best hiking, camping, fishing caliber?

When fishing or hiking somewhere close to the semi-rural area where I live I carry a Ruger MKIII .22lr and one extra mag these days. On ventures deeper into the wilderness I choose either my Ruger speed six 2 3/4" .38spl. or the S&W mod. 4006 .40cal. autoloader. I find both equally comfortable to carry, but lean toward the .40 in wet weather because it's stainless.

So, I guess what I'm saying is the best caliber depends on your particular circumstances since valid arguments can be made for many.
 
unless you are on our southern border or Alaska I think a 22lr is all you need. 50bmg up north, and m60 on the southern border should do it!
 
Bears are non-existant where I am so my .45 ACP EDC gun would be it. Will make short work of any coyote or forgotten dog which is the biggest threat.
 
In theory I suppose I could run into a black bear. The neighbors have seen them a few times, but I worry almost them almost as much as I do little green men from Mars.

A 22 of some kind is just fine.

I remember one morning a couple of years ago I was out walking. There had been reports of a bear in the area (there had been reports of an Emu too, but nobody seemed worried about it). One of my neighbors stopped me to tell me to "Be careful...there is a bear on the loose. Oh good. You're packing heat." I had a Ruger Bearcat with me that day.

I almost had to laugh. "A bear on the loose." I wanted to ask "What? You expected it to be on a leash?", but he was sincere, and seemed really concerned about my safety. I thanked him, and told him I'd be careful.

Never have seen a bear.
 
44 magnum unless you're much more skillfully practiced with a good 357 and its rounds. You need to be prepared for anything within the realm of this thread's title.
 
44 magnum unless you're much more skillfully practiced with a good 357 and its rounds. You need to be prepared for anything within the realm of this thread's title.
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That's a very broad statment you made there. The OP included "for the area you frequent" which for many if not most of us it doesn't require even close to the power of a .357 let alone a .44. Look at the number of folk posting here getting by with nothing more than a .22. You'll hear many more reports of problem dogs in most areas than any wild critter and nut-so coyote coming in second. I've run into more sick raccoons and skunks than any other problem critter and those were a "need to put down" not a threat to me. Just about any centerfire made with the exception of maybe the .25acp is more than enough for any of those and a .22lr will do the job a vast, vast, vast majotiry of the time.

2 legged threats? You don't need and don't want a .44 or heavy .357 for them either. Prepared for anything? You'd better bring the m60 and/or .50bmg that igousigloo jokingly brought up or at a minimum a long gun of some flavor.

There's a reason S&W made it's kit gun in .22 and not a .44.

LK
 
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I nearly always carry either a snub 38 or my LC9 in my pocket. If I go someplace and want something else either a larger CCW IWB or trail companoin OWB the pocket gun stays in the pocket. As for caliber of my trail companions they'd include 22lr, 22mag, 7.62X25, 9mm, 38special, 357mag, 10mm, 38-40, 44special, 44mag or 45colt.
 
lkillkenny

You make a good point. I should say that I like to be over prepared, but that doesn't take away from what you were saying. I do think a 22 isn't enough unless you are positive of your area at hand; I was more including areas that might be travelled sometime too. Then again, if one is more proficient with their 22 - to say like an expert instead of ok with their 38 - this makes a difference. 357 has always been my firearm of choice, so that might have biased me. all the best

ps- OP did mention the frequent part, but I was going by the title alone for that particular comment. the entire OP should be included as well which I had also been referring to when I answered.
 
If I am out and about I usually have a S&W .357 or .44 on my hip. If I am going to the pond out behind the house (25 yards) then I will often just slide a .22 Model 18 into a holster. We have a few meth labs in the woods around here and if I run into any of the cooks I would like a little more power than my trusty .22.
 
L KillKenny beat me to it. But I have to go along with the 32 mag for my area. The hard part would be picking the new 631 with a 4" barrel or a Ruger single six. The most dangerous thing around here are rattlesnakes. And I have stepped on one. The only thing Killkenny needs to add are some shot loads for the 32 mag. I made a box of 50 and my buddy has killed 47 snakes with them. He lives in Weatherford Tx.

A second choice would be a model 36-6 with a 3" barrel and adjustable sights. This is becoming my favorite handgun to shoot. I just don't get enough time to go woods walking anymore.
 
I carry a S&W 25-5 in .45 Colt anytime I go in the woods. It's my hunting sidearm, trail gun, plinker (although that can get expensive). I like the way it shoots and can load anything from snake shot to light target loads to 300gr hard cast lead in it. I'm not overly concerned about bears even though I've run into more than a couple black bears in the woods (they have all scampered off pretty quickly so far). I don't really carry it for protection so much as for the fact that I enjoy the gun and might like to do a little shooting while I'm out and about. That being said I usually carry fairly heavy loads in the gun and the light target loads in my pockets.

Stu
 
Here in the east when I hike it's a 9mm. Out west G20. Pic from trip to the Yellowstone area a couple of months ago.
 

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Ratshooter, what did you use for the .32 snakeshot? I have never been able to find the shot capsules for the .32.
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What folk generally do is cutout 2 peices of card stock for each cartridge using an empty case. They use one over the powder, then fill with #12 shot and then use a heavy crimp on the second cardstock to hold it in place.

LK
 
I agree with the Glock 20 (10mm) recommendation. I just bought one to take with me when I go to our cabin in the mountains of NC. There are bears in the area & even though I'd rather not shoot one, I would if it was a life or death situation. I used to carry a Taurus Judge, but 45LC just doesn't give me that warm fuzzy feeling that 10mm gives me.
 
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