Hiking Revolver, what do you pack?

[Arctic Linebaugh]

475 Linebaugh Redhawk

 

[Old Hobo]

Arctic Linebaugh -- 475 Linebaugh Redhawk

Name "Arctic" and the big revolver cartridge tells folk you might could just run up against a giant bruin. Not exactly a happy situation, that.

Used to, when outdoors, one carried something in case they ran into critters with fangs. What a shame now that one has to worry about 2-legged featherless psych cases. Considering the body-numbing, hallucinatory effects of the drugs folk are taking nowadays, the 475 Linebaugh might actually be required to defend one's self from Psycho Bob swinging his favorite machete.

Ask any game warden what they fear most when out in the woods. Hint: it isn't mean four-legged critters.
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[Ugly Sauce]

Arctic Linebaugh -- 475 Linebaugh Redhawk

Name "Arctic" and the big revolver cartridge tells folk you might could just run up against a giant bruin. Not exactly a happy situation, that.

Used to, when outdoors, one carried something in case they ran into critters with fangs. What a shame now that one has to worry about 2-legged featherless psych cases. Considering the body-numbing, hallucinatory effects of the drugs folk are taking nowadays, the 475 Linebaugh might actually be required to defend one's self from Psycho Bob swinging his favorite machete.

Ask any game warden what they fear most when out in the woods. Hint: it isn't mean four-legged critters.
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Wow that is quite the pistol. Never been a fan of the Redhawk, but I wouldn't mind having that. Luckily, most of the 2-legged featherless psych cases (!!!!!!) roam the asphalt wilderness, but I've heard of them trying to prey on more frequented "parks" and hiking places by the general public. Even a case where a guy had to shoot one, and wound up going to prison because the prosecution convinced the jury that hollow-points were "only designed to kill people". And therefore, he was just looking for someone to shoot. !!!!

Anyhow, I think that pistol takes the cake as far as defense against anything. !!! I give it "first place" so far.

 

[Ugly Sauce]

View attachment 1134237

475 Linebaugh Redhawk

What do that weigh? I bet it's not bad with the big holes in the cylinder and barrel. Who made it? Have you chronographed? What is your load and bullet you shoot in it?

 

[Arctic Linebaugh]

What do that weigh? I bet it's not bad with the big holes in the cylinder and barrel. Who made it? Have you chronographed? What is your load and bullet you shoot in it?

It was converted by Mr Bowen, I’m not sure on weight because I’m not home right now. But its weight is comparable to a fully loaded S&W N frame.


For backup carry I’m shooting a 420 grain cast bullet @ about 1200 fps, or a 340 grain CEB mono at 1400 fps.

For use as my primary hunting arm, I haven’t finished the load development for the monos but I can get the cast bullet to ~1420 fps.


Worked pretty good on a white tail a several pigs

 

[SharpDog]

JMHO: If I was worried about big cats I would carry in a chest rig and not in my front pocket. Cats are very quick.

 

[Ugly Sauce]

When I first got my Webley, I took it hiking quite a bit. And hiking in September means grouse is open. The gun is kind of big and heavy for the caliber, although that big 265 grain bullet with the long nose penetrates well, lots of momentum if not velocity. For black bear or cougar I'm quite confident in it, Grizz, no. Two legged varmints, yes. But the gun also works very well with .45ACP shot loads, as you can see.

 

[Ugly Sauce]

JMHO: If I was worried about big cats I would carry in a chest rig and not in my front pocket. Cats are very quick.

A big knife strapped to one's right leg below the knee could help, second line of defense. Looks "dramatic", but is comfortable, and possibly more easy or able to get to if one can't get to the pistol. As the man says, "cats are very quick", and like to surprise/ambush their prey.

 

[Old Hobo]

I'll never question those who like big revolvers, even though I do not own one myself.

Being mainly a rifle-lover, I want real energy should some unfortunate situation present itself. So what to do if one can't perpetually carry a rifle in the outdoor world where one finds himself/herself all the time? Carry a big revolver. (Got a story about an Inuit girl who got a .44 Mag. revolver for her 16th birthday. She was all tickled about the great gift.)

Living in the American southeast, black bears could give trouble; however, the likelihood of that is small. If you see one, lift your backpack up over your head so as to look tall -- such is the going recommendation. Usually this does the job; they don't want to be around us in the first place. Some seasons, male black bears get attitude, "Danger Will Robinson!" A male will chomp his jaw as loud as he can. That means "You are on my turf." As everybody knows, a sow WILL protect her cubs. Never get between a sow and her cubs, else she might go chainsaw berserk on you.

