What IS a trail gun?

For me, a "Trail Gun" is a light REVOLVER, easy to pack, in a CALIBER large enough to handle; the LARGEST, HEAVIEST, MEANEST, THREAT. In my state (WA), we have a large population of Black Bear and Cougar. When I am tramping the woods and rain forests of the Pacific North West; my trail gun is a 35.4oz (unloaded weight) 41 Remington® Magnum.

(Just my $0.02.)
 
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You live in the city. You carry a 9mm all day with a CCW. It's a self defense gun.

You live in a more rural area and carry a .357 with a CCW when you drive to town in your pickup. It's still a self defense gun.

So just because you decide to go walking around in the woods with a gun and you want to carry a gun to protect yourself... it's still a self protection gun. Maybe you decide you want to "upgrade" to a .44 Magnum because you are worried about bears or something but it is still a self defense gun. You carry a self defense gun every day of your life.

On the other hand, you are going for a walk in the woods. A nice relaxing hike down by a creek. And you are going to carry your self defense handgun with you because... well, you always do. But you don't expect to actually shoot it. It's your "In the Gravest Extreme" gun. Not a recreational gun. Your trail gun is something that is actually to be used on the hike. As a part of the woods walk. When I think of a "woods gun," I expect to return to home with a gun that actually has been fired. Quite a few times. Maybe even a few hundred times if it was a really good hike!

A woods gun is a Ruger Bearcat. Or a S&W M63 with a four inch barrel. Maybe a Ruger Auto with fixed sights. Nothing with a bull barrel or that weighs too much. We want something light that we can carry around all day. (We are already carrying that CCW gun plus whatever hiking gear we have. Or fishing equipment, whatever.) I like to grab the Ruger Bearcat and three or four 50 round boxes of .22's and take it wherever I go. If the fishing doesn't pan out or the walk ends up in just the right place, I can sit down and have a fun plinking session. Nothing more fun than trying to hit "that little white rock way over there on the edge of the water." I'm not going to do that with most of my "serious guns." Not more than a few rounds anyway.

That's the difference between a woods gun and a self protection gun.

Gregg
 
"I am not currently married, so I do not have to justify purchases to anyone."

Considering your Biography, it is either outdated or you are lying to troll?

A trail gun is one light/handy enough to always have on you on the trail and (hopefully) sufficient for whatever purpose you plan to need it for on the trail. For some that is hunting, shooting varmits or small game....for others predator defense.
 
Considering your Biography, it is either outdated or you are lying to troll?
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leave him alone. He started an interesting debate. Troll= someone who posts something that sparks meaningful responses? He was only pointing out that a common term was ambiguous.
 
Seems just about everyones deffinition for "trail gun" is just more like "Defensive carry guns while on the trail":confused: This is not the real definition of a trail/woods gun.

For me a trail/woods gun is one that I carry when I go out on the trail and shoot.... A day spent with the trail gun is a "RangeDay" with excercise and real world practice and settings. (and a chance to shoot some small critters/predators) And maybe get something tasty for my dinner.

For me I carry a gun as a trail/woods gun and I SHOOOT! I always carry 50 rounds minuum and always wish that I had brought more. I walk as far as I feel like and shoot at everything that catches my attention. Lots of tree knots, every piece of litter, every bone, and I try to mix in some long range shooting accross canyons at rocks or other items that "stand-out".

This means the pistol needs to be small(er) The 500 and 475 are too much and will shoot through most trees, are expensive and the shells weigh a ton:D And the worst part is the noise and concusion that these big guns produce, I tire of shooting these before I tire of walkiing. (and they probly scare others in the area)

This is all done safely and I usually try to strike out in my own direction so as not to go blazing down the main hiking trail where all the tourist walk.

The 45 colt and 44mag is about right when loaded with trail ammo, Cap and ball revolvers are fun, a 22 can be fun, but it is a little too weak for real world practice.

Noise carries very little when small(er) loads are used...I shoot my 1858 Remington with a 45colt conversion a lot!! around 900fps with a 230gr and when the box of 50 runs out I still have two extra cap&ball cylinders loaded and carried on my rig to get me home.

This pic was taken a few weeks ago while on walk in rock-chuck country.

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For me, a trail gun might see a variety of uses but it isn't a dedicated hunting handgun. I'm not calling a 7 1/2 inch .44 magnum a trail gun as I would only carry it if I was going to use it for hunting.
 
