horse back trip across America, what guns would you take?

Ruger Vaquero in 45LC
Long Gun in 45LC (Hunting to 100 yards)

One ammo required

I might add a 22LR rifle though. If your hunting it will be mostly small game so you won't need any permits. (45LC will explode your rabbit.):eek:
 
If you're not hunting, and just planning on the Horse Back trip, based on what you have I'd take the Ruger 357. Its all you need.

I do a lot of horse back riding and all I normaly carry (unless I'm hunting) is my 642. But if I was planning a "cross country trip" I take my 4 in Model 28 and not feel a bit under gunned. It worked for my in my 20 years in LE, I've killed just about everything from rabbits to moose and buffalo.

My wife carries a Judge w/410 shells for snakes. She's got more then a couple with that set up from her horse.
 
If you're planning to enter Canada, you'll need to stick with long guns. Personally, I'd go with a Marlin Guide Gun in .45-70 or .450 Marlin. If you're concerned with in-camp protection, a Remington 870 (or Winchester 1897) riot gun in 12-Ga with buckshot and slugs would be the most versatile.
 
Well, since you're planning on buying most of your food at the store, and killing an entire deer for one meal would be a wanton waste, I'd suggest taking that glock 23 and small 22 for rabbits and squirrels.

Although, since I imagine this is a spring to fall trip, that limits your choices for hunting. There's not much in season from spring to fall. That is if you follow laws on such things.
 
As many have suggested, minimize your ammo requirements by taking a long gun and a handgun in the same caliber, probably 44 mag. I like 4v50's recommendation.
 
I too spend a lot of time on my horse. Not cross country time, but 1000+ miles a year, sometimes twice that.

To me Glocks (or any semi auto with no thumb safety) and horses don't mix, so that's out. Outside that there's lots of choices. I'll only say if it were me I'd carry a SA revolver of the compact versions now available in a good medium to high ride pancake holster so it could be covered with an untucked shirt. Or, your SP101 should serve you just fine as my Taurus M605 has me, although I have switched mostly to the SR40c.

Another thing to consider is the potential problems of carrying a firearm on the horse, not on you. Any kind of accident and a lot of situations (there are a LOT of potential scenarios) would lead to you not having control of your firearm(s) if they are attached to the horse, not you. Especially bad in highly populated areas. Easy pickins for a thief or the attention of LEO. Also, when traveling through towns you may attract some onlookers. All may not be well wishers just waiting for you to go into the store. I'd say if you're going to hunt, do it once you get out west and have some one send you a rifle or buy one there.

It would be neat to follow your adventure. Are you going to be reporting your progress on line?

Best wishes either way.
 
Sounds like a fun trip, hope you and the horse make it.

I'm of the belief that the guns people choose shouldn't really change just because circumstances do. I don't care whether it's in good times or bad, at home or away, etc etc. The same 2 gun combo for this trip should be the same 2 gun combo you'd want for everyday use. I have a few that I find work well (in order of preference if I was forced to choose):

- 12ga. pump (all around hunting and defense) and .22lr handgun (small game and finishing).
- .22lr rifle (camp meat) and centefire handgun (when things get bigger).
- Centerfire rifle and .22lr pistol (see #1 for uses for both).

On a trip like this you may be better of to just dump the handgun altogether (legal reasons). You could do a lot worse than a 12ga or a lever gun.
 
Hmm. Some good suggestions....Im pretty stubborn so once i start the trip i will most likely finish it even if i wasn't having fun.. But in the back of my mind i wonder if i would just keep on going like i did for 7 years hitch hiking around the country and a few others.. So a part of me wants what ever would be the best long term set up for hunting/ defense...If i new for sure that i would go straight across the country (takes about 7 months) then i wouldn't be so picky about guns.. I suppose in the lower 48 i would have to be absolutely starving before id poach larger game such as a deer... but my conscience could probably handle a grouse or rabbit every now and then.(-: If i was going to live like that forever i know id take my ruger #1 and a twelve guage pump or possibly a double. I suppose the best compromise (aside from perhaps bolt guns) would be a customised 45-70.... I think im pretty set on the sp101 and the mark three hunter 22.. probably a single action 45 colt too that id mostly just wear in bear country... and yes i would travel all year.. I will have a 6 Lbs tp style tent with a 4-6 lbs collapsible wood stove. Never hurts to be comfortable(-:
 
Treg.... A thousand miles a year is quite a bit.. I actually dont ride much lately because im a farrier.. after getting kicked around all day by horses the last thing i want to do when i get home ,with a sore back, is ride.lol.. On the east coast most the guns would be stored low profile on the pack horse, unloaded. And yes if the horse got away there would go my guns(-: ah welll.. If i ever finally get my gear together and head out il post a website. Also there are quite a few people currently engaging in such rides around the world. U can follow their stories by Googling "the long riders guild" and follow links from there. There is one older lady, retired any how, that has been riding around the country for i think 7 years...18,000 miles! Her dog got to old to keep up so the dog now rides atop a third pack horse,lol.
 
I guess I am just nostalgic but I like the idea of a single action and lever action although might pick a more modern caliber. However, shotgun might be the most practical.
 
A single action revolver is probably best for horseback riding. Aside from the nostalgia factor, the fact that you have to manually cock it greatly reduces the chances of an accidental discharge if you have to fire from a mounted position. If that thing rears back while you have a Glock in your hand, you may end up hitchhiking again because you shot your horse in the back of the head.
 
I think I would pair that down to just the Glock and the 22. On a trip that long every pound is a huge burden.
Glock - self protection
22 - small game for food

I would carry a cell phone with a solar charger. That's the best protection you can have. Be sure it has GPS, mapping software would be good too.
 
Go find one of those shotgun/.22 rifles for birds/rabbits and a desperate belly. Make sure you can ummmmm, make fire. A .44 Mag double action for defense against people and bears.

And for pete's sake, do not fire mounted, dismount first as I doubt your horses will be trained for mounted shooting unless you are going to train them yourself first.


EDIT: Oh, and by the way, those break-over .410s are good all-around shooters for all kinds of small game and are very light too. Bring some slugs for it and it becomes a hard hitter too. The slugs are like .50 caliber and pretty accurate out to around 100-150 yards.
 
Well, first you are going to need to leave the pistol at home, unless you are absolutely sure you are licensed to carry in the states you will be traveling in. Next, you will need to check out the laws about carrying a loaded rifle in each state you intend on traveling in.

My preference would be to carry a very short light-weight, non-tactical-looking carbine. A folding stock Mini-14 might be just right. Or, perhaps just a Winchester 30-30 lever action.
 
El Camino de Santiago, Appalachian Trail, Iditarod Trail, Pacific Crest, etc. Maybe there should be a horseback CASS type trail. Would be a bit of fun I'd think.
 
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