"Trail Gun"

[fxstchewy]

What is your idea of a "Trail Gun" revolver or semi? 22lr or 44mag? does it depend on where you are? I am looking into a SP101 in 22lr or the LCR in 22lr, mainly just because of the "plinking" factor, but probably carry something "bigger" JIC..........

 

[MCgunner]

Nothing n Texas except cats, big cats, or feral dogs. I have pepper gas for Fideaux. Lions ain't hard to kill or deter if you see 'em coming, but I never hear of attacks outside Big Bend basin this winter. There are cats all around south and west Texas, but they don't worry me.

SO, my general outdoor gun, the one I carry "on the trail", actually, I'm usually "in the boat", is a .22. I carry it in a pocket concealed or can belt carry. My favorite to carry if I don't have to pocket the gun is a Rossi M511 Sportsman .22 revolver. Stainless, has been fired more'n I can count, would have to use scientific notation, likely. It's 1" at 25 yards accurate and I shoot it VERY well off hand. It has brought home the bunnies for me, shot snakes, great trail gun.

I had been using a Phoenix Arms HP22 for a pocket carry, but it's been problematic wearing out parts and such. I don't even shoot it that much, but it's accurate as all get out, 3" at 25 yards accurate, and pocketable. However, I've replaced it (still have it, just don't pay it any mind anymore) with a new Ruger SR22. The Ruger puts Federal bulk into 2" at 25 yards off the bench. It's lighter than the HP22, also, though a little larger. I've not carried it afield, yet, got about 1400 range rounds through it so far.

If I'm in Big Bend, I conceal a 4" 357 magnum in a fanny pack. I worry about the coyotes and mules out there, the two legged ones, and want something with some range that I can conceal and be legal with. I ain't worried about the wildlife. Usually a 3" .38 J frame type gun, actually a Rossi, in New Mexico as I don't think it takes a .357 to be safe up there, just want something just in case. The Rossi is light and easy to carry and 2" at 25 yards accurate.

 

[jmr40]

Depends on the situation. If there is a possibility of a bear encounter I carry my Glock 20 in 10mm loaded hot. If no bear in the area it is either a G-19 or G-26 depending on my mood and how I'm dressed just as I would anywhere else.

I don't have a small 22, but the Ruger SR-22 looks appealing and could be an option for me at some time.

 

[riddleofsteel]

Mostly I carry whatever I am packing for CCW during the same time period. Despite all my good intentions of collecting trail meat ect. I usually find that I never fire my trail gun unless something is trying to make a meal of me. Here in NC most of your problems come on two legs so my G23 does fine. I would not think twice about using it even if the predator happens to be a hungry black bear.
Now if it's deer season and I think I may get a chance at a fat deer with my handgun I will be packing a 4 5/8" .45 Colt Blackhawk but that......is another story.

 

[VA27]

I picked the SP101 4" in 357. I can reload wadcutters for cheap plinking or stoke it with Federal 180gr. CastCore for hog medicine.

 

[psyopspec]

For me it depends on the locale.

In southern AZ, as MCGunner said, it wascoyotes and mules I mostly wanted to steer clear of, and a lot of the terrain I was exploring on was mountainous with vegetation. That meant it was possible to come around a switchback and run into a group of folks you didn't know were there. Fortunately, that never happened to me. If it did, the first course of action would have been back out, or to keep walking. I made it a point to never wear any of my military gear or look like someone who would care about illegals if I ran into them on the trail. At that place and time, I carried a Beretta 92FS. Whenever possible, it wasn't just my gun on the trail, but also those of my friends that were with me.

In CO there wasn't really trafficking to worry about, but there were goats, elk, black bear, and snakes (depending on the elevation), and I always keep an eye out for the two legged crazies. On hikes there, I carried a J-Frame Smith. If I'd had unlimited funds, I'd have also considered a larger revolver or a Glock 20. If I was in an area where a run-in with Jake was likely, the first chamber was loaded with snake shot. Otherwise it was always FMJ .357 magnum, with the goal being penetration for surprise run-ins with wildlife. Fortunately all the encounters there were at just the distances I wanted to be, so I never needed it. I never did see an elk, but did come upon a glen where the trees had been rubbed raw and 1 antler had been shed on the grass. Seeing the size of the half-rack and the area size damaged on the trees gave me the willies.

