toppermost
New member
One thing I really good at when it comes to marksmanship is... being honest about my marksmanship. I am not even close to confident enough to go into bear country with a single action revolver 
Camping gun
- Thread starter toppermost
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Twodogs10mm
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If bear are in the equation I would go with 44 mag. Ruger redhawk 7.5" barrel. That said I carry my Kimber 10mm 180gr xtp 1350fps when I hike in Oregon. Bear are a possibility here, but they would be black bear and a large one would be 200 lbs very large 400lbs. I feel comfortable with 10 round of 10mm. If I were going in Brown or Grissly country it would be my Redhawk and maybe my kimber for back-up
Glock 10mm, 40 S&W or 357 Sig (fmj for bear defense.) Or the tried and true 357 mag SP101 or J frame 357 mag with three inch barrel. I tend to believe a 40S&W or 357 Sig heavy round in fmj will penetrate enough when the critter is sticking his head into your tent. One guide in Maine wrote about using his 41mag with SP only, no HP rounds. He has seen failure to penetrate with full boat 44mag rounds in JHP.
Willie Sutton
Moderator
Not picking on any one post, but I'll use this as a sample to address:
The .357 Sig semi might be good too if you like it.
Glock... Glock....Glock...
Uhh... sure. If you don't want to have some snakeshot handy, or a few low powered semi wadcutters for taking a rabbit for chow, etc., etc... Bottom line is that semi autos are not the ticket for maximum flexibility.
A Glock as a camp gun? What are people thinking?
A basic S&W Model 10 is about perfect for the woods. Really. I'll take mine in 3 inch, please.
Willie
.
The .357 Sig semi might be good too if you like it.
Glock... Glock....Glock...
Uhh... sure. If you don't want to have some snakeshot handy, or a few low powered semi wadcutters for taking a rabbit for chow, etc., etc... Bottom line is that semi autos are not the ticket for maximum flexibility.
A Glock as a camp gun? What are people thinking?
A basic S&W Model 10 is about perfect for the woods. Really. I'll take mine in 3 inch, please.
Willie
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What would be wrong with useing your project Glock I was just admiring? That short handle would tuck in nice and out of the way as you were doing camping things as well as aiding in concealment.
If you're really bent on the .357 Sig you could get a barrel for it.
Bears? Around here here the two leggeds are the ones you most likely need to be prepared for and I'd bet AZ ain't much different. I use LSWC bullets in my .40 and feel well prepared for either or anything else that needs shootin.
If you're really bent on the .357 Sig you could get a barrel for it.
Bears? Around here here the two leggeds are the ones you most likely need to be prepared for and I'd bet AZ ain't much different. I use LSWC bullets in my .40 and feel well prepared for either or anything else that needs shootin.
azsixshooter
New member
I spent many years hunting in Arizona, I usually chose my sidearm based on whatever I was going to be carrying as my primary weapon. If I was bow-hunting i carried a 4" S&W pre-lock 686 .357 Mag usually loaded with Buffalo Bore 180 grain Heavy loads. Hard cast lead, gas-checked semi-wad cutters with big meplats for max penetration if my main concern was bear. If I was in major snake country I usually kept the first round a snake shot and followed that with either the Buffalo Bore Heavy's or 125 grain hollow point anti-personnel rounds if I thought I might have more concern about running into the 2-legged predator types.
If I was carrying a rifle or shotgun I would many times carry my Ruger MK II in .22LR stoked with CCI Velocitors. The exception is if I was quail or rabbit hunting, then I usually had the 870 loaded with hi-brass 6 shot so I would pack the .357 Mag and keep a couple slugs in one pocket and a couple of 00 Buck rounds in another.
If I wasn't hunting and just hiking I normally carried the .357 Mag. Even with the 4" barrel it was kind of heavy for hiking, but I had a good belt and a nice leather holster that held it high on my hip so that helped a lot. If I was backpacking I had a nylon holster that I could fit onto the pack belt itself.
You mentioned a camp gun though. To me, that says something that is fun to shoot and not too expensive for plinking and powerful enough to defend yourself from both 4-legged and 2-legged predators. If you are mostly talking about truck-camping and hanging about the camp most of the time (maybe taking short hikes nearby) I'd say go with something like a .44 Mag mountain gun or super blackhawk.
If you prefer semi-autos then you might check out a Wilson Combat Hunter in either .460 Rowland or 10mm. Also, as previously suggested a 10mm Glock if you like those.
