NEwbie Question Choice of carry for hiking

M

MunchClod

Inactive
Hi everyone,

I am new to handguns and could do with some advice. so any responses will be apriciated.

My situation

Im planning on Hiking alone for about 2 weeks through wilderness so I am looking for something to carry,
1. to help protect against wildlife if it arrises. (probally not bears where im going this time, they do have 100lb black bears so i will just wrestle these if it comes to it :D
2. just incase some 2 legged wildlife threats occur.

I have spent 100's of $$ getting my hiking kit as light as possible, so to add a 2lb handgun seems a little anti productive, so im looking at somethings as light as possible but saying that if there is something awsomme then i dont mind carrying the extra weight

The guns i have hired out so far and how i have found them

I know whatever i get i will get used to in time but would like to get something that im half way decent at shooting from the start


All ofthese are 45's

Springfiels XDs compact :- ok not very accurate for me, but looks cool and is small (only holds 6 rounds )

Kahr CW45 :- this was good accurate, and light only holds 6 rounds though( but im not too sure on the cool factor of this one ) --thinking if i choose this bump it up to the CT45 ( i extra round but not much extra in size and weight)

Glock 21 - this was quite accurate and holds plenty of ammo, bit bigger but 10g heaver than the kahr (+extra ammo weigt)- but have been told if i get this dirty it will still work

Springfeild armoury XD full size :- most accurate with this but again its full size

i also tried a few revolvers :- im not getting one of these so no point in listing it

So all in all so far its a choice between a KAhr and the bigger Springfeild

I know im about to opena can of worms but is there any points i need to consider when thinking about the KAhr and XD, or does anyone else have a similar situation and what do you use

Thanks All in advance

Stu
 
Everything is a tradeoff. Lighter gun and less ammo means more comfort but limited capacity and possibly less accuracy. You've already stated this. I think it's just a matter of how much you are willing to sacrifice comfort for (potential) safety.

As we aren't talking about bears, but rather mostly two-legged threats, you might consider something in 9mm, which would allow for greater capacity and less weight (when you figure the gun weight and the same number of rounds). While I don't have exact weights on hand, something like a G19 with a single mag of ammo would give expanded capacity and not much more weight than the XDs 45 with extra loaded mag(s). It would certainly be less weight than a larger 45.

To answer your specific question, though, I would feel sufficiently safe with the XDs and a single extra mag of ammo. If you are not sufficiently comfortable with your accuracy using a shorter-barreled weapon, I would go with the larger XD.
 
I would actually suggest a Glock 29 SF that comes in @ 32 oz when loaded and carries 10 rounds of 10mm. I would say ,even though you stated you don't plan on encountering a bear, a 10mm is fully capable of dealing with a black bear and any 2 legged critter you may have to deal with. I have a full size Glock 20 and love it, but given you're trying to shave weight I think its worth looking into. Its a lot of power in a small package. Good Luck!
 
There are plenty of options meeting your requirement. The one pistol I personally own which is closest to your stated need is a Sig P250 sub-compact It has an x-grip (small inexpensive extension for the magazine) allowing you to carry a compact magazine in the sub-compact. This will give you a total 15 rounds in the magazine and 1 round in the chamber. The weight is a 1/2 ounce under two pounds.

Without the x-grip and using the sub-compact magazine provides one with 12 rounds in the magazine and 1 round in the chamber. It is about an ounce and a half less in weight.
 
Last edited:
I just carry what I normally carry every day. Its not like its added weight, as my body is accustomed to it being there.

Find what you like and shoot the best, and carry it.
 
Of the ones on your list I'd go glock. You know glock makes a smaller, lighter 45, right? Also a 10mm.
 
I have .40 S&W versions of both the Kahr (CW40) and the Glock (G22) that you're considering in 45. I hike a lot, every weekend. I carry my Kahr in an IWB holster, the same one I carry it in when I CCW it. It's light, it hides easily and I don't even notice it's there. The Glock is much heavier and because of that it doesn't get carried as much. When I hike in the area where I elk hunt, which is much more wilderness, I carry either the Kahr or my 44 Mag. The Kahr generally gets the vote.

If I were you, I'd get the Kahr and one spare magazine to carry on your hike. Total of 13 rounds to carry. Shoot the pistol quite a bit to get the hang of it; Kahr recommends a 200- round break in. After a day of carrying it in a good holster you won't know it's there.
 
Carry for Solo Hiking

10mm, Glock 29 is always my choice for hiking. Having said that, as a solo hiker situational awareness is tremendously important. As i recall last time i looked at info from Yellowstone, fatal bear attacks are a serious risk for solo hikers. They weren't the suprise-the-bear-on-the-trail type of attack, but the type of attack where a bear actively stalks a solo hiker as a food source. You can find some great, info at yellowstone Bearman. http://www.yellowstone-bearman.com/bears.html

There was also a recent study done at the University of Calgary that contains sobering information http://www.ucalgary.ca/news/may2011/bears.

