California Woods Pistol

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FiveFeezy

New member
I'm looking for a sidearm to carry while camping and hiking in California. The general purpose would be protection from bear, big cats, and two-legged drug manufacturers/farmers.

Ideally, I would like a 4" GP100, since my only other pistols are a Glock 17 & 30. But the laws of California make an autoloader more feasible. Concealed carry is not an option, and I would only be able to carry open and loaded while hunting, fishing, or staying in my campsite. Therefore I would have to open carry unloaded much of the time. This makes an autoloader more ideal so that I would just be able to throw a magizine in if the need arose.

I know that 10mm would be a good choice of caliber, but I already have two Glocks and would like some variety. What do you all suggest?
 
im in the same boat

I also live in CA and needed a woods pistol for the same reasons.

I started with a Glock 20 (10mm) with HOT HOT HOT rounds sold by doubletap.com. Then I felt it wasnt enough and moved to a Ruger Redhawk 4" 44mag. I figured I cant shoot it all that well and it is almost DOUBLE the weight of the G20, and I'll never get the amount of practice i'll need to feel "comfortable" to use it efficiently, so i ended up going back to the G20 and am very pleased with it. I took shots at dead coyotes and deer to "test" the potential. Lets just say that they were "blown away" at the results.

remember mountain lions are thinned skinned and pretty much the only critter you'll have to worry about next to a black bear. But since there is a hunting season for those in CA, they are much much more timid. However mountain lions will readily stalk you. super eerie!

Shoot to kill and shoot to survive. be sure you can draw and fire at least 3 AIMED shots under 2 seconds, otherwise you're "woods" gun might as well be better replaced with bear spray.

Dont be overconfident just because you have a gun.
 
For your needs, the Ruger .357 4” should be an excellent open carry weapon, I believe that Double Tap and Buffalo Bore both offer heavy and hot ammo for the .357. If your reading of California law correctly, you may have a loaded weapon, not concealed, when you are fishing, hunting, or when you are in your camp. So why not buy an inexpensive take down fishing pole and strap it to your daypack when you hike. If you happen to be stopped, which would surprise me, you can tell the officer that you are hiking to a fishing spot.
 
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I would hate to have to try and explain where I was headed to fish or for what if I really wasn't intending to fish. I'm not a good story-teller, especially on the fly.

How much slower would it be to draw and load a revolver with a speed loader compared to drawing, loading, and racking the slide of an auto?
 
I carry a ruger .45colt blackhawk in a shoulder holster and a gp100 on my hip. both loaded and under a dickies work shirt:D
 
Don't y'all have grizzlies in California?:eek:

I'm not sure any handgun would help you against one of those.

In West Virginia, the number of predators is growing. I've heard/seen on TV that California is worse.

I roamed the woods unarmed all the time when I was young, but we're getting a lot of black bear and even cougars are cropping up. I used to make fun of guys carrying big guns in the woods, but I quit doing that.

Next time I'm in the woods, I'm going to carry either a full loaded 10mm or a Ruger GP100 .357 magnum with my pet load of a 187 gr. LSWC w/gas checks and a enough 2400 for a FPS of 1,300 FPS. A .44 or .41 would be better, but my N-frames are too bulky for me to carry (Ruger Blackhawks?)

I've shot that .357 load quite a bit, and it's accurate as hell at 50 yards.
 
Don't y'all have grizzlies in California?
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They were wiped out many, many years ago, the most dangerous critter now is the pot farmer and meth lab owner, especially up in Humboldt County and the Trinity Forest
 
I have nice Taurus titanium Tracker in 357 that holds seven rounds and is nice and light...don't have to worry about rust either.
 
Check your hunting regs.

Here several species are open year 'round (english sparrows, red squirrles,.etc). If such a case exists you might be able to carry your pistol open and loaded as long as you are licenced to hunt.
 
Willis, I can't find any wording in the laws that says we can carry loaded while in the woods.

Treg, the only animal that I can find that has a year round open season is pig, and there aren't any pigs in the areas that I frequent.

Are there any good 10mm pistols that aren't a Glock? I heard that the 1911 conversions can't stand the heat.
 
hmmmmm I hunt coyote with a S&W 686. Season is all year. When I am out hiking in search of Coyote I carry the revolver loaded and my hunting license and Coyote call. I would think the GP100 might be useful for Coyote hunting in California also. I do not know too many hunters who carry an unloaded gun while out hunting, do you ?
 
How can this be?

Do you mean to tell me that it's illegal to back-pack in the National Forests in California with a loaded revolver openly holstered in plain view? Since when? I've packed into wilderness areas in California with a revolver several times and the Rangers said nothing about it. I'm not saying you are wrong. But I am challenging you on this because I want to know for sure and am apprehensive that things may have changed since my last trip down there.
 
