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.

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.

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!)

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.

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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.

"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.

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.

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.

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!

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.

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

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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

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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.

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

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Kenny
Endeavor to persevere.

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.

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.

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.

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

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'89

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

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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

For me 6” is too long for hiking, backpacking, camping, but ok for hunting. I prefer a 3-4 inch N frame for non hunting, outdoor carry, particularly a Mountain Gun in 45 Colt or 44 mag.

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213th FBINA

For a 20-30 dog pack, I would think a belt fed firearm of choice would be most appropriate.
I don't have a specific firearm I carry on walks. Sometimes I'm out in the woods, but more often as I get older and my wife has a harder time getting around anywhere, I'm walking in the town we live in. I have a couple different handguns I carry, depending on how I'm dressed. Nothing here in Central Ohio is too big to stop if I get the hits in. My carry pieces range from 38/357, through 9mm, 357SIG and 45acp.

Lived in Colorado all my life(77 yrs), hunted and backpacked for about 50 of those years. Carried mostly a j frame and now it's loaded with Underwood extreme penetrators, feel perfectly safe. just my opinion.

I agree with those that say there is no need for the extra barrel length. I have a 586+ and 686+ both with 3" barrels and with a heavy load such as Buffalo Bore, I feel if seven shots won't do the job, I should have brought a friend.

If you are a good shooter with your 6" barreled target revolver and comfortable carrying it, go for it. Like you said, it will also likely become your hunting piece.

I have 686s in 4", 5" and 6" barrel lengths. With decent holsters, there is little or no difference in how they carry when hiking/camping. With your chest holster I'd assume it will carry well and comfortably. If you are happy and enjoy your set-up, it really doesn't matter what others think.

There are not many of us that can have all the bbl lengths in all the guns we want. If it works for you enjoy it. I love my L frame, but it is a 4.2" 44.

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Have you thought about a cross draw. I like the 111 cyclone.

The 6" L-frame is fine choice. My preference would be a 4" but I'm not going to criticize your decision.

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Let's be careful out there

357 magnum is plenty for what you intend. I'd have probably went with 1 4" as well, but 6" works too.

I've never been attacked by wild dogs, but I've killed a number of them over the years. When there's been more than one dog, they've always ran away after I shot the first one.

I always assumed that wild dogs are looking for an easy meal , not a hard target. If you shoot a couple of them, the other ones will see that as dinner.

Smith 386XL Hunter. Lightweight alloy L frame w 6" barrel. Load with the hottest Buffalo Bore ammo you can stand. Issue solved.

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357 is nice, but there are so many good 44 magnums around.

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Yes, they are nice and yes, there are a lot of good .44 magnums around, but I'm not sure I understand the point of your post.

Last fall I was turkey hunting ADK. Doing kee kees I called in Yogi.I had my Beretta 12ga with #6 shot. I missed my.45 lc with my 300g fp bear rounds. I was lucky when I quit calling he quit coming. I was wondering what was circling me it was him. The lc in a chest harness goes with me now.

Carry what you're most comfortable with.
My brother carried this 6" M66-1 for the first 10 years that he was an LEO.

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Kenny
Endeavor to persevere.

Good call.

I carry a Model 58 - 41 mag. It has a 4" barrel and packs nicely. Little more power than the 357, but for me, more controllable.

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