For now I'm in ND visiting family and friends. Since there isn't much in the way of predators to worry about (4/2/no-legged), a trail gun here is mostly for opportunities at small game. A .22LR works nicely, your choice whether it's a long gun or hand gun. I still prefer to keep my EDC with me and don't mind the extra weight, so a bolt action .22 is fine by me.

 

[MrDig]

Right now it's a tough choice between a Hi-Power and a Model 10. I have a GP100 too but it's a six in barrel and a little difficult to draw, I should practice more with it.

 

[Dr.Rob]

Trail gun: .357 snubby. Discrete, powerful and not a lot of weight.

I'm far more concerned about people than wildlife in a remote place. But if I am hunting instead of just hiking? 44 mag Vaquero is my'back up rifle/sidearm/signalling device/coup de grace deliverer. I usually take it 'truck camping' in bear country too.

 

[ColtPythonElite]

For just bumming around in the woods, 9 times out of 10 I carry a SP101 in .357. I feel well armed for anything that crawls, flys, swims, or walks in the parts where I live. As far as snubs go, I find SP's to be one of the most accurate on the market today. Head shots on 25 yard silhouette targets are normal fare with the right ammo and right man behind the gun.

 

[Texan Scott]

Honestly, here i worrymore about snakes than lions, tigers, and bear (oh my!)... and of course tweeks. a small-frame .38 with a single round of #9 first on the playlist is about enough to calm my nerves.

 

[jeepnik]

Too many to post photos of but a few are,
S&W pre war revolvers - multiple calibers
H&R 999
Ruger Single Actions - multiple calibers
Ruger Mark I's
Colt revolvers - multiple calibers
Dan Wesson revolvers - multiple calibers

Get the idea, it all depends on what strikes my fancy on any given day.

 

[Brian Williams]

For me this is it: S&W 65 round butt with a 4" mod 64 barrel installed, target trigger and hammer, moonclipped, now wears Hogue Bantams.

normally loaded with 180gr LRNFPGC over 15gr of Lil'gun

 

[Brian Williams]

But any one of these will do

 

[brnmuenchow]

IMO, anything bigger than a .357 Mag. here in Texas would be overkill. So I would have to say it depends on where you are at. If I were in Big Bear country a .44 Mag. is what I would be carrying. A .22lr is great for catching squirrles in the wilderness, but not much on defense.

 

[Viper225]

I am with Texas Scott. In the Summer "Snake Season" I tend to carry a 38/357 more with shotshells for snakes. In the colder weather when snakes are no longer a problem, I will carry a 22 about as much as anything.

For the 22: I mostly carry revolvers, but that is a personal preference thing. Any old accurate 22 handgun is a fun plinker. I have an LCR-22, a S&W 617 with 4" barrel, and then we have the Ruger MK III. I like to carry spare 22 ammo in either a Skoal can, or one of the small money bags from the bank, that is pocket size.

Now for the 38/357: This is all over the place, and subject to change. Sometimes I will carry my concealed carry gun of the moment. In 38/357 that would be my LCR-357, My 442 Pro Moonclip, or my 2-1/2" 66. I have Lobo Pancakes for each of them. Now if I am going to do something where retention is an issue I will switch over to my 4" S&W 64. The reason is that I have a couple Thumb Break holsters for it. Less chance of losing the gun, or getting it scuffed up falling out of the holster. Then we have good shotshells for snakes being my main reason for carrying a 38/357. I load my own using the Speer Capsule's. Spare solids & Shot shells are carried in Speed Strips to top off.

A 38/357 is pretty hard to beat for all round carry. When you might get in some fun plinking a 22 is at the top of the list. The 22 can also double for snakes if you are a good shot. I am not real impressed with 22 shot shells however. With all that said I guess either a 22 or 38/357 would work most of the time.

Bob

 

[DNS]

I use an old beat up Heritage 22lr with 6.5" barrel. Shoots great and is very accurate.