If you are a die-hard backpacker and expect to be doing a lot of tough backcountry hiking then it's a tough call. You want the power of a big, full size gun but you really have to think about weight. Every ounce feels like a pound at the end of a tough hump. Maybe something you'll carry a lot and shoot less like a Ruger SP101 with a 3" barrel in .357 Mag. Strong enough for the full-house magnum loads (unlike the ultra-lightweight .357's out there) but you can still shoot light .38 Special rounds for plinking or potting small game.
Just my thoughts. I like the idea of the bear spray but when I've been alone and deep in bear/cougar country I have to have a weapon that I feel like I can count on if I'm cornered and terrified. In that situation I want my M1 Garand with it's adjustable gas plug and heavy hunting loads, but I'll take the most power I can realistically get (usually my .357 Mag).
As much as I love the .357 Mag I'm wanting to step up to a .44 Mag these days. If I was going to be doing more hiking/packing I'd get something like the Redhawk Mountain Gun. Otherwise, I want a Super Blackhawk with a 7.5" barrel. One of the old 3 screw models with that super-deep sexy bluing. Yeah!
If I was carrying a rifle or shotgun I would many times carry my Ruger MK II in .22LR stoked with CCI Velocitors. The exception is if I was quail or rabbit hunting, then I usually had the 870 loaded with hi-brass 6 shot so I would pack the .357 Mag and keep a couple slugs in one pocket and a couple of 00 Buck rounds in another.
If I wasn't hunting and just hiking I normally carried the .357 Mag. Even with the 4" barrel it was kind of heavy for hiking, but I had a good belt and a nice leather holster that held it high on my hip so that helped a lot. If I was backpacking I had a nylon holster that I could fit onto the pack belt itself.
You mentioned a camp gun though. To me, that says something that is fun to shoot and not too expensive for plinking and powerful enough to defend yourself from both 4-legged and 2-legged predators. If you are mostly talking about truck-camping and hanging about the camp most of the time (maybe taking short hikes nearby) I'd say go with something like a .44 Mag mountain gun or super blackhawk.
If you prefer semi-autos then you might check out a Wilson Combat Hunter in either .460 Rowland or 10mm. Also, as previously suggested a 10mm Glock if you like those.
If you are a die-hard backpacker and expect to be doing a lot of tough backcountry hiking then it's a tough call. You want the power of a big, full size gun but you really have to think about weight. Every ounce feels like a pound at the end of a tough hump. Maybe something you'll carry a lot and shoot less like a Ruger SP101 with a 3" barrel in .357 Mag. Strong enough for the full-house magnum loads (unlike the ultra-lightweight .357's out there) but you can still shoot light .38 Special rounds for plinking or potting small game.
Just my thoughts. I like the idea of the bear spray but when I've been alone and deep in bear/cougar country I have to have a weapon that I feel like I can count on if I'm cornered and terrified. In that situation I want my M1 Garand with it's adjustable gas plug and heavy hunting loads, but I'll take the most power I can realistically get (usually my .357 Mag).
As much as I love the .357 Mag I'm wanting to step up to a .44 Mag these days. If I was going to be doing more hiking/packing I'd get something like the Redhawk Mountain Gun. Otherwise, I want a Super Blackhawk with a 7.5" barrel. One of the old 3 screw models with that super-deep sexy bluing. Yeah!
youngunz4life
New member
probably good idea to go with a 44. I retract my 357 as with camping the 44 is a better caliber
As much as I love the model 10 if there is the possibility of encountering any Bear black or Brown that is the last gun I would be packing. If the idea is a light, easy to carry, easy to handle, reliable, still very potent handgun. A Model 10 is not the best choice. My truck gun is a Model 10 but when I get out in the woods where we have Black Bear and Cougars I have a 10mm with 180 grain hard cast on my side.
I use a Glock. They are more rugged and reliable in harsh outdoor conditions than a revolver. In addition to being lighter, more compact and holding up to 3X the ammo. And that is far more of a concern when camping than in town. It would take more than an hour to get help to many campgrounds if you need it. On many of my backpacking trips it could take a couple of days of hiking just to get to a spot where cell service exists and another couple of days for help to arrive.
Don't listen to the guys who say you need a 44 for black bear. A properly loaded 357 or 10mm is more than adequate for black bear. Even on the larger brown and grizzly bear going above 357 or 10 mm is only a slight advantage. If large bear are a possiblity any handgun is inadequate and you need a rifle. Bear spray is your best friend.
