Camping gun

T

toppermost

New member
So. I want a good all-rounder for camping and hiking in out of the way places - in the lower 48. This would not be an EDC or home defense weapon. It will be strapped to my waist when hiking and next to me while in camp.

My first instincts was a medium frame 6-7 shot .357 revolver. But after some research I am leaning toward a Glock 31 (the full-size .357 sig). It seems to hit all of my buttons - simplicity, weight, capacity, price, and of course the ever debated, vaguely defined "firepower."

Any thoughts? Should I get something else - if so - convince me.
 
My choice would be different- a Blackhawk in .44 special. Not too heavy, and I could load it with shot shells for snake country. But if the Glock suits you, go for it!
 
If you want a Glock for a camping gun then get a Glock 20. I carry a 6" GP100 in .357 Mag for the purpose of a camping/hiking gun, but a 10mm is very comparable. I would not trust a .357 Sig vs a black bear. Whatever you get, check out Buffalo Bore's hard cast loads in that caliber.

10mm 220 grain hard cast chrono'd at 1140 fps out of a Glock 20

357 Mag 180 grain hard cast at roughly 1400 fps

357 Sig 125 grain FMJ at 1425 fps, don't even make a hard cast load

DoubleTap claims to get 1050 fps out of a 180 grain 357 Sig hard cast load. If that is accurate you are giving up 350 fps compared to the 357 Mag load by Buffalo Bore. I trust Buffalo Bore's stated velocities more anyway based on tests I've seen. The 357 Sig was designed to duplicate the 357 Mag in the 125 grain self defense rounds, but is not capable of pushing the heavy loads at the same velocities.
 
Ruger Blackhawk in 357 magnum with a 4 5/8 barrel. It's rugged, it's powerful, and it's reliable.

The GP100 would be another good choice.
 
My first woods gun was a SIG P220 loaded with +P 230gr FMJ-FP's. It got carried all over, from the UP of Michigan to the White Mountains of NH. Once I picked up my first .357 (a model 28-2) the SIG was put into retirement as woods pistol. The 28-2 was loaded with doubletap 180gr hardcast FP's. The 28 gets carried most often, but my SS .45 colt 5.5" Bisley Blackhawk may be my new woods gun. A 250gr SWC moving at 1000fps will ruin most 2 or 4 legged predators that roam either coast. If was hiking in the Rockies, the Blackhawk would be loaded with a 325 gr. LBT-FN loping along at ~1300fps.

All of the above being said, I say carry what you shoot the best.
 
Would the 15 rounds of 125gr 357 sig mitigate its ballistic shortcomings?

Had not thought about shot-loads. Excellent point. And I had forgotten about the variety of available .357 magnum rounds available compared to .357 sig.
 
Assuming it's partly there for possible bear defense, I'd say one of:
  • Glock 10mm fullsize
  • .357 double action/4-inch like a S&W 686P
  • .44 double action/4-inch like a S&W 629
 
Glock 29 10mm serves me well. It is light and packs a good amount of firepower. It will cover you well against just about any threat your likely to encounter camping. Depending on your area a full size Glock 20 might do better.
 
Would the 15 rounds of 125gr 357 sig mitigate its ballistic shortcomings?
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Not if it doesn't penetrate adequately. It possibly could depending on the bear, and black bears have been killed by 40's and I'm sure 9mm's on occasion, but a lot of people's minimum is a 10mm or 357 Mag.

The Glock 29 already mentioned is also an option if you want a subcompact, but that is a big load in a small gun. I wish they made a compact 10mm. There are .357 Sig barrels available for both it and the Glock 20 that you can get for roughly $100 if you are wanting a 357 Sig. I'd really consider that option.
 
JohnathanZ the 29 is roughly the same size as a G19/23. It is a 3.8"barrel vs 4". Frame size is nearly identical. I have always considered the 29 a compact and not a sub compact. The G29 and G30 I consider compacts.
 
