read the title of this thread. So, I wouldn't support the term "wood's ammo". It could lead to confusion. That said, at least I answered your question in my first post. If I felt the need to carry a gun solely for SD while hiking, etc. I would carry the same guns and ammo as I do at home. Nothing more, nothing less. Well, sometimes I do carry a shotgun and/or a rifle a round while at home but, they are normally just on the rack on the Mule I drive. I probably wouldn't want the weight of a long gun while hiking unless I was also hunting at the same time.

Fair enough, I changed the title to make it a little more clear. And thanks for your thoughts, that's what I used to do as well for the most part until I started messing around with different ammo types and playing out a bunch of scenarios in my head. Since I have yet to ever shoot anything in self defense, I have no room to argue with how anyone does it, merely curiosity on my part

[CandG]

My rifle is for shooting the 4 legged animals.

I carry my sidearm with JHP and extra mags for the two legged animals.

If a lion or bear ever got so close that I was being forced to shoot at them, one I don't think the type of bullet will matter as much, two I'm most likely screwed at that point anyways.

Unfortunately none of the game I like to hunt is in season this time of year, when I do most of my hiking/backpacking, so a rifle would be dead weight for me most of the year.

True, no matter what ammo you have, you're probably screwed if a bear or lion is already showing aggression that close to you, but I still want the most effective round possible. Unfortunately I'm not 100% sure what the most effective round is since I've never fired a pistol at a bear or lion

[NorCalFocus]

Unfortunately none of the game I like to hunt is in season this time of year, when I do most of my hiking/backpacking, so a rifle would be dead weight for me most of the year.

True, no matter what ammo you have, you're probably screwed if a bear or lion is already showing aggression that close to you, but I still want the most effective round possible. Unfortunately I'm not 100% sure what the most effective round is since I've never fired a pistol at a bear or lion

I applied my assumption of hunting to the situation, which why I said I'd have my rifle. But when I'm carrying of hiking/camping my carry habits don't change.

To further my line of thought on using my sidearm on a bear or lion...You have to figure that in that situation, your not going to be placing a well lined up shot on the animals vitals. Again a "hunting" style bullet is designed to do damage to the vitals. If a bear is charging you, I honestly think you better hope that just the sound of the gun going off scares them away.