I select my caliber in the woods just as in town. I'm far more likely to need to use my gun for protection from 2 legged threats than 4. With that in mind I usually carry a G-19 or G-26 in 9mm. If bear are in the area the G-20 in 10mm goes. The 357 sig would be as good a choice as ny against 2 legged threats,but it does not shoot bullets heavy enough for 4 legged threats. If that were a concern I'd suggest a 10mm if you want a semi-auto. A good 357 revolver, properly loaded would be my 2nd choice.
Don't listen to the guys who say you need a 44 for black bear. A properly loaded 357 or 10mm is more than adequate for black bear. Even on the larger brown and grizzly bear going above 357 or 10 mm is only a slight advantage. If large bear are a possiblity any handgun is inadequate and you need a rifle. Bear spray is your best friend.
I select my caliber in the woods just as in town. I'm far more likely to need to use my gun for protection from 2 legged threats than 4. With that in mind I usually carry a G-19 or G-26 in 9mm. If bear are in the area the G-20 in 10mm goes. The 357 sig would be as good a choice as ny against 2 legged threats,but it does not shoot bullets heavy enough for 4 legged threats. If that were a concern I'd suggest a 10mm if you want a semi-auto. A good 357 revolver, properly loaded would be my 2nd choice.
jason_iowa
New member
More bullet options with the mag. 357mag with the right bullets will kill anything in the good ole us of a.
If insisting on an auto, 10mm. I shoot .40 and love it for SD and general urban or non wilderness travel "carry," but for situations that might involve bear (black) I'm with the 10mm group. CCI makes shake shot (shot shell) in .40, but I haven't tried/not sure I'd trust feeding in the auto.
That said, for a woods, camping/hiking gun, I prefer a revolver for the "goes bang-every-time" factor and ability to fire snake shot reliably. South of 5,000 it, my 3" S&W 65 .357 goes on the hip shooting either cast 158s or BB 180s, the latter especially if packing my New Vaquero instead.. North of that mark, my .44 Ruger (NV) Sheriiff (3.75" barrel) with heavy hard cast is my choice--mostly "cause I can." (Just camping and not a lot of tromping my .44 Mag 5.5" Vaquero--same reason/excuse). I would not feel totally undergunned hiking with the .357 in such country either, however. Although I am proficient and comfortable with SA for most circumstances, I would not argue that a 3-4" DA in .44 is a better choice if really expecting black bear, for obvious follow-up (hopefully!) shot purposes. In either .357 or .44, depending on the season, the first chamber or two gets loaded with snake shot. I'd do the same in the southeast as well. Like elsewhere, with the warmer temps and extended drought, we've been seen more/aggressive black bear encounters in Arizona not necessarily involving cub protection--while camping--so a decent firearm capable of dealing with them is becoming greater concern.
All in all, 10mm for the auto crowd, and a medium-frame .357 for revolver types--unless in brown bear country--covers a lot of territory.
That said, for a woods, camping/hiking gun, I prefer a revolver for the "goes bang-every-time" factor and ability to fire snake shot reliably. South of 5,000 it, my 3" S&W 65 .357 goes on the hip shooting either cast 158s or BB 180s, the latter especially if packing my New Vaquero instead.. North of that mark, my .44 Ruger (NV) Sheriiff (3.75" barrel) with heavy hard cast is my choice--mostly "cause I can." (Just camping and not a lot of tromping my .44 Mag 5.5" Vaquero--same reason/excuse). I would not feel totally undergunned hiking with the .357 in such country either, however. Although I am proficient and comfortable with SA for most circumstances, I would not argue that a 3-4" DA in .44 is a better choice if really expecting black bear, for obvious follow-up (hopefully!) shot purposes. In either .357 or .44, depending on the season, the first chamber or two gets loaded with snake shot. I'd do the same in the southeast as well. Like elsewhere, with the warmer temps and extended drought, we've been seen more/aggressive black bear encounters in Arizona not necessarily involving cub protection--while camping--so a decent firearm capable of dealing with them is becoming greater concern.
All in all, 10mm for the auto crowd, and a medium-frame .357 for revolver types--unless in brown bear country--covers a lot of territory.
Kreyzhorse
New member
My camp gun is just what you thought about, a used Glock 22. It's easy to carry, reliable and it can take a little abuse without too much worry.
Is this car camping, or backpacking? Different circumstances = different advice.