Rather than a GP 100 I think the SP 101 with a 3" barrel merits consideration. It's capable of handling the heavy hard cast loadings (albeit not pleasant to shoot a lot of those.) The GP gets a bit heavy to lug around while hiking and the SP offers much the same capability (less 1 round capacity) while being waaay easier to carry around.

For a semi auto, the Glock 29 fills much the same role, is very light and is perhaps under-appreciated as a woods carry gun.
 
Today, 02:14 AM #16
Pathfinder45
Senior Member


Join Date: January 6, 2008
Posts: 552 How can this be?

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Do you mean to tell me that it's illegal to back-pack in the National Forests in California with a loaded revolver openly holstered in plain view? Since when? I've packed into wilderness areas in California with a revolver several times and the Rangers said nothing about it. I'm not saying you are wrong. But I am challenging you on this because I want to know for sure and am apprehensive that things may have changed since my last trip down there
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Only a couple of counties in California (less than 200,000 residents as I recall) allow open carry. Those counties might be over the 200,000 population now, as that information I recall from years ago (Penal Code 12050), and then a licenses is still needed.

So no, the open carry of a loaded firearm in public is not legal in California, unless you are hunting, fishing, or in a camp site.


12050. (a) (1) (A) The sheriff of a county, upon proof that the
person applying is of good moral character, that good cause exists
for the issuance, and that the person applying satisfies any one of
the conditions specified in subparagraph (D) and has completed a
course of training as described in subparagraph (E), may issue to
that person a license to carry a pistol, revolver, or other firearm
capable of being concealed upon the person in either one of the
following formats:
(i) A license to carry concealed a pistol, revolver, or other
firearm capable of being concealed upon the person.
(ii) Where the population of the county is less than 200,000
persons according to the most recent federal decennial census, a
license to carry loaded and exposed in only that county a pistol,
revolver, or other firearm capable of being concealed upon the
person.
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It is illegal to carry a loaded firearm on one’s person or in a vehicle while in any
public place, on any public street, or in any place where it is unlawful to discharge
a firearm [PC section 12031 (a)].
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In order to determine whether a firearm is loaded, peace officers are authorized
to examine any firearm carried by anyone on his or her person or in a vehicle
while in any public place, on any public street or in any prohibited area of an
unincorporated territory. Refusal to allow a peace officer to inspect a firearm
pursuant to these provisions is, in itself, grounds for arrest [PC section 12031 (e)].
Click to expand...

The prohibition from carrying a loaded firearm in public does not apply to any
person while hunting in an area where possession and hunting is otherwise
lawful or while practice shooting at target ranges [PC section12031 (b), (i)].
Click to expand...

So I'm thinking if you do not have a license and carry in a loaded firearm in California, even in National Forrests, or Parks), you have been lucky not to have been confronted by a ranger. You might get away with it for years, but I do not think that makes it legal. You can do it, just be prepared to pay the piper if confronted by a ranger.

Generally speaking one cannot discharge a firearm within xxx yards of a road, trail, camp ground etc. As I recall xxx is 100 yards most places, but as I recall the Yuba River Campground xxx was 500 yards.

So I'm thinking since it is illegal to discharge a firearm from a trail, it is also thus illegal to carry a loaded firearm on a trail. Will a ranger stop to check you ? Beats me, but one certainly can.
 
First of all, check with the forestry division about shooting in national forests. I think you'll find that shooting is permitted and thus it wipes out the prohibition of 12031.

Openly carrying a loaded handgun in the national forest lands is generally legal. Note that BLM areas may have different rules so check with them (it's also generally legal-their website has maps).

And the reason "forest" is italicized above is there is a huge difference between national forest and national parks. Parks (state and fed) generally don't allow guns, though recent changes in the law suggest some federal parks might. Know the laws, do the research.

Addendum: A note about obtaining a hunting license so you can carry. Be sure you know if the area you will be visiting is within the "condor range" where hunting with lead ammuntion is supposed to be a big no-no.

Since mountain lions inhabit most of the wooded areas of California carrying a firearm for protection is not unwarranted in places where it is legal. And in certain areas of NorCal, the indigenious Cultivatus Cannibas is a larger threat, especially in Humbolt county -- they're known to shoot first.

If carrying for your own protection and not hunting, the lead ammo ban doesn't seem to apply as I read the law. But any kind of hunting license restricts your ammo choices.
 
Can't add much to the CA carry debate. In Iowa it is illegal to open carry a gun and knives over certain lengths ANYWHERE unless you are hunting. Concelaed carry by "may issue" permit only. When hikeing or canoeing I always have a hunting lisences with me and if ever stopped I'd tell em I'm hunting coyotes which are open season. Might even be able to get by without the hunting lisences if I tell em I'm hunting Starlings, don't think you even need a lisences for them but I'm not gonna push my luck.

As for choice of gun.........don't put too much thought into it. Pretty much any full size gun in a carry caliber will do just fine unless big agresive bears are around. Auto vs. revolver, makes little difference IMO. But I do think semi's are easier to clean up in the field if they take a water or mud bath.

LK
 
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