Ounces count when hiking, and a Charter Arms is very light for caliber. I use a 44 Special Target Bulldog with a 4" barrel and adjustable sights. It's been finished in GunKote. It usually carries two CCI shotshells and three Buffalo Bore 200 grain hard cast wadcutters, which is the hottest load recommended for a Charter.21 ounce .44 Spl with rat shot and semi wadcutters went many a mile with me back in the day.
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I am a tremendous fan of the spear as a defensive weapon and as a hiking tool .If hiking with my spear, or bow in grizzly land, I think my best choice is this SBH .44mag that I've had forever. About 4-5-? years ago I had Mel Doyle in Plummer Idaho re-blue it, replace the firing pin, and cut the barrel from 7.5" to 6.25".
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Even though the .44mag is probably the most logical choice, with a good spear in hand, not so much the bow, I like the EL Patron in .45 Colt. Much lighter than the Ruger. Also less powerful, but the .45 Colt isn't chopped liver either. I try to get close to 1000fps with my smokeless loads, which I don't think is stressing the Uberti. Yeah yeah yeah..."don't hot rod a Colt or Colt copy you fool"!!! Whatever, an extra 100fps isn't going to blow my face off, or wear out the pistol. Especially since I only shoot my "full power" loads very seldom, really only to check my zero. All plinking and practice done with standard fudd-approved .45Colt velocity. EL Patron is the Stainless one.
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I've done a lot of hiking -- the Appalachian Trail (usually in 100-mile increments), the Horseshoe Trail in Pennsylvania, the Flint River in Georgia, and the Ozark Highlands Trail in Arkansas and Missouri.I am a tremendous fan of the spear as a defensive weapon and as a hiking tool .
Another hiking tool I really like is the hogue Ex-F01 Elishewitz knife , the sheath alone is worth the price of the knife,
If I go out and about you can bet a 44's with me , wether it's the jungle or the woods .
In certain environments I believe the 454 casuall might be the minimum , key word here is minimum .
Vern ...I've done a lot of hiking -- the Appalachian Trail (usually in 100-mile increments), the Horseshoe Trail in Pennsylvania, the Flint River in Georgia, and the Ozark Highlands Trail in Arkansas and Missouri.
I like a 6-foot hiking staff -- you can do so many things with it. I have one made from 1 1/2" PVC. I cut one foot off the tip, seat a wooden dowel to a depth of about 6" with about 3" sticking out, and seat a blade in that dowel, then put the cut-off part back on. Put large crutch tips on either end and you have a staff that doubles as a spear.
I like a 6-foot hiking staff -- you can do so many things with it. I have one made from 1 1/2" PVC. I cut one foot off the tip, seat a wooden dowel to a depth of about 6" with about 3" sticking out, and seat a blade in that dowel, then put the cut-off part back on. Put large crutch tips on either end and you have a staff that doubles as a spear.
I am a tremendous fan of the spear as a defensive weapon and as a hiking tool .
Another hiking tool I really like is the hogue Ex-F01 Elishewitz knife , the sheath alone is worth the price of the knife,
If I go out and about you can bet a 44's with me , wether it's the jungle or the woods .
In certain environments I believe the 454 casuall might be the minimum , key word here is minimum .
Right on. Few realize just how effective and capable a good spear is. And always ready, always in hand. I'm not sure what knife that is you mention, but I almost always have a big one, at least a K-bar, or my "Jungle Commander". I wear them on my right leg, below the knee. Looks a bit over-dramatic, but easy to get to, especially if one is rolling around on the ground with Mr.Bear or Mr.Cougar, very out-of-the-way, and takes a load off my pistol belt.
I always carry a capable pistol with me when I use the spear...but I'm pretty sure the Cold Steel Zulu spear head, razor sharp on a long stout staff, will take care of the situation. If one keeps his cool.
I carry a Colt Detective Special -- often in a belt pouch with other things like a compass, etc., in those places where you're not allowed to carry.Vern ...
I never been to those places , but will someday get there in person , I have seen many beautiful photos and documentaries, its truly gods country , maybe you can let us know what gun you carried while on those trails.
Hiking there would make you forget about all the worries of world ......Take care
I carry a Colt Detective Special -- often in a belt pouch with other things like a compass, etc., in those places where you're not allowed to carry.
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I like cold steel products , hated to see Lynn Thompson sell it off , I will send some fotos.. if you go too you tube Elishewitz the designer of the knife talks about the sheath and the knife , and their features in two separate videos......Take care
I also generally carry an Ontario Knife 22" machete.
How do you like that holster? I’ve been considering looking for a pancake holster for my 3” GP…I've changed my hiking revolver to a 3" GP100 357 carried in an Azula OWB holsterView attachment 1158728 . This was due to repeated reliability issues I've been unable to correct with my DW at the range. Love the DWs but will stick to this GP100 for carrying on hikes. An untucked T-shirt hides this rig very well.
I have another of the same Azula holster for a 2 3/4" Speed Six and like them both. I'm using a Beltman dual bull hide with a liner that's a very stiff belt. I recently got the one shown and it's still a little stiff but loosening up nicely. It was so stiff when I got it I hardly could get the gun out when wearing it. The outside top of the cylinder was catching on the inside where the upper part of the holster was molded for the cylinder. After manipulating the leather and couple 4 mile hikes it retains well and allows drawing without difficulty. Simply Rugged makes a nice pancake holster I use for my 4 & 5 inch GPs.How do you like that holster? I’ve been considering looking for a pancake holster for my 3” GP…
Currently, I use a Galco summer comfort IWB. I also have a Galco paddle holster…very nice, but more open carry, so it doesn’t get used much.