I am in California, where you can't carry a loaded gun unless you have a concealed weapons permit, and then it has to be concealed [no 'printing', for example]. My understanding is that this is true in the backcountry also.
However, California has a provision that your sleeping location is your 'temporary home', and you have can have a loaded handgun there. This means, generally, in the tent. Not on your hip in the camp site itself. That said, there are campgrounds that don't allow firearms at all.
For all of these concealability issues, I decided to go with a 4" GP100, loaded with HSM 180gr round-nose flat point gas-checked Bear Loads.
I can use a shotshell for snakes on the first round. I can have speedloaders with a 125gr HP or 158gr HP for 2-legged threats. Or I can have a speedloader for the 180gr bear loads. I keep the revolver chambered in the round that I am most likely to need, based on my geography.
Around here, it is usually 2 legged critters I worry about, so the first 3 rounds are designed for them, followed by 3 180gr rounds in case of Mt. Lions.
In the northern parts of the state, or when visiting relatives in Idaho, I wish for my SuperRedHawk but keep the 180gr rounds in the chambers.
Yes, there are only 6. I can only have 10 rounds of .357sig or 10mm.
Yes, the 10mm seems to have the potential for the same power in bear loads from buffalo bore as the .357Mag does, but with 4 more rounds.
However, the 10mm Glock doesn't fit my hand right: it is too large. Also, the 10mm kick is harder for me to reaquire the target from than the .357mag. This is MY issue. I am not saying it couldn't be trained out of me, but I can get more aimed rounds on target with a gun that I can control in my grip, and control the recoil of, than a gun with more rounds that feels too large for me to control.
I honestly would only consider .357sig if 2 legged threats or coyotes were your concern. Bear or Cougar I'd go with a magnum round, or 10mm.
It all depends on what type of camping you'll do. I wish I could hike freely with my SuperRedHawk on my hip. I'd have to carry 4 canteens on the other side for balance, but I'd never feel underarmed!
I am in California, where you can't carry a loaded gun unless you have a concealed weapons permit, and then it has to be concealed [no 'printing', for example]. My understanding is that this is true in the backcountry also.
However, California has a provision that your sleeping location is your 'temporary home', and you have can have a loaded handgun there. This means, generally, in the tent. Not on your hip in the camp site itself. That said, there are campgrounds that don't allow firearms at all.
For all of these concealability issues, I decided to go with a 4" GP100, loaded with HSM 180gr round-nose flat point gas-checked Bear Loads.
I can use a shotshell for snakes on the first round. I can have speedloaders with a 125gr HP or 158gr HP for 2-legged threats. Or I can have a speedloader for the 180gr bear loads. I keep the revolver chambered in the round that I am most likely to need, based on my geography.
Around here, it is usually 2 legged critters I worry about, so the first 3 rounds are designed for them, followed by 3 180gr rounds in case of Mt. Lions.
In the northern parts of the state, or when visiting relatives in Idaho, I wish for my SuperRedHawk but keep the 180gr rounds in the chambers.
Yes, there are only 6. I can only have 10 rounds of .357sig or 10mm.
Yes, the 10mm seems to have the potential for the same power in bear loads from buffalo bore as the .357Mag does, but with 4 more rounds.
However, the 10mm Glock doesn't fit my hand right: it is too large. Also, the 10mm kick is harder for me to reaquire the target from than the .357mag. This is MY issue. I am not saying it couldn't be trained out of me, but I can get more aimed rounds on target with a gun that I can control in my grip, and control the recoil of, than a gun with more rounds that feels too large for me to control.
I honestly would only consider .357sig if 2 legged threats or coyotes were your concern. Bear or Cougar I'd go with a magnum round, or 10mm.
It all depends on what type of camping you'll do. I wish I could hike freely with my SuperRedHawk on my hip. I'd have to carry 4 canteens on the other side for balance, but I'd never feel underarmed!
I've been walking in the woods for a few decades. I prefer a revolver for the ability to carry shotshells in the first two chambers (all of my closest calls have been with snakes). If it's not bear territory a .38 Special serves well. In lands that could lead to bumping into a bear I go with a Ruger Blackhawk in .45 Colt. A warm .44 special or .44 Magnum obviously would do just as well or better.
carprivershooter
New member
My camping gun is a S&W 686 seven shot loaded with 158 g lead hard-cast. It's fine for were I live. The only thing it won't stop is a Moose. If I get that close to a moose He is probably really really P'ed off I have not heard his warnings and I must be stupid. Carry a weapon that fits your needs for your area.