Once saw a cub climb a tree faster than any squirrel could have done.

Was passing through a tourist town up in the Appalachian Mountains (I was raised in S.Applchia) and I saw a cub dumpster-diving. The idiot tourists were all, "Let's get a photo!" One idiot was standing in the middle of the road taking photos. Me, I pulled my car over (staying inside it). I didn't yell at the jerk. I sat there seeing if Momma bear would come down the steep forest bank to "correct the situation". Couldn't wait forever, so I drove on. Way too many people were raised watching Disney movies in which animals talk and are so nice and cuddly. I can't/won't try to fix that. Not my job, man. And let's say I had a big revolver in my car and Momma bear came charging down out of the woods, would I have tried to kill her for doing what Mother Nature programmed her to do?! Nope. Too bad. So sad.
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[WisBorn]

I enjoy all my revolvers. The one I carry the most is my 442 38+p. I will have it for the next two weeks hiking the Smokies.
I pictured it with my Taurus 415 41mag. I need to get it out more.


I will have the 442 loaded with 158 grain hardcast from Underwood while hiking and 158 grain hollow points from Norma on the nightstand.

 

[Ugly Sauce]

Once saw a cub climb a tree faster than any squirrel could have done.

Yep, been there seen that. Right next to me. And then mother bear jumps out of a bush 25 yards away, stands there and stares at me. But I was so ugly, and smelled so bad, she took off running. But not very fast, and looking back a lot, like she wanted to lead me away from the cub. ?? My weapons that day? A powerful bow and seven broad head arrows, and my Lyman Plains Pistol. !!!! Kind of had second thoughts about my choice of weapons.

 

[Gordon]

In Oregon , where I live and hunt is big black bear country. I carried this S&W model of 1989 Mountain revolver with good heavy 240-300 grain loads. It is not a pleasant gun to shoot with a 300 grain bullet coming out at 1150 Fps , but it is sighted in with such at 15 yards and I have carried at first a .44 Magnum Ruger SA 45 years and half of that time with a S&W 83/8 Model 29 in a shoulder rig. , mostly in California Coastal Mountains in Monterey County where I took big boar and lions. I also carried those and this gun in Montana , Idaho and Alaska hunting in Big Bear country :
the gun is superbly smooth with no MIM parts . Those are early Ahrend grips that work for me and I had action work done on the gun in late 90s to strengthen things . It is pretty retired these days. I started carrying a Glock 20 and now a Sig X Ten for the same duty . I am keeping this till my son curates it .

 

[tdbmd]

Cold months find me out for fairly vigorous fitness hikes in cat country or urban rucks. My PD340 is loaded with 158g .38 +P with a Barnes .357 reload and carries well in the front pocket :

View attachment 1133293
Summer time and the bears are up. In the high country this gal goes along tucked in an OWB holster and holding six shots of hot 180g hardcast:
View attachment 1133294

What do you all pack when out wandering the hills?

S&W Model 60 with 3 inch barrel. 158 grain .357 mag soft points, usually. Sometimes the Speer Short Barrel Gold Dots in .38 Special

 

[Ugly Sauce]

Also, aimlessly wandering around does not interest me at all.

That's funny. Wandering aimlessly in the wilderness is one of my greatest interests. Tend to wander aimlessly on my motorcycles too. Different strokes for different folks! And that's a good thing.

 

[Ugly Sauce]

On any walk in the woods I want it to be light, accurate and fast to fill my hand. I have two dozen expensive handguns. The one that's been on my hip for years now and fills the bill over all of them is Charter Arms .44 Bulldog.

Indeed, for years the .44 Bulldog was my woods gun, especially when I hiked and hunted with a Ruger .44 Carbine. The Bulldog put more than a few grouse over the fire on a stick, even shot a coyote once. That was with a bobbed-hammer model, which was quite worn out when I got it. The P.O. was into "hot loads". Just a few years ago I replaced it with one that was even older production, but "new in the box". It's a very "sensible" hiking gun, it is light and accurate and very small game capable with the shot loads. Also throws a 220 grain bullet at 940fps without undo strain. A lot to like about the Bulldog. !!