"...question is WHAT THE CRAP IS A "Trail Gun" (?) [samsmix]

The rural scene can indeed be a dangerous one. Coyotes, wild dogs, wolves, big cats, and bears have all attacked (and killed) backwoods-loving trail wanderers like me. The backwoods can also be the scene of heinous crimes. What to do if one stumbles upon 2 perps attacking/burying a bloodied young woman? It happens.

My trail gun is a 44 Magnum snubby.

Think I hear dueling banjos...
 
I have to admit I've never owned or carried a "trail gun". That said whenever I go into the woods I make it a point to always have my .44mag Super Redhawk on my hip - hunting or otherwise. Its got a 9.5" barrel and is heavy as a brick - I could probably do as much damage to someone up close by pistol whipping them with it as I would shooting them! Ok maybe not.

Its my deer gun during gun deer season and I'm in handgun/shotgun only territory. Its my side-arm when I'm bow hunting or small game hunting and hiking/camping. Its also my side-arm if I'm gun deer hunting but in rifle territory.

I guess that qualifies it as a trail gun but I've never considered it as such. Its just my constant woods companion just like my 1911 is my constant non-woods companion. That said I also carry a Ruger Single Six .22lr as well as my "woodland food getter". Basically I'll use that to take squirrels and rabbits during their seasons if for some reason I decide that my .22 rifle or shotgun (whichever I decided to bring) is not what I want to take the shot with. Usually it means that I've loaned the long gun to another hunter in our party.

What exactly is a trail gun? You've got me there - I don't know but I'd bet my .44mag fits the bill pretty close.
 
A trail gun is the gun you have with you on the trail (hiking/fishing/camping/horseback) . It is not considered a hunting gun. It is comfortable to have on your belt (should not really even know it is there or constantly having to adjust your belt, pulling up your pants, adjusting gun position, sitting down, prone, etc......). Easy to draw and usually not over 5 1/2" barrel length. Doesn't matter whether SA/DA/Semi-auto. So heavy/bulky guns like the Super Red Hawk or a scoped guns don't apply as trail/woods guns. When selecting a trail gun, you 'think ahead'. Am I going into grizzly country? Moose? Black Bear? Snake? Maybe the o' .22 will do just fine for the short day hike. But another trip maybe I'll pack the .45 Colt BH, and throw a .22 into the back pack. Of course for me it will always be a Single Action. Others are more comfortable with DAs.... And others yet have to have 18 peanuts ready to launch from there plastic guns..... No matter as that is a personal preference. Just something there when you need it, and not in the way when you don't.

My two bits.
 
So heavy/bulky guns like the Super Red Hawk or a scoped guns don't apply as trail/woods guns.
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Why not?

I carry my Super RedHawk everywhere I go in the woods and its primary use isn't hunting although its been used as such as well... is it not a trail/woods gun then? If not then what exactly is it?
 
I've often referred to Mr. Gunblast's definition. It's a gun that you carry when you're doing something else. I carry a Blackhawk with some fairly good shooting, but not loud DEWCHC homeloads for now. I've carried a single six, a ruger MKii, a S&W 637, etc. My personal definition is that it's something I won't immediately regret shooting without earplugs, is light enough not to annoy me, and shoots a cartridge I don't mind spending on a pine cone or rock squirrel.
 
"leave him alone. He started an interesting debate. Troll= someone who posts something that sparks meaningful responses? He was only pointing out that a common term was ambiguous."

When someone posts that they are not married and answering to noone but their profile says differently...and spurns people replying as a "sackful of non-answers", it raises a few flags. I really don't care if you want him left alone or not, signals of dishonesty ruin credibility in motives.
 
The term "trail gun" has been used and rather well understood as my knowledge goes ... for at least 50 + years without any misunderstanding of the term. Trails, is used as a term for a wilderness area outside of any normal civilization, housing, population of people, etc.

aka : the back woods.

A "trail gun" is one that is easy to carry in such areas and where you may have to defend or protect yourself from wild animals / predators that can kill you and eat you.
 
The term "trail gun" has been used and rather well understood as my knowledge goes ... for at least 50 + years without any misunderstanding of the term. Trails, is used as a term for a wilderness area outside of any normal civilization, housing, population of people, etc.

aka : the back woods.