 

[Snag]

I use a Ruger Blackhawk in 45 Colt loaded kinda hot. Bears are a concern, their pretty brave close to civilization but not so much way back in the mountains.

 

[geoff40]

I used to carry a .22 as a trail gun, and there are times I still do. But more and more, as time has passed, I have realized what the chances are of being attacked by certain creatures, and have now put a .357 as another choice, which I carry often enough.
I live in black bear turf, and see them on a regular basis, once or twice a week. Big bear. They run away, and I don't fear them. Since records started being kept in the 1890s, something like 45 people have been killed by black bears in North America, so while realizing it can happen, you also have to realize having it happen to you would be beating the same kind of odds as winning a lottery jackpot. 45 people in 115-20 years, and how many black bear encounters have happened in north America in this time span?
It's nothing at all like Grizzly country.

For me, things like rabies, and coyotes, fox, 'coons, etc, present the real threat out there (not including 2 legged problems.) This is far more commonplace. I don't want to have to try and kill a rabid animal with a .22LR, I want a reasonable chance of a 1 shot kill. The 357 is a perfect caliber for New England. With the right loads, it'll even kill a big bear easily enough, should I win that lottery someday.
Moose can be a problem occasionally, and a 357 is capable of killing a moose. A young gal was killed by 2 healthy coyotes 3 summers ago in Nova Scotia. Coyote attacks are going to increase in the coming years

 

[shinyroks]

Hiking high country in Colorado I usually do with a 4" S&W 66. It is not too heavy, and allows for just enough power to take down the blackies with factory ammo, if need be. I don't worry about conceal up there, but I feel it is just small enough to fit under the pack waistband under a shirt if need be. And usually, if you see a cat that means you already survived, or you are drawing from underneath it. So if worried about cats, open carry in an accessible place seems prudent.

For the OP question, you may look into the revolvers which can chamber more than one ctg, ie 38/357 or 32/327.

 

[easyg]

My trail gun is the same as my every day concealed carry: the Ruger SR9c.

In my part of NC (the Charlotte area) the only real concerns are hornets and yellow jackets, copperheads and rattlesnakes, the occasional loose dog, and dangerous people.

 

[scaatylobo]

G-23 & .22 lr

I usually carry a Glock 23 [ .40 S&W caliber ] and a ultra light .22 rimfire.

the Pac-Lite /Ruger as well as the S&W 317 are the 2 I go to often.

The Glock will take care of most predators,2 or 4 legged.

And the .22 is for game and fun.

I also have a .22 upper for the G-23 that allows me to shoot it w/ .22's and very accurate.

In bear country I carry a 4 3/4" barreled Ruger super bhk with a custom lower,in chest harness by El Paso.

Have also worn the same type of harness for a S&W 386 [ 7 shot .357 scandium ].

 

[Lawdawg45]

My trail gun is always a SA .45 Colt loaded with Corbon or Buffalo Bore JHP's and a minimum of 2 reloads in speed strips. My Henry lever gun is always in the truck.

LD

 

[snakeman]

Ruger single six stoked with 22 mag gold dot or critical defense. this works well for everything from knocking over bobcats to snapping rattlers heads off.

 

[mdauben]

Personally, I really like the idea of a small .22 revolver as a trail gun. Something like a S&W 317, a Ruger Single-Six, or a Taurs UL Model 94. I see these as primarily fun guns, for plinking and maybe a bit of small game hunting in season.

On the other hand, I can understand the people who want to carry their CCW gun when in the woods, too. Unfortunatly, the bad guys are not limited to the rough part of town anymore and you can run into trouble anywhere. In this case a compace 9mm or .40S&W makes a lot of sense.

As sort of a compromise between the two ideas, I think a snub nosed .357 probably makes a lot of sense. Regular .38 ammo isn't too expense for some plinking, or too destructive for some small game hunting, but loaded with .38 +P or full .357 ammo its a more than adequate SD gun.

 

[BP Hunter]

My forever companion when I hunt or when in the moutains is my XD40 in a kydex OWB holster with a spare magazine.