Backpack Rifle?

Several sites.....

Cheaper than dirt, The Sportsmans Guide, Midway, etc. Just search at their sites and see what pops up.

J
 
Looking in my gun rack I see a couple rifles that would work. Of mine, the Marlin '94c in 357 would be the best. A couple other prospects would be my M1 Carbine and Remington Model 25 in 25-20. Maybe my Savage 24 over under 22/410.

However when I go back packing (or horseback riding since I'm old and lazy), camping, fishing etc. I just stick to my carry revolver. That's my 642 Smith. It works for putting rabbits on the spit to supplement my dinner. Good for snakes and other critters I encounter. Even mountain lions. If those kitty's are close enough to eat me, they are close enough I can stop them from eating me with my 642. Its lighter then any rifle I have and I shoot it enough to be confident in my abilities.

Another advantage of the pocket pistol is its always in my pocket. Its not laid aside while I'm doing camp chores or tending horses. Also its not in the way when I'm standing in a stream fly fishing.

A camp rifle does you no good if its laying on the pack while you're setting up camp or cooking dinner.

I also like my CT laser sights in case I get un-wanted visitors at night.

As a side note, based on my experience, the biggest nuance you're gonna run into while land cruising & such will be skunks. A little 38 revolver will allow you to get them before they are in range to get you. Believe me, no animal ruins a little camping trip like a skunk.
 
Browning BLR, takedown, in 450 Marlin! Light and reliable, and hits like a brick through a plate glass window! See attached photo...
 

Attachments

  • BLR 2 Parts s.jpeg
    BLR 2 Parts s.jpeg
    226.1 KB · Views: 71
My Dad used to say...

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

if you're gonna do something, do it RIGHT...

http://www.nemesisarms.com/products.php

Hey "tobnpr" that is way out of my price range, but awesome rifle! Christmas time is coming so keep me in mind..LOL.
I think I will go with handgun of some sort. It is lighter and handier if needed quickly. Thanks for all your replies.
 
I've been backpacking since I was a teenager (am now 58) East of Big Bend National Park, shall we say on both sides of the Rio Grande River, and the times I have stumbled on to a feral cat, black bear and coyote it was a huge surprise to both of us and there is no way I could have had the time to take anything from, or off, a backpack. My best rifle is a .357 Dan Wesson pistol on my hip that can be drawn instantly. Luckily I have never had to actually shoot as the animals in that area have probably never seen a human being and they scampered off really fast but the first 10 seconds of the encounters were really intense. A rifle would have done me no good in any of these instances.
 
A rifle would have done me no good in any of these instances.
Click to expand...

Things are not so simple in some places like Alaska where black bears can be predatory. There, the rifle can be a camp gun, and when entering dangerous areas ... known areas of thick brush, etc. ... you put the rifle in your hands. Some carry a handgun as well, or other members of your party may carry a handgun.

If a big grizz walks into camp, ANY handgun will feel puny, and almost everyone can shoot a rifle better than a handgun ... and I hunt with hanguns and compete with them. A camp rifle is a great survival tool for animals, and even more dangerous, problem people!

You could say the same for cops, that most of the time you don't have time to get your gun out, but cops carry everyday for the times WHEN YOU DO! And if you do, you better be good ... practice, and then practice some more with your carry rifle!;)
 
Last edited:
If it was me I think I would go with a 12ga.

My next bet would be a pistol.

I love rifles too but that would be my last choice. I think If I was picking a rifle it would be a 357mag , 41mag, 44mag or 45 colt lever action. I would lean toward the 357 because its big enough too hunt deer but still small enough that if you hit a rabbit there will be some usable meat.
 
For a real back pack rifle, I would think in that connotation you are looking at a readily accessible rifle ready to use in a moments notice. What good is something packed away inside of the pack when you need it NOW. If you look over time, it has been the lever rifle of Marlin, Winchester and others that the cowboys and woodsman have had at their side for over a hundred years.

Most of these are quite rugged and lightweight and pack a punch at the same time. Another aspect is that you can take a .45 LC in rifle and revolver so one ammo type works in both. Likewise, .44 magnum and .357 lever rifles is another way to approach this issue.

For myself, I will soon get a Winchester .44 magnum rifle to go with my Ruger SRH and I will use the rifle as a camp gun and since it is so light, carry both when in the woods. I am one of those folks that shoots a rifle a hundred times better than a hand gun any day, but the Ruger SRH offers another powerful platform capable of taking even the large brown bears if needed. Once again, it is not the BEST for that job, but it has the power to do so nevertheless.

So, my personal choice is the .44 magnum rifle and revolver combination, and oh, by the way, I always carry my little SP101 .357 in pocket carry as may EDC and as a BUG when in the woods. Maybe a little over kill, but it works for me.
 
for a side arm just about anything will work for a bobcat or coyote, a 380 ACP would be just fine for the task though many would argue that it's marginal for people so it must be a poor woods defense round. a nice 9mm, 38sp, 357 mag, 40cal or 45acp would all be more than potent enough to stop a pistoff bobcat or a deranged coyote
 
Guys, the input has been greatly appreciated and made me really think! Lot's of things to consider, especially if it's a weapon I need in a hurry.
 
pack

For a utility gun...something to carry that will fold up handily and be useful for light hunting....look around for a used Springfield Armory M6 Survival rifle, an all steel .22rf/.410 SG O/U. A very nice tool if you can find one.
Pete
 
If you are worried about protection a 357 revolver on your hip and the KelTec SU16 in your backpack will cover most of the potential problems you would run into in the lower 48, and the SU16 might be overkill even for that unless you wanted to do some actual hunting while hiking.

I had this discussion with a friend of mine, and he is worried about black bear and ended up picking a 44 Mag over 357 Mag. Don't know if that will affect your choice or not, guess it depends on where you are hiking.

Jimro
 
Marlin also makes a youth model 336 called a spikehorn or something like that...it has a 1" shorter butt and a 16" barrel......i have been thinking of getting one for hawg hunting......its 1 lb. lighter than a 20" 336 and has i think a 5+1 capacity of 30-30winchester.....lot of power in a rifle the size of a .22...and i think it would fit nicely in a pack scabbard like Sportsman Guide sells .......my 2 cents
 
I have backpacked for decades, and never felt the need to lug a long arm. My trend over the decades is to lower the weight of my pack load.
I have always carried a handgun, however. Lately, it is a romanian tokarev, a handgun which can reach out to 100yds, is reliable and tough, and was cheap to acquire.
My primary goal is self defense against two legged predators...never had an issue with wildlife in 30yrs of packing.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top