What do you carry when you actually hike?

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michaelmcgo said:
Serious? How far do you hike with 6 mags? Have you ever needed to use your gun while hiking and if so did you find yourself lacking with what you had at the time? I'm not mocking you, just wondering what you're preparing for and if you've ever hiked far enough to appriciate shedding a few pounds of pack weight...
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Typical hike entails having G20 with fifteen round magazine inserted. Spare magazine isn't
needed at all.
 
My wife and I hiked 40 miles with me carrying my 4" model 19. Never really saw animals as much of an issue compared to other creatures. I promised myself that if we do anything that far again it will be with a much lighter handgun. I'm planning on scandium for next time.
 
Day hikes only now (both hips replaced...w/ one replacement about to be re-replaced :mad:/both knees replaced...all 4 w/in past 2 years/old screws in ankles :what:, in/around Glacier/Yellowstone/Teton several weeks each late spring/summer w/ a G29+spare mag/DT 200WFNGC in nylon gun bag :D
 
The hiking I do is when I am at my place in north Idaho. There I carry an old Ruger Flattop 44 Mag cut to 4 5/8" and loaded with 280 gr WFN's at 1100 fps under 4227. It's carried in one of Rob Leahy's sourdough's. Easy to carry, accurate and plenty of thump too. While we do have grizzly in the area and blacks in the yard moose are what folks seem to have trouble with when there is the remote case of "trouble".
 
Hiking......S&W 317 AirLite .22 with an extra eight rounds. Eleven ounces loaded.
Pete
 
East Coast hiking/woods walking it's usually a .357 Magnum S&W 686 4" stainless with 180-gr. hardcast loads in a kydex belt holster.
 
Backpack carry

Here in N. California we have Mountain Lions and Black Bears as well as pot farms. Most backpacking is done at higher elevations so the farms aren't a problem. It seems that most serious backpackers don't carry a gun. I've done weekend hikes, I carry my SP101 and even that is heavy, considering a .38 LCR or subcompact 9mm. The biggest threat I've faced so far was an agressive Yellow Bellied Marmot. I fended him off with my fishing pole.
I like to bring a gun for overnight whitewater kayaking trips also and a lighter gun would be nice.
 
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I carry my Witness Elite Match in 10mm with Underwood 200 grain FMJs or XTPs, depending on what I have.
 
Mine has always varied over the years, but like CB900F said above, I've generally gone with an odds play, or just took whatever weighed the least. In Colorado I took a light weight .357. In AZ, AR, and the Dakotas, whatever full size 9mm I had for CCW at at the time. Weight was never a huge issue in any of those cases, but I do remember thinking that the S&W 340SC carried very nicely on the trail. I'll be going back to AZ again this month to visit some relations and hopefully hit up a trail or two. It'll probably be the Glock 19 that tags along.

Eventually I'll get a G20 and turn it into a dedicated HD and woods gun.
 
I've backpacked and hunted in Colorado since 1976. I used to carry a Blackhawk in .41 but traded it in for a model 19 S&W. Then traded that for my current carry: a Ruger Bearcat. I've surprised (the sentiment was mutual) two bear and a cougar in that time but none of them stayed around long enough for me to get a gun out of it's holster. The Bearcat is for grouse or snowshoes and anything that goes bump in the night.
 
Mostly G29 w/ G20 mag that has a sleeve. Depending on time of year and threat level (aka grizzly infestation) I do sometimes go with a 629PC 3".

I also like to have a 22LR as I find myself using it more while hiking than either of the other canons. Snub nosed 9 shot revolver is quite handy.
 
S&W mod 10 3" or S&W 651 .38 Spec or .22 WMR depends on where I am going and for how long but the 651 in .22 WMR usually wins.
 
Hiking with the 10mm

I hike extensively , i am now carrying a glock 20 with UNDERWOOD 165gr about 786lbs at muzzle, i initially could not get the glock to put 5 in nice group at 15 yards, i have changed the recoil rod to a brass stacker with 22lb recoil springs, it made the pistol before i shot in feel a 100% more comfortable and solid, i cannot recommend the 22lb spring unless you are shooting ammo with a attitude, upon shooting the glock with the improved recoil, i was able to but five in a 1.5 in at 15yds and very close to that at twenty five, the control is much improved and its becoming the natural shooter, i desire to carry,just a thought my friends that venture in bear country,wolfbane
 
I spend a lot of time doing overnight and long distance hiking/camping - often by myself, and the best for me so far has been a four inch stainless Ruger SP101 in .357. I keep a shotshell in the first chamber, and full power loads in the rest.