A "trail gun" is one that is easy to carry in such areas and where you may have to defend or protect yourself from wild animals / predators that can kill you and eat you.
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Or, merely a .22 to shoot targets of opportunity while walking in the woods that present no threat at all or a partridge or squirrel to eat when you gets home?
Also read the posts in regard to guns that are "east to carry". Then, look up the word "ambiguous".
In my case, the "back woods", is my own woods behind my barn, where I take a "trail gun" when walking my trails. I carry my "trail gun" in case I see a opossum, fox, raccoon, etc. Some of my "trail guns" are light and easy to carry, some are not, depending upon what I want to carry that day. Without a context, self-defense from humans, self-defense against mountain lions, bears, etc., how far, how light one must pack, etc, the term "trail gun", is without specific meaning, just as the O.P. stated...despite the fact that his marital status may have changed.
 
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It's a S&W .22/32 Kit Gun, paired with a Randall Trout and Bird knife and a 4 weight fly rod... :rolleyes:


It's whatever you want it to be, in the context of the area where you carry. The CLASSIC definition (pre-internet woods-warrior who is loaded for Griz when walking 5 miles on a trail in Wisconsin) is a small caliber revolver for use as a foraging tool for "food items of opportunity", killing snakes, and for plinking for sport. Defense against bears and people was/is a very small consideration.

I always laugh about the "If you are worried about bears" thing. 99.9 percent of the folks here will never be in the woods where there are any bears worth worrying about.

Smith & Wesson Model 63 is the picture perfect classic definition of a trail gun/kit gun/pack gun/ etc. Move up to a .38 or .357 as the mood strikes.


"I carry my Super RedHawk everywhere I go in the woods and its primary use isn't hunting although its been used as such as well... is it not a trail/woods gun then? If not then what exactly is it?"


It's a heavy-duty revolver that you happen to carry.


These terms are to provide context to a conversation: Tell your buddy that you saw a new "framistan pistol" in the LGS and he asks "what sort is it? You reply that it looks like it would make a nice trail gun. He has a mental image of a revolver of small or medium caliber that is small and easy to stow. Tell him "it's a neat heavy duty DA revolver" and he has an image of a N frame Smith. You say "It's a snubbie" and he sees a Chiefs Special in his mental image. You tell him "It's a poly frame auto" and he sees a Glock in his mental picture. Can any of these be carried afield? Of course. But the "CLASSIC" definition of a kit gun or a trail gun is what I have stated that it is. Go look in your 1950's-1980's collection of Guns & Ammo and you'll see how the term was then used. It's not changed.




Willie


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it { 9.5" .44mag Super Redhawk is heavy as a brick } is not a trail/woods gun then? If not then what exactly is it?
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You gun (IMHO) is just a pure dedicated hunting revolver. Not a trail gun by my way of thinking. To bulky and to heavy for trail use. I had one BTW, but sold it for this very reason as it never saw the light of day (My .45 Colt or .44s SAs were/are much easier to pack) . In the 'old' days it might be considered a 'horse' revolver where the holster was located on the horse, but not an every day packing revolver. Again, a trail gun something there when you need it, and not in the way when you don't. See the difference? If I was going out expressly to target shoot or hunt, then it doesn't matter what you taking with you. A .22 to the SRH or even the big .45/70 revolvers.... But I wouldn't haul one around on the trail (hiking/fishing/camping/picnic/family day in the woods). Tis my opinion only :) .

It's a gun that you carry when you're doing something else.
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I like that definition too.
 
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I agree with the post that said the Bearcat is a trail gun. My Bearcat has been all over these Rocky Mountains and has more kills than any other gun I own. Trail guns are for shooting on the trail. Trail guns are not backup for dangerous game. I'll carry a heavy caliber revolver for backup, but that's different. The 44 Mags/45 Colts/and 454s don't get shot at anything that moves (sic).

Trail walking with a 22 may possibly be the most fun ever in the woods, camping with a girl notwithstanding. ;)
 
freedom475-- Very nice! I would love to have one of them. +1 on the photo too. Makes me want to get out and do some hiking.


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BlueTrain said:
It's like a kit gun, only less so.
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Precisely! Exactly! Well done, sir.

My trail gun is the one that is with me when I step on to the trail. It might be a revolver, semi, or long gun. I'm afraid I can't be any more precise than that.
 
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