What IS a trail gun?

In Michigan to carry a gun in the woods/trails/hiking your will need a small game hunting license. If you have a CPL if you are stopped my a law officer/DNR/Conservation officer you have to declare you are carrying. You may then be ticketed for carrying a firearm afield or hunting without a license. my trail gun is my S&W model 14-4 and a small game license. Some black bears, deer, moose, bobcats, wolf, cougar, Meth labs, Weed plots. I only worry about the meth heads and the pot heads and a really really big Pine snake.
 
Where I am at the most dangerous thing I have to worry about is wild hogs and rattle snakes. But I have crossed more copper heads than rattlers.

For the last several years my trail gun of choice has been a ruger single six in 32 mag. I rarely carry mag rounds, just my cast bullet loads going about 900fps. The next time I go for walk in the woods I will carry my new S&W model 631 in 32 mag with the same loads.

I started a similar thread on a survival forum and got the same similar type of answers. The answers were all over the place.
 
My trail gun is a Single six, also my truck gon on the deer lease. T only thing I've ever used it on was a half dozen rattlers and one skunk, skunk had no business being out in the daylight, I thought rabies and shot him. If I was in hog country I'd carry a .357. It's whatever you want to carry.
 
There is no standard definition,,,

There is no standard definition,,,
Much like the terms mouse gun, pocket gun, carbine, etc.

They are whatever any person feels is appropriate at the time.

If I were to walk trails my "trail gun" would probably be a S&W 4" K-frame,,,
I have a friend who hikes constantly and his "trail gun" is a 1911.

Some folk will say a trail gun must be a revolver.

There just isn't a universally accepted standard definition.

Aarond

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I guess my "trail" gun is my .357 6" GP100. For me, it's either that or the 1911. I literally think I carry the GP100 because in pinch I could use it as hammer and not worry about shooting something later.

Although when it comes down to it, whatever gun you carry is the right one - because not having one and needing it is always the worst of the 2 scenarios.
 
It’s whatever makes you feel warm and fuzzy at the moment. I have never even come close to having to shoot a varmint, snake, mountain lion, scary person or anything else I like to use as an excuse to carry my pistola on the "trail". I just like guns so I carry what I like looking at or what feels good in my hand that day.

Mike
 
Trail gun...? I don't know. After dozens and dozens of handguns, and thousands and thousands of $$$ over the past 30+ years, I still don't know. .22LR to .44 Mag, revolver to hi-cap pistol, etc. Many I sold or traded, some I kept. It depends on the mood I'm in. On occassion, I even carry a Cap 'N Ball .44. From Elmer Keith, to Skeeter, I read it all, tried most of them, and I still honestly don't know. I even carry a .380ACP at times....;)
 
I think trail gun and kit gun are used interchangeably. For me, it is whatever gun I carry in the woods when I am not hunting. It is often a 22 revolver or pistol. Sometimes it's a 357 mag and other times if I feel like lugging the weight, it's a 4" M57 Smith. Essentially it is gun that is seldom used much like a self defense gun. But it is there if you need it.
 
I like to know about "trail shooting" I know some places you just can't go around shooting snakes in your way, "illegal" etc... I know a bear is a different story if hes charging you etc... But these people who say "trail 22 gun" go around blasting snakes? Isn't there rules at these parks/trails you go on ? Unless its chasing me I don't believe I can just shoot a snake because its in my way and its deadly.
 
a trail gun something there when you need it, and not in the way when you don't
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I like this definition, more a philosophy of gear than some arbitrary description. The ideal backpacking loadout is designed to be as unobtrusive to the hiker as possible. This means that the gun is not the only part of the equation, but the carry rig as well.

I bought a TRR8 revolver for a backpacking gun, since it's light, durable, and comfortable to shoot. Its size is a non-issue for me, since I can't carry on my hip with a pack-belt on anyway. .357 is enough for any trouble I could possibly find myself in that wouldn't require a rifle or shot gun, and 8-rounds is plenty for any likely engagement. I'll be testing out a setup that carries it on my pack, right behind my head, where I can reach back for it quickly if needed.

TCB
 
Freedom475...spectacular work. I assume the flapped smaller pouches are for ?spare cylinders? or are they dump pouches for cartridges?...I'm assuming that the piece is a cap and ball converted to .45? And the larger pouch for "possibles"? Great leather work fellah. Rod
 
I like to know about "trail shooting" I know some places you just can't go around shooting snakes in your way, "illegal" etc... I know a bear is a different story if hes charging you etc... But these people who say "trail 22 gun" go around blasting snakes? Isn't there rules at these parks/trails you go on ? Unless its chasing me I don't believe I can just shoot a snake because its in my way and its deadly.
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I don't shoot or kill snakes any more. The exception tends to be water mocasins which I rarely see. I'm not real partial to water snakes either. I especially don't shoot or kill snakes inside parks unless there is a darn good reason for it other than I feel like it. Yes, there are rules. Shooting is a pretty inefficient way to kill a typical snake anyway.
 
Well while this thread is started by someone just trying to be a smart aleck I'll bite. What is a trail gun? A gun that you take when you hit the trail. Duh!! Of coarse it means different things to different folks but the one thing we can all agree on is a trail gun gives peace of mind. More than likely it's carried lot's, shot little (at least when out and about). For some it's a .22lr, far from useless like the OP would seem to believe. As a matter of fact maybe the most useful of all trail guns. For some it's a .38, for some it's a .44m. Heck for some it's a 12ga shotgun or a centerfire rifle. It all depends on where that wandering soul has set his peace of mind at.

It's whatever you want.
 
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