To get around the pack and hipbelt issues, I carry in a thigh holster.
 
I'm fortunate to live in Arkansas -- we have a great hiking trail here, the Ozark Highlands Trail, and hunting is allowed along that trail. I usually carry my Colt Woodsman (first model, made in 1938.)
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Mr. Humphrey, what a elegant carry piece.

I am fortunate like the esteemed Mr. Humphrey to live, while not in, very close to Arkansas and as such have access to an enormous number of wonderful hiking and backpacking trails. Additionally, my son is an in organization that encourages hiking and back packing.

In my humble opinion, in this region, with quite limited experience, I worry far more about two legged predators that I do the four legged variety. I have never done anything as ambitious as the Appalachian trail, but have done some week long trips.

If we are talking a hike, wight is not an issue and I don't mind carrying a 1911, a full size 357, or even my a take down rifle and a snub nose. For longer back packing trips, as has been previously mentioned, weight can become a real issue. I am not a fan of taking a semi auto pistol with a single magazine as certain types of malfunctions require a magazine change. I find myself more and more carrying a compact Ruger with a single speed loader to back me up. I have carried my S&W Chief Special 45 with a spare magazine on occasion, although I really like the idea of a Scandium S&W 44.

Great pics earlier guys and a great thread.
 
On long hikes (2+ days) where bear might be an issue, I carry a 12ga with a pistol grip loaded with slugs in a part of my bag that would not be easily seen by a casual observer on the trail. Otherwise I carry one of my .45ACP pistols for other worrisome critters.
 
Hiking gun

I think it's apparent that most people here have never been on backpacking trip of more than a few miles, otherwise you wouldn't be suggesting such heavy hardware. I took my 4" model 19 on a couple 10 mile hikes. It can be done but it is far less than ideal. Most experienced backpackers carry a very light load and would consider the weight of even the lightest firearm as exessive and unneccessary. I do like the comfort of a warm gun at night but for the O.P's stated purpose it has got to be as light as possible. a Sub-compact pistol or small, light weight revolver is in order unless you are in big bear country.
 
Black bears here are very rare and small. Worst threats are coyotes and humans. So I carry what I shoot the most accurately: fullsize 1911 in .45acp with nightsights
 
When I lived in NorCal, I usually carried a Colt SAA in .357 Mag. Packed it all over Humboldt and Trinity counties, never actually had to use it for serious work. Came close a few times, but I was lucky.

Nowadays I generally pack a Ruger Super Blackhawk in .44 Mag. After I moved back to Montana I retired the SAA to range duty and picked up a King Cobra and the SBH, always have one or the other on me when I'm out and about in the hills.
 
never actually had to use it for serious work. Came close a few times, but I was lucky.
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If you follow this thread.. and others there is a very common theme. Probably true of those of us who carry all the time, not just in backpacking, camping, hiking, but in life.

A lot of us have carried for a lot of years, but have not ever used their weapon. Truth be told I still prefer to be in the have it and not need it crowd. :)
 
I've taken a glock 17, Buckmark, and a Blackhawk in .357. It just depends on what's in season and if its raining or not. Never carry more than a mag for the glock or a couple extra .38s or .22s for squirrels. There are some feral hogs in the ozarks and I've always wanted a nice roast if I happened upon one.

HB
 
Kayaker 1960 said:
I think it's apparent that most people here have never been on backpacking trip of more than a few miles, otherwise you wouldn't be suggesting such heavy hardware. I took my 4" model 19 on a couple 10 mile hikes. It can be done but it is far less than ideal. Most experienced backpackers carry a very light load and would consider the weight of even the lightest firearm as exessive and unneccessary. I do like the comfort of a warm gun at night but for the O.P's stated purpose it has got to be as light as possible. a Sub-compact pistol or small, light weight revolver is in order unless you are in big bear country.
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As always, everything is personal preference - what one person prefers will not necessarily be what another enjoys.

Whether it's a five mile hike or Maine's Hundred Mile Wilderness, carry what is best for you - no more and no less.

And if someone thinks you're carrying too much? Well, that's their opinion.
 
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