6" L-frame for camping/hiking.

[Kid44]

I've assembled what I think may be the perfect camping, hiking and back country setup. 6" L-frame in a Guide's Choice chest holster. 6" may be a bit long but it maximizes the potential of the .357 from a revolver. With the proper load it should handle anything I may encounter, guys with bad intentions, coyote, feral dogs and black bear. A lot of people shun the .357 for black bear, but it was around long before the .44 magnum and it killed plenty of black bear, and bigger game. This set up will most likely become my white tail deer choice, perfect for where I hunt. I'm open to opinions on my choice, and hearing what you may carry for your back country set up.

 

[Mehutch]

More power, more safe... to a point. I use to carry a S&W 65 357 mag while backpacking. Ran into a big black bear, had some trouble with it for about an hour. There I felt under gunned. Now I carry my S&W 629-4 44 mag 5" with 310gr Federal Hammerhead hard cast lead. Heavier but what the hell. I like it and sleep soundly way out in the bush.

 

[mikerjf]

Your thoughts match mine, with the caveat that I've heard feral dog packs can get quite large (as in 25-30 members), and that makes me a little nervous with only a revolver. But power-wise I would think .357 would do it in black bear country.

(You might add moose, pigs, and gators to the list!)

 

[Protocall_Design]

Loaded with 170 to 180 grain bullets, not much can stand up to that kind of firepower. I would take a 44 Mag. because I already have it, but a 6" 357 is still a heavy hitter. If you can shoot it well, you are better armed with that than most people.

 

[Kid44]

Loaded with 170 to 180 grain bullets, not much can stand up to that kind of firepower. I would take a 44 Mag. because I already have it, but a 6" 357 is still a heavy hitter. If you can shoot it well, you are better armed with that than most people.

I have .44 magnums and a .454 Casull but they are heavier and I really don't need the power they offer for what I am doing. Now if grizzly bears were part of the equation I would be singing a different tune. There is NOTHING in KS, MO or CO that a well placed .357 bullet can't handle, plus my wife could shoot it if need be.

 

[BAM-BAM]

"Hunting/camping"handgun..... a 6" 686 was my Pa. whitetail deer hunting handgun for several years. But for everyday carry around camp or just hiking I prefer a smaller lighter handgun....... 3" 60-10 or 3" 66...... both are carried in a Safariland 111 Cyclone cross-draw holster.

 

[ultratec00]

Hard to beat the 5" for all around carry. I have both 686+ and 629s in that length and would be my go to for every day carry and/or backpacking. I also have both in 3" and love each, but the extra 2" comes in handy. The 5" just balances better. I have a 617 in 6" that went to the range the other day, which reminded me how an extra 1" can affect balance, especially with a full lug.

 

[uncleted327]

Personally I would not pick a 6" for hiking and camping. The effect of barrel length is way overhyped and there is nothing the 6" would do in that role that a 3-5" wouldn't do in an easier to carry package.

 

[Sixgun100]

If you are happy with the six inch, that's all that really matters. To me, a hiking gun and a camping gun are two different types. When I'm in camp, the size of the gun doesn't matter. But, when hiking, I want the smallest, yet effective handgun I own. Best wishes!

 

[hkcavalier]

I've hiked with my 6" 686+, but most of the time it's a 5" 629 like the one in the earlier post.

I guess once you're used to "hiking" with a rifle and gear, a heavy handgun isn't a big deal.

 

[stansdds]

Your thoughts match mine, with the caveat that I've heard feral dog packs can get quite large (as in 25-30 members), and that makes me a little nervous with only a revolver. But power-wise I would think .357 would do it in black bear country.

(You might add moose, pigs, and gators to the list!)

If you get attacked by a pack of dogs that large in number, then you need at least two or three hand grenades.

 

[StrawHat]

...I have .44 magnums and a .454 Casull but they are heavier...

I used to have L frames, a 4" and a 6". They weighed the same as the 4" and 6" N frames I had. Your 44 must be underlugged?

I would be interested in seeing the weights involved.

Kevin

 

[Kid44]

I used to have L frames, a 4" and a 6". They weighed the same as the 4" and 6" N frames I had. Your 44 must be underlugged?

I would be interested in seeing the weights involved.

Kevin

The 2 .44's I have are a 4" Model 29 and a 4 5/8" Super Blackhawk, they may actually not be heavier than the L-frame, but the 5" Super Redhawk .454 definitely is.

 

[rubiranch]

When out in the back country I carry my M&P .45 auto.

 

[TMan51]

I'm open to opinions on my choice, and hearing what you may carry for your back country set up.

Thoughts:

The .357 Magnum is effective on whitetails in my part of the world out to about 75yds, and that's about as far as most can place a bullet in the right spot, every time they pull the trigger without a scope and a rest. The 6"/6.5" options are probably the best choice.

For areas where there are no grizzlies, ( a very different place), I have a Ruger SP101/4". It's not as good as a 6" revolver as the range moves out, but for "problems" requiring a handgun it's more than accurate enough, and powerful enough, to convince even a large black bear it's in the wrong place. Use a heavier cast bullet and lots of W296 or 2400.

The .44M's are great. I have several. But they are not for everybody. And the lighter options, the ones easy to carry, are pretty mean after a dozen rounds.
No matter what you get, you need to shoot it regularly, and the .357's are much easier on the shooter, and the shooters wallet.
Might be your best option if you only own one.

 

[JohnRippert]

Carried a 2 3/4 inch Speed-Six for a while when hiking. As I get older I like extra weight less and less. Nowadays it is a 640-1, one of these two, with Buffalo Bore hard cast 180gr.

 

[Oracle]

The issue in central Washington has been cougars. A hunting camp member who didn't pack a gun was attacked a couple of years ago. The cougar was crouched down coming at him a roaring. He tried to frighten it away with no luck. When it got to 15 yards he shot an arrow and missed. It kept coming and he shot another arrow at ten feet, this arrow connected.

He now packs a gun.

 

[THEmodelof1989]

Your thoughts match mine, with the caveat that I've heard feral dog packs can get quite large (as in 25-30 members), and that makes me a little nervous with only a revolver. But power-wise I would think .357 would do it in black bear country.

(You might add moose, pigs, and gators to the list!)

If 25-30 dogs are intent on eating you, you are already ate, hi-cap or not.

 

[DR505]

I am pretty satisfied with my 625-7 MG in .45 Colt. A 270 grain LSWC at a leisurely 900 fps seems adequate.

 

[kschmider]

Your thoughts match mine, with the caveat that I've heard feral dog packs can get quite large (as in 25-30 members), and that makes me a little nervous with only a revolver. But power-wise I would think .357 would do it in black bear country.

(You might add moose, pigs, and gators to the list!)

Question for people more experienced than me, would the sound of a .357 going off possibly scare off the rest of the feral dogs?

Karl