Now that the National Parks are open to legally-armed citizens complying with state laws, I've given considerable thought to what I'd like to pack while hiking trails that are somewhat far from civilization. I have but one gun in my inventory that I consider ideal for packing in the field as a defense gun against either 2- or 4-legged critters.
First, I'd like the gun to be fairly light, although not so light that it would make the recoil painful and preclude fast follow-up shots. Second, I want an effective stopping cartridge. The .44 magnum and the .41 Magnum are just too much, and the .357 magnum sometimes isn't enough. I want the finish to be stainless, so that bad weather won't affect the gun unduly. The barrel length should allow one to sit down comfortably with the gun holstered. The gun should go bang every time the trigger is pulled, with little or no chance of a malfunction. In the rare event of a malfunction, a quick second try capability would be mandatory. Simpler is better. Nothing to remember except point and pull the trigger.
Now let's go back to caliber. One would want a large cross section, more than adequate stopping power, and manageable recoil. These criteria point to the .45 Colt. I'm not talking about Cowboy loads, but a substantial power level in the order of a 250-grain bullet at around 1,000 fps. I like the "chop factor" of hard-cast semiwadcutters for good frontal impact and bloodletting ability. These loads are not hard to handle; the recoil is more of a shove than a whack, and allow for fast repeat shots.
To me, this would indicate a .45 Colt-chambered stainless revolver with a slim 4-inch barrel. The Smith & Wesson Mountain Gun series would be ideal, but I would want the old-style hammer (firing pin on the hammer) and cylinder release, and a red ramp front sight for easy acquisition in the field. I like the older square grip configuration for a more substantial grip. Forget about the dumb lock S&W is putting on most of its newer revolvers. I'd want the gun to have a smooth action job to provide a slick double action pull.
Here's what I've settled on. It's a model 625-6 Mountain gun, modified as above. The stocks are smooth Ahrends retro classics to convert the round butt to square. You'll find this baby on my hip when I'm in the field. I don't think I could be better armed with a more appropriate gun. How about you?
First, I'd like the gun to be fairly light, although not so light that it would make the recoil painful and preclude fast follow-up shots. Second, I want an effective stopping cartridge. The .44 magnum and the .41 Magnum are just too much, and the .357 magnum sometimes isn't enough. I want the finish to be stainless, so that bad weather won't affect the gun unduly. The barrel length should allow one to sit down comfortably with the gun holstered. The gun should go bang every time the trigger is pulled, with little or no chance of a malfunction. In the rare event of a malfunction, a quick second try capability would be mandatory. Simpler is better. Nothing to remember except point and pull the trigger.
Now let's go back to caliber. One would want a large cross section, more than adequate stopping power, and manageable recoil. These criteria point to the .45 Colt. I'm not talking about Cowboy loads, but a substantial power level in the order of a 250-grain bullet at around 1,000 fps. I like the "chop factor" of hard-cast semiwadcutters for good frontal impact and bloodletting ability. These loads are not hard to handle; the recoil is more of a shove than a whack, and allow for fast repeat shots.
To me, this would indicate a .45 Colt-chambered stainless revolver with a slim 4-inch barrel. The Smith & Wesson Mountain Gun series would be ideal, but I would want the old-style hammer (firing pin on the hammer) and cylinder release, and a red ramp front sight for easy acquisition in the field. I like the older square grip configuration for a more substantial grip. Forget about the dumb lock S&W is putting on most of its newer revolvers. I'd want the gun to have a smooth action job to provide a slick double action pull.
Here's what I've settled on. It's a model 625-6 Mountain gun, modified as above. The stocks are smooth Ahrends retro classics to convert the round butt to square. You'll find this baby on my hip when I'm in the field. I don't think I could be better armed with a more appropriate gun. How about you?
The wife and I are planning a trip to the Grand Canyon this year and I wonder --- Does a handgun have to be concealed? 
