backpacking handgun?

Question

I am looking for suggestions for a light backpacking gun with enough knockdown to protest againt bears and wolves. I am well aquanted with firearms and just want to know whats out there and in what caliber to use.

Answer 1

There is no substitute for a power, dependability, and ease of use of a Glock 10mm, but in certain situations, I will substitute one Glock 10mm for another. I have the full size model 20 and the subcompact model 29 Glocks. I generally perfer the full size model 20, but if I'll be in a situation where concealment might be critical I'll take the smaller model 29. One good thing about the 29 is it will accept the 15 round clip that comes with the model 20, but they stick out about an inch farther than the 10 round clip that comes with the 29.
For stopping power you can get some huge caliber that has more power per round than the 10mm, but consider that the 190 grain bullet I use gets 1220 feet per second in my model 20, and the clip holds 15 bullets.That's about 700 foot pounds of energy, almost twice what the standard .45 acp gets, and we all know about the reputation the .45 has for stopping power. If a pack of wolves is hungry you might need more than a revolver holds.
Ted Nugent had a Glock 20 on him when a 1200 pound Cape Buffalo charged him while he was hunting in Africa. He shot it once in the head and it dropped dead 15 feet from him. If it's good enough for Ted, it's good enough for me. When asked which 10mm Glock to get Ted said get both, and as many of both as you can afford.
As I type this, I have a Glock 23 in my pocket. The .40 S & W is like a baby 10mm, but still has nearly the power of the old .45. I'm carrying it today just to remind myself how it feels to carry a little gun. Usually I carry a 10mm. Feeling a bit weak now that I think about the .40 in my pocket, but I'll get over it.
Now go get a Glock 10mm.
Note to Frank below me: it's a matter of physics. The 10mm has the power. If you don't believe me ask Ted Nugent, who carries a Glock 10mm as his life saver in Africa, and has killed animals with it bigger than what you will face in America. I'm an NRA Life Member. Ted Nugent, who will tell you how wrong you are about the 10mm, is on our Board of Directors. Listen to Ted.

Answer 2

Bear spray works better on bears than guns do, since, assuming you point it at the bear, at the right range, he'll get a face-full of OMG IT BURNS!!11 whereas with a gun, the only shot that'll stop a charging bear quickly enough is a brain or heart shot. While being shot elsewhere certainly won't be good for him, the bear will probably bleed out too slowly for it to keep him from getting to you and laying down some pain.

But, if you must have a gun, I'll echo the sentiment that a S&W Mountain Gun either in .44 Magnum, or .45 Colt will put a big, flat-nosed tissue-crushing bullet into an unpleasant critter's boiler-room, provided you do your part. Provided you never have to tackle anything bigger and meaner than the average black bear, the .357 Magnum is a just-adequate backpacking gun, provided you use the heavy 158 - 180 grain loads. Don't load with the standard 125 grain JHP loads. They're great medicine on two-legged predators, but large four-legged ones are generally too meaty to be impressed.

If, for some reason, you're feeling threatened by brown bears and don't want to carry a rifle, Ruger makes the Super Redhawk Alaskan, which is a 2-1/2" barrel revolver weighing in at 41 ounces, chambered for the .454 Casull or .44 Magnum. The .454 Casull gun will also handle the hottest .45 Colt loads from Buffalo Bore or COR-BON if you're not quite feeling up to firing full-house .454 Casull loads from such a light gun, even with generous recoil-taming rubber grips.

Answer 3

This Site Might Help You.

RE:
backpacking handgun?
I am looking for suggestions for a light backpacking gun with enough knockdown to protest againt bears and wolves. I am well aquanted with firearms and just want to know whats out there and in what caliber to use.

Answer 4

the guys telling u use a 10mm must have something against u because there trying to get u killed. don't carry anything less then a 44.mag in the woods of bears and wolves ..
usually where bears and wolves are there's also moose,elk and mountain lion which are just as deadly if u run across one like wrong place wrong time situation ...... Taurus and smith&wesson both make a 4inch 44mag. stainless pistol for last time i checked about 5 somthing ..... and depends on how big a guy u are b4 i could say ud be better off with bigger rounds like a 454. or 480. 500. 45-70 ...... because if u cant control the gun and hit what your aiming at it doesnt matter what uve got ..... youll only have 1 to 2 shots max at a charging animal so make them count ..... hope this helps and keep your ears and eyes open while in the woods.

Answer 5

Jack London lives!!!! While the adventure sounds interesting, the gun plan is full of roadblocks. Age, No permits. No open carry in CA. Canadian laws......... Do you really want to walk to Alberta?? Is there really a job waiting at the end or just a interview? How many days will you have to cover, per day to reach Alberta by the end of Summer? Cost?

Answer 6

It's unlikely a situation will arise that allows you time to draw a hand gun from any place that you could carry it that wouldn't be cumbersome while hiking.
If you must, I'd suggest a .357 mag. (revolver). I'd also get a drop harness holster so it's carried on the side of your thigh instead of at the belt.

A more practical weapon for the situation you describe might be a Shotgun sawed off to 18 in. barrel (maybe even a youth model), and if you prefer, shorten the stock or replace it with a pistol grip. I'd get a pump. And if you're really thinking bears, use slugs.

You can sling this across your back, then slip it to firing position in seconds.
This will also be far less expensive.

Answer 7

If you mean grizzly or Alaskan Brown Bears, forget pistols and go with a Marlin Guide Gun in .45-70 Gov't and load that sucker with some or Randy Garrett's (Garret Cartridge Co. - http://www.garrettcartridges.com/ ) 540 grain Hammerheads.

Black bears are not as big, so the S&W Mountain Gun in .44 RemMag or .45 LC should do the job, and not be too much for social use.

Doc

Answer 8

best bet 357 or 44 cal revolver with a short barrel and go with a smith & wesson for relibality \\ second choice a can of bear mace and some small bell,s around your ancle,s to keep the bear,s at a distence

Answer 9

Here's something radical. A Glock Model 20 .10mm w/hi cap mags. Glock re-Christian ed this the... Hunter.

H

Answer 10

Obviously get either the .44 S&W Mountain Gun, the Ruger equivalent, a .454 Casull Raging Bull (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taurus_Raging_Bull ), or one of the big MOFOs - the .460 or .500 S&W, if you can afford it.

Really, you are probably OK with a .44 Ruger or Taurus - they are less expensive than the S&W and will work as well.