You might be intetested in this article as well

http://www.yellowstonegate.com/2012...safety-education-after-fatal-grizzly-attacks-
 
Last edited:
I also do a lot of hiking in AZ. Generally not concerned with Lions or Bears where I go. Normally feel fine with my Ruger Single 6 in .22 Mag. Occasionally will sub out for a .357 if near the border or bear area. Have a .44 mab mountain gun but normally that is overkill.
 
One of the most important things to check in advance is the legal status of open or concealed carry in the area's you will be hiking in, State, Federal, Parks, National Forest, State Forest. All these areas may have different laws covering gun carry. Having said that I concur with the 10mm, load it down for defense carry and load it up for trail use.
 
I hate to be someone to discourage a guy from getting a gun, but this sounds like maybe it hasn't been well thought out. You think you might like a gun if it is "awsomme" (sic), or because it looks cool. You won't be hiking where there are any predators, except maybe "2 legged" ones.

Where are you going to carry this piece? Are you going to rummage around in your pack for it when you need it? If not, you will have to carry it holstered. Do you have a CC permit for where you're going to be?

Owning a gun is not a light decision. I wouldn't want to be hiking by someone who is brand new carrying their first gun, almost on a whim.

I suggest taking your time learning about guns, owning and training with one, and then decide if you should take it on this trip.

David
 
You do not even state what states this "wilderness" is in. Alaska is alot different from Florida. Second you have not rented enough and done enough shooting with rented guns to make a decision yet. You have shot .45s well the first time I shot one I thought it was rather wimpy and I sure as heck would not want to rely on some six shot .45 ACP where are bear and cats that consider you food.

You need to man up and rent some heavier calibers so you know what you can handle. Now as to weight I spent four months this hunting season packing a Uberti Walker. After a couple days I did not notice any weight difference. Once you start your hike and start to lose some flab and tone up you will not notice the difference in weight of a full size hand gun BUT should you have to use it you will appreciate the less recoil because of the weight and the better sight aquisition because of a longer sight radious.....plus the few more bullets in the mag heck you might even hit where you are aiming.
 
Thanks for the feedback

And just so you know the wilderness is Arkansas , and for the record I have shot a lot more than I have listed above, also when I say awesome I don't mean something gold plated I mean something that is good to shoot and reliable. But was thinking along the same lines as db4570 which is why I'm asking here before I commit to owning and getting familiar with it before my trip ( cc being processed now )

I haven't tried a 10mm yet but I have called a few local ranges and they have some to rent so I'll give that a try

Looking on you tube a 10mm may be the way to go but still on the fence I have give myself 2 weeks to decide then a few months to get used to it before I go

Thanks everyone
 
After the further details, I think the OP deserves a bit more credit than he has been given. CCW permit is pending and there's plenty of time to prepare.

I still think that, for backpacking in Arkansas, something like the G19 fits the bill perfectly. Excellent capacity vs. weight. Extreme reliability. Excellent (even apart from the backpacking trip) for range duty, home defense, and concealed carry. It's perhaps the most versatile pistol on the market when it comes to all these factors and potential uses. And I agree that it needs to be readily accessible - probably carried OWB on your hip with a good belt rather than in your pack.
 
Last edited:
I believe the Glock is the way to go as well. It is light, highly corrosion resistant, and very reliable. The trigger isn't bad and the gun is very simple to operate. While you say that wildlife is not really a concern, I would certainly not want to go hand to hand with any bears, even if I have a good 60 lb. weight advantage. Pound for pound, those darn things are tough! For that reason, I would have to agree with the 10mm as others have mentioned. Based on size and weight, the 29 that was mentioned would probably be ideal. Also, Glocks are pretty cheap so it won't set you back a lot. Good luck!
 
The most difficult part of giving advice to (self-described, in this case) newbies, is that they almost always have a series of assumptions, which they absolutely don't want challenged in any way.

Without necessarily referencing the OP, the unspoken thought seems to be "I don't know anything, but I don't want anyone to tell me anything different from what I've already decided"

So more to the point of the OP's request (and I seriously mean no insult or anything of the sort ... I'm just giving direct responses to direct questions)

1. Solo-hiking. Everyone I know who is a solo-hiker is EXTREMELY experienced ... years and years ... and only goes solo through areas they have already scouted before in groups. Even my near-lunatic nephew admits that it's near-lunacy to do so, even though he does so regularly. If your concern is safety ... please consider that there are plenty of ways to die having nothing to do with bears, cats, people or anything trying kill/eat you.

2. Cool-factor has nothing to do with any of this.

3. Weight is always a consideration, but you make the commitment to carry the right tool or not. Carrying just enough of something so that it doesn't work when needed ... not good.

4. Get off of the .45 bandwagon. There is nothing you are going to encounter that would not be equally as well addressed with something in 9mm. (That helps with weight, BTW) If you "like" .45ACP ... no problem there, just be aware that you'll be adding extra weight, for no good reason except "like".

5. There are always factors of taste and individual needs, but I think you are best served by a compact 9mm of some kind. All of the various brands you mention are good. I'd strongly suggest looking at a Glock19, S&W M&P or XD or Ruger SR. Glock 26 is a very good way to go as well,as are the "c" models of the other listed.

Good luck, be safe, send us some pictures.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top