I have spent about thirty years of my life canoeing, all over the United States and Canada. Haven't gotten to Alaska yet, but that's coming. I have lead canoeing trips, but mostly go by myself these days.

I have always cairried some sort of survival firearm, sometimes a revolver only, sometimes a rifle only (in Canada), but always have some sort of firearm. Lately, I have taken to carrying a long gun and hand gun, for protection and potential game gathering. The perfect combination of course depends on what threats you may encounter in the area you travel, the local laws, etc. What works in Alaska might be overkill on Virginia rivers...

Here's what I carry now for trips in the Southern U.S., a Ruger 10/22 rifle with two spare magazines, and a 2" stainless Model 64 .38 Special. A speedloader in a Wild Bills Concealmeant pouch. Also, two spare .38 speedloaders and the spare rifle mags in a Moisin Nagant Ammo pouch. So, I can carry 30 rounds of .22 ammo on me and the rifle, and 24 rounds of .38 ammo in my revolver and on my belt. In my dry box "Survival Kit" are 50 more rounds of .38 Special, and 200 rounds of .22 ammo, as well as other survival needs like matches, flashlight, knife, etc. Rifle and dry box are tied into the boat so they will stay with it if you capsize.





Moisin Nagant ammo pouch, room for two ruger mags and two speedloaders. Holster is a Bianchi 5BHL I have used daily for the last six years:



The Ruger 10/22 rifle and .38 revolver is a reliable, discreet and effective defensive and game gathering combination.


Here is my Alaska Combination, ready for the Yukon River, a Marlin 1895 in 45/70, and a Ruger Super Blackhawk in .44 Magnum. With the Marlin, I can use mild cast lead handloads for small game, and stout factory 405 grain jacketed bullets for large game and predators. It is a very accurate rifle, stone cold reliable, it's even fun to shoot! I am hoping for a Yukon trip next Summer....



7 1/2" Ruger Super Blackhawk:



I have more rifle and and revolver combinations, what are your favorites?

I really like that first pairing. Can't even go wrong with a 10/22 or a J/K/L frame snub.

I never make it out into extreme deep wilds, but when I am out with a handgun and rifle, it's usually a 3" 65 and Rem 870 12 gauge pump. The 870 can be replace with a .308 bolt action as need be, or even the trusty 10/22. I also have a 624 snub which I turned into a Mountain Gun Jr. which gets carried on occasion, depending on season.

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I'm with the banned ...

Why use that snub M-64 in the wilderness, when a four-inch barrel will give greater power and be easier to shoot well?

I'd sub. a M-66 or GP-100 with four-inch bbl. and a mix of .38 and .357 ammo. I prefer Pachmayr grips for all-weather use. They fit my hand well, and handle recoil well, too.

My .22 rifle is a Marlin M-795SS wth box magazines and stainless barrel.

The knife would probably be a Buck, Puma, or Fallkniven with five to six-inch blade and a Swiss Army pocketknife or two. A Gerber or Buck hatchet would be nice, too.

Your Alaskan setup looks good, but I'd lean toward a .375 H&H if Winchester makes a Model 70 in stainless with synthetic stock. Pretty sure they do have a .30/06 that way. But Marlin makes those .45-70's in stainless, don't they? I guess that for camp defense, iron sights may be the way to go, especially if a bear attacks at night. You may have to rely on the revolver then.

My preference for a bolt-action is mainly just me. But if the gun gets wet and has to be cleaned out, the Marlin will be a more difficult item to maintain. Your "dry box" makes much sense.

I'm not a lever-gunner, but I do admire your big Marlin.

When I am out in the Jeep, I have a Lever/revolver combo, both in 357. I have the Marlin 1894C and Mod 13-3 pair but sometimes sub the Mod 60-15.

Usually the truck gun is aMarlin Camp Carbine in .45 with 2 10 round shooting star (Chip McKormick) mags. Pairs nicely with my Colt Commander. I do wander off occasionally with a 10/22, but the side gun is either my 696 or Ruger Blackhawk in .44spl.

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James L. "Jim" Rhiner

Texas Star,

I like the snub Model 64 as it is my daily carry gun, I shoot it a lot and don't feel under armed with it as a defensive gun. Light, easy to conceal. Good for rivers here on the East Coast...

If I were to do any Western canoeing, and I have on the Upper Missouri River in Montana, I'll upgrade the rifle to a .357 carbine as a minimum, maybe a 30/30, and a 4" .38 or .357 revolver:

Rossi .357 carbine:



4" Model 64, with an El Paso Saddlery "1860" flap holster:





The 4" revolver will fit inside the dry box, and the Moisin Nagant pouch also works well with that combo, .38 Special speedloaders in one pocket, loose .357 ammo in the other for the lever rifle. The Rossi prefers .357 loads, but will work with .38 Special. With this combo, I can take game out to 100 yards with the rifle, and the 4" revolver does give better accuracy. It's a 25 yard gun while the 2" revolver is more of a 15 yard gun...

I also own a 4" Model 66 and 6" Ruger .357 Blackhawk, so there are some .357 revolvers to pick from, I just shoot and use the Model 64's much more.

Here is a variation on the combo... Something old, something new. I had this combo with me on a pig hunt several years ago.

Old - Marlin Guide Gun in 45-70.

New - GLOCK Gen4 G27 in 40 S&W



Edmo

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TRUTH: Don't delete my posts!

I have a closet full of semi expendable walking around rifles - as I like to call them. I generally paint the metal flat black or in the same camo pattern that I paint the stock. This eliminates any night time glare from blued steel or a polished wood stock. It also gives a bit of rust protection. I like Carcanos for such though a Krag cut into a carbine long ago works well.

One of my favorite day dreams: rifle & pistol combos. No pics at this time, but my latest favorite is a pair of stainless 357's, a Ruger 77/357 and S&W PC 627 (or my 2 3/4" Speed Six if traveling light). Love the 22 combos too and have a couple to choose from.

Recently I picked up a Ruger 77/22 Mag. I'd like to pair it up with a pistol in the same caliber.

Walk into my office and if I'm not working, but in deep thought, you might conclude that I'm working out a complicated business problem. More times than not, I'm thinking about what rifle and pistol combo I will be out with next deer season.

Out
West

For this sort of problem I'm a fan of having ammo interchangeablility.

I think a .357 Combo is about right, ideally in "all weather" plastic/laminate with stainless barrels (ideally the flat, beaded blasted or painted to keep down glare)...

Now, for an interesting rig, how about a .500 S&W chambered 6"er and an 1886 rechambered for the same... Serious custom job that I think...

I've been a big fan of same caliber combos as well. I have a Marlin 1894S in .41 mag that I fell into and it fits the bill perfectly. It pairs nicely with either my 657, 58, or Blackhawk.

In reality, I have found that mixing things up suits my needs better when out in the woods or desert. If I am carrying a .22 rifle (which I often like to do) I carry a .41 mag handgun. If I am carrying a larger rifle, I find my M17 is a perfect companion. It just feels like I cover a wider range this way.

Chubbs