If you are not going to a 10m or magnum revolver I would go with a 40 S&W. It is in the same league with a 38/40 which was a good round. For Bear I would want a heavy bullet that will penetrate, a 125 grain 357 sig is not that bullet. I have known people that have killed bear with 22s, one of them spent time in a hospital recovering after being mauled by the bear. :D
 
I knew the 10mm's and 45 ACP's were a little bigger and wider, but I didn't know the exact specs. I see the G29 is almost as long as the G23, but it's still closer in height to the G27 and it only has 2 finger grooves. I know you can get extensions, and I'm guessing the +2 extensions. That would give you 11+1 of 10mm, which would make for a good woods gun. For car camping I'd be more inclined to go with the Glock 20 and for more hiking or backpacking I'd probably lean towards the Glock 29.
 
You can get the grip sleeves and the 29 becomes a 15+1 10mm with Glock 20 mags. I just see the 29 as alittle more versatile. Glock 20 will serve more then fine.
 
Interesting. Ideas. I am a Glock 23 guy otherwise and I had originally thought about a just getting a police trade-in Glock 22 to throw into my camping gear, but then I guess I was seduced by the 357sig myths floating around the interwebs.

Would a 5" .40 perform pretty close to 10mm? It would be great to stick to one caliber.
 
I wouldn't trust my life to a 40 S&W when it comes to even a medium sized black bear. It can be done, but it might take a lucky shot. It will still take a good shot with a 10mm, but not a lucky one. The 1/2 inch barrel difference a G22 has over your G23 won't do too much for the velocity, maybe 25 fps. A 6" Glock 24 might give you 100 fps more, but that's still not in 10mm range. Buffalo Bore is the company to check to see what their top loads will do. Their 180 grain bullet for the 40 checks in at 1100 fps out of a 5" barrel. Their 220 grain in 10mm hits 1200 fps out of a 5" barrel. That is over 200 lbs of muzzle energy and a lot of penetration.

You'd be better off carrying the Glock 23 for everything else and carrying bear spray for bears. I actually do that anyway with my 357 Mag. I'd be better off with a 44 Magnum, but I need to learn to shoot a 357 Magnum well first, and the 357 seemed like a better all around gun to me so I went with it. Someday I'd like to get a Ruger Redhawk in 44 Magnum.
 
@Toppermost: Would the 15 rounds of 125gr 357 sig mitigate its ballistic shortcomings?
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Well, it wouldn't be ideal for bear, it's not a bear hunting round, let's put it that way. But, assuming you're shooting from 5 yards and closer, and don't panic and spray them into the ground, the bear is still going to be in deep trouble.

If you empty a 15 round magazine of .357 Sig into a bear at close range, hitting him with 2/3 of shots, he's still going to have 10 holes about 15 inches deep in him (deeper with FMJ) - I can't imagine anything living through that. But he might still live long enough to do you some damage.

Now, companies like Double Tap and Buffalo Bore do make rounds besides the usual 125gr hollow points for the .357 Sig, like these 147gr full metal jacket flat points from Double Tap at over 1250fps:
http://www.doubletapammo.com/php/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=21_32&products_id=264

Not sure how they will feed and cycle, but Double Tap even sells a 180gr flatnose hardcast load at over 1000fps:
http://www.doubletapammo.com/php/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=21_32&products_id=618

These kinds of rounds from Double Tap will be deep penetrating, probably at least twice what the standard 125gr hollowpoints will do. I still think the 10mm is a better choice strictly for anti-bear. But the .357 Sig isn't just going to bounce off him that's for sure.
 
What do you realistically expect from your choice? What level of hiking are you talking about??? Weight does become a factor here if you are talking about some of the more hardcore terrain. Also there is the question of locations....that high cap auto becomes a 10 rounder if you come into Cali. or you become a criminal. A single action revolver isn't necessarily a handicap as you can feed it shot shells (buzztail medicine) and full power whatever in the same cylinder. Also consider the availability of ammo if you need to restock out there; 10mm isn't exactly ammo that you will be likely to find at Billy Bob's General Store.

Black bears???? Seriously, unless you get between mama and her kids you can usually run them off with a shot to the ground. BTDT in the Angeles Forest on more than one occasion over the years and these are bears that have become accustomed to humans. Personally I am more concerned with the Mt. Lions than I am of the average bruin.

Just some things to think about; you may wish to revisit your parameters and ask yourself what the chosen gun needs to do and what are the disqualifiers. If you don't care about weight and size, get a 500 S&W. If you don't want to lug an extra 5 lbs. around on your belt, you might want something a little smaller.
 
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