 

[CajunBass]

I've never done any hiking. I always called it walking in the woods. And I don't do that anymore, but when I did I almost always carred a 22 pistol of some kind. High Standard Sentinel, Smith and Wesson Model 18, Ruger Single-Six or Bearcat, or a Ruger Standard automatic. Just depended on which I felt like carrying that day. They all (except the Bearcat) fit into the same Uncle Mikes Nylon holster on an Uncle Mikes nylon pistol belt. Add an Uncle Mikes Nylon ammo pouch with a handful of cartridges, and a MTM walking stick, and I was ready.

 

[Armored farmer]

 

[natman]

Indeed, for years the .44 Bulldog was my woods gun, especially when I hiked and hunted with a Ruger .44 Carbine. The Bulldog put more than a few grouse over the fire on a stick, even shot a coyote once. That was with a bobbed-hammer model, which was quite worn out when I got it. The P.O. was into "hot loads". Just a few years ago I replaced it with one that was even older production, but "new in the box". It's a very "sensible" hiking gun, it is light and accurate and very small game capable with the shot loads. Also throws a 220 grain bullet at 940fps without undo strain. A lot to like about the Bulldog. !!

My choice too. IMO a hiking gun, like all hiking gear, has an emphasis on lightness. My hiking gun is a 4" Target Bulldog with adjustable sights. I load it with a couple of shot loads and the rest Buffalo Bore 200 grain wadcutters that are designed for Bulldogs. The Bulldog is not built for lots of heavy loads, and the BB wadcutters generate an adequate amount of recoil as it is. It won't expand, but that's OK since it will cut a sharp edged 44 caliber hole and I'll gladly trade expansion for penetration given the amount of meplat area.
ANTI-PERSONNEL 44 Special Pistol and Handgun Ammo (buffalobore.com)

 

[hdbiker]

Prolly my shoulder holstered Black Hawk .357 . I've had it for decades and shoot it well

 

[LimaCharlie]

Most often it is the four-inch S&W 29-2 44 magnum for concealed carry in the woods. The other 44 magnums are for open carry in the woods.

 

[teerex.otw]

Old school here in the southeast, most dangerous thing we have is snakes (also bees & hornets, but a revolver won’t help much there !)
Ruger Speed Six, 2-3/4” loaded with 2-snake shot, 2-38sp swc, 2-125 jhp/ Blue Dot + 6 more in speed loader…have only had to use it once while woods-walking (cottonmouth), but still carry…bettter to have & not need than the other way around.

 

[Ugly Sauce]

It won't expand, but that's OK since it will cut a sharp edged 44 caliber hole and I'll gladly trade expansion for penetration given the amount of meplat area.

Oh yeah, in a .44 caliber or bigger I don't give a hoot, or a "plugged" nickel (whatever a plugged nickel is) about expansion. Don't need or want any stinking expansion. I also carry the Bulldog sometimes when in the asphalt wilderness, mostly if just going to the nearest small town, if I hit the "big" city then I'll take something "bigger". But anyway, for urban carry it's full wad-cutters. For hiking, woods and wilderness I think the 220 grain cast round-nose will do anything I'd expect a .44spl to do.

 

[Ugly Sauce]

View attachment 1134695 View attachment 1134696 View attachment 1134698

You got EL Patrons?? Can't beat an EL Patron! I love my EL Patron. Or at least the handle checkering seems to indicate an EL Patron. ?

 

[Rodfac]

Wandering aimlessly in the wilderness is one of my greatest interests. Tend to wander aimlessly on my motorcycles too. Different strokes for different folks! And that's a good thing.

Yep, very worthwhile pursuits...mine as well....

I've never done any hiking. I always called it walking in the woods. And I don't do that anymore, but when I did I almost always carred a 22 pistol of some kind. High Standard Sentinel, Smith and Wesson Model 18, Ruger Single-Six or Bearcat, or a Ruger Standard automatic. Just depended on which I felt like carrying that day.

Yep, and done this as well, and until the back country pot growers became more prolific, I never felt under-gunned. Here 'bouts, in our neck of the woods, I still don't. Good sentiments in your post Cajun and Ugly Sauce. Best Regards, Rod

 

[Obturation]

I like to bring enough gun. If I won't have a rifle or shotgun I'll bring a big revolver.


If I have a long gun with me, I'll usually carry a g20.

I like a 360 grain wfn gc bullet over a full case of h110 , not much you can't do with that load.