Camp/hiking pistol/ammo suggestions

[38splfan]

Hey,

I have quite a decision on my hands... but a good one! I have a great leather chest holster (Paradise valley leather) that makes toting around a L or N Frame easy and convenient. I also have a 686 no dash, 629-1 both with 4" barrels and a 657 no dash with a 6" barrel.

I live in Oregon where our largest predator would be a cougar or mid sized (200-350lb) black bear. My main concern in the woods would be a 2-legged predator. Typically I'd have the gun on while fishing at the river, hiking, snowmobile riding, and around the campsite.

For hiking/camping/fishing which route would you go:

-629 with full house magnums
-629 with specials (gold dots, 200gr)

-686 with full house magnums

-657 with Magnums
-657 with "special" downloaded rounds

I'd prefer to stick with the 629 or 686 because they fit the holster and the barrel doesn't stick out. Plus the 657 is one gun I don't want to beat up outside for sentimental reasons. Please weigh in on your thoughts, and keep in mind, I've never seen a cougar before, and the only black bear I've seen is the 375LB boar currently hanging on my wall. Thanks!

 

[Injunbro]

Kind of hard to go wrong w/ a good .357 since there's no big bears & a 2nd shot would be faster against multiple 2-legged predators. I'd go w/ the 686 w/ magnums.

 

[Xfuzz]

The 4 inch 629...

 

[Echo40]

I'd go with the 629.

Conventional wisdom in regards to trail guns is to carry the biggest, most powerful firearm which can be quickly deployed that you possibly can.

 

[double-dipper]

Hey 38, any of them handguns you listed would be fine. I personally would get a S&W 66 with a 4" barrel for woods walking in big cat or black bear country.

 

[Rpg]

I'd carry the gun I can present and accurately hit a target within 10 yards most quickly.

The ammo is pretty much a secondary issue, although I'd prefer a hard cast swc in 158 gr for the 357 or 240gr for a 44.

 

[ColbyBruce]

I believe the 686 and 629 weigh within a few ounces of one another. I would carry the one you can deploy the fastest and shoot the most accurately.

We have a house in the north Georgia mountains. At various times I have carried a 4" barrel 629-5, 57, 58, and 657-4 MG, 65-3 & 65-5. Now I usually carry a Glock 29 10mm or Sig P250sc .40 S&W with 200 grain hard cast loads by Underwood or Buffalo Bore. The semi-autos are lighter, thinner, more compact, faster to reload and shoot.

 

[Mule Packer]

In the January 1977 issue of Shooting Times Magazine, Skeeter Skelton wrote an article entitled, "What's the Best Trail Gun for You?" Obviously, when "push comes to shove," the final decision is strictly up to you, but here are just a few of his thoughts.

As a handgun man, I have a rather clear mental image of what a trail gun is. It is a handgun that you carry when you venture afield without the specific purpose of shooting anything. If you carry a long-barreled magnum revolver, you are likely hunting some sort of game. If the handgun on the car seat is a bull-barrel revolver or heavily frilled auto pistol, you're heading for the pistol range for a bit of target work. When you select a snubnose .38 or a chopped and channeled .45, you ordinarily do so with personal defense in mind.​

I travel light. I carry a handgun on these outings and prefer that it, too, be light, with no heavy harnesses, no extra-long barrel, no deer-sized cartridges, and no oversized grips to knock against gateposts or vehicle doors.

My idea of a trail gun is a handgun that, with 50 rounds of ammunition, will make a package small and light enough that you are unaware of its presence until you need it. It adds practically nothing to the contents of a backpack or to the saddlebags of horseman or cyclist. Worn in a neat holster on the trouser belt, it lies flat and doesn't sag your pants. It also looks at home in a fishing box.​

Being small and feathery, my trail gun is of necessity chambered for a small-caliber cartridge. For the purposes outlined, I suggest the .22 Long Rifle, .22 Magnum, .32 S&W Long, .32-20 or .38 Special. Although I seldom carry a 9mm automatic on the trail, it would qualify in certain guns for those who like the auto pistol.​

And finally...

One piece of advice: Don't try to make a magnum out of your trail gun. You don't need it. ​

Now, granted, times have changed in the last 43 years, not the least of which are the types of situations we might confront in the outdoors. The advice given thus far by those who have submitted their comments is "right on" to my way of thinking. While I often carry a Ruger Mk II or a Smith and Wesson Model 34-1 on my hikes, I will just as often carry a .38 special with +P loads, a .357, or even a .45 Colt.

I think it boils down to one thing, and that is, what you feel comfortable with at the time. After all, you're the one who's going to be packin' it.

 

[joe44va]

I use a Model 69.

 

[forrestinmathews]

I'm picking a Glock 29 for my trail gun with a weapon light mounted. It's water proofy and it works.

For you trail gun I'd pick whichever one of the 4" guns you shoot best. The .357 has the advantage of ammo availability and .38 power levels also. The .44 magnum is powerful, but not many people shoot them so well. If you can shoot it well, take it. I also like to have 50 rounds or a few magazines along. I like to have at least one reload handy with the gun and the rest of the ammo handy in the pack. Just in case something happens that defies the percentages, I don't wanted to lose for lack of shooting back.

 

[Big Cholla]

Go back and read Post No. 8. Now, read it again. Between Skeeter and Mule Packer, I do believe you have heard it right from the horse's mouth....Or in this case.....the Mule's mouth. I will add just a little explanation to the above sage's advice. Pack something heavy for a long time and you will be leaving it in camp, on the stump, or carrying it in the backpack. Shoot magnum loads and the handgun recoils much more than a lighter caliber. Accurate, timely subsequent shots are oft the difference between survival and severe hurting. About the biggest handgun I have ever carried in the lower '48 while camping/hiking/hunting was a S&W M 19, 2.5" bbl. and I had to borrow that from my wife. I will admit to carrying a S&W M 29, 6" bbl. while first fishing in Alaska. After my first meetup with a Griz I switched to a short barreled Rem M 870 carrying slugs.

Even though we are very S&W revolver prone here, I think a S&W semi auto in 9 mm could also be very adequate for your stated use. I would pack one built on an aluminum alloy frame. Good luck with what ever your choice is. Just make sure you know how and are well practiced to access, present and perform multiple followup shots with your handgun.

 

[Univibe]

Of my own arsenal:

629 with my load, 240 grain swc at 1000 fps.

686 with my load, 158swc at 1200.

Xdm 10mm with my load, 180 grain hardcast at 1250 fps

If you don't load, I'd pack the 686 with a good 158 or 180 grain swc.

 

[Autonomous]

Some time ago I bought a 629 for the same reasons you give. Truth be told
I was lusting after a .44 mag so my choice was based on emotion.
For you I'd favor the .357. Plenty of power and quicker follow up shots.
In fact my new woods gun is a 10mm which has .357 power.

 

[fatcat3]

This sounds like the perfect excuse to buy another handgun. A dedicated woods bumming gun. I've been banging about the woods for close to 40 years and have always carried a Single Six. Bears, Bobcats, tin cans, two legged vermin, never felt under gunned.

 

[federali]

The Biggest Gun You Can Conceal

I could imagine a plot from a movie. You're fresh water fishing, your back to land. The predator will know of your presence before you know of his presence. So, my advice is to carry a decent-sized gun as other posters recommend but carry it concealed.

 

[fredj338]

IMO, a revolver is the ultimate trail gun tool. You can carry mild to wild, snake loads, what ever you think you may need. If no bears are in the mix, then really any service caliber with proper bullets will do for wild dogs, yotes (though they are not a huge threat) & a mountain lion or two legged predator. So if you have a 3-4" 357mag, just about perfect trail gun for your scenario. Add a couple speed loaders & gtg.

 

[ISCS Yoda]

-629 with specials (gold dots, 200gr)

-686 with full house magnums

OR, MAYBE, high quality, defensive +P .38 Special ammunition.

I really dislike .44 Magnum for any kind of defensive work, I don't care what gun it's in. Almost anyone can shoot one if you have reasonable hand and arm strength but almost nobody can shoot them well. Not in a hurry, anyway. THAT is the big difference between poking holes in targets at the range and poking holes in predators, 2 or 4 legged. .44 Specials with 230 grain LRN ammunition is an excellent choice, too. You won't need full house magnums to solve the problems you are referring to.

YMMV. As always.

 

[SAFireman]

Have you given any consideration to a 44 Mag Mountain Gun?

If you like shot shells, the 44 holds far more than a 22, and about double the 38/357.

If you are just 'plinking' you can hand load LSWC rounds in the 700 fps range for a real pleasure to shoot.

If you are worried about 2 legged pests, there is an abundance of SD Ammo in the world.

If you are worried about 4 legged carnivores that might eat you, then you can find some Buffalo Bore Hard Cast loads that will drive deep and hit hard.

The Mountain Gun series uses a taper barrel design to help reduce weight, and the SS finish won't be harmed immediately by any weather or outdoor conditions if you keep it oiled/waxed and wiped down.

I wouldn't go so far to say that carrying 50 spare rounds was equivalent to the 22 LR, but you make your choices.

There are Mountain Guns in 357 Mag, 41 Mag, 44 Mag, 45 Colt, and even 22 LR. I have one each in 41 & 44. One day, I may find a 45 Colt to latch on to next

Happy trails

 

[white cloud]

I don't think you can make a bad choice with either the 629 or 686. I really like the .357 cartridge a lot but you can load very effective .44 self defense rounds that don't generate a lot of muzzle blast. I tote a .357 around the farm for a lot of the same reasons you want to carry. It does a good job.

 

[shell627]

For myself I carried a model 63 for many years and miles.I even dropped a speed loader for the 22 in my pocket in case of something unforeseen.And there was always a box of 22's in daypack.Now in the Smokey's when I hike there.A mountain gun in 45colt or a Ruger Blackhawk in 45 colt.Hiking and day walks with my dog near home whatever my carry gun is that day .Yesterday it was a colt defender as I am now rediscovering my love of the 1911 platform.