Camping Gun??

[Kid44]

What do you carry when camping? I have begun thinking that a short barreled .357 may not be any more than a hotly loaded .38 Special, maybe a little more. I have several calibers to pick from, but for most of my camping needs I think I will opt for my 6" 586 carried in a Guide's Choice chest holster. Biggest threat I may run into in Missouri/Kansas would probably be wild dogs. I do get to Colorado, but think I would still take the 586 with a 180 gr. hard cast load from Buffalo Bore or Double Tap.

 

[SAFireman]

S&W Mountain gun fits the bill for me.

44 Special will handle most dog & human problems.

44 Mag can be loaded with hard-cast SWC to deal with bigger threats.

44 Shot shells for the no-legged vermin.

And the Mountain gun series are round butt and have a tapered barrel profile to help reduce weight.

You could do almost the same with a good 357. Barrel length from 2.5-4" will pack nicely.

 

[Rpg]

Over the years I’ve tried Pythons, Smith M29’s and 19’s but long ago settled on a Colt 1911 with hard cast H&G #68 200 gr SWC at about 1000 fps.

The 1911 is plenty for anything here in Colorado, is much more pleasant to carry than a magnum revolver and is much, much quicker.

 

[ParadiseRoad]

...we used to tent camp all over the western half of the country...

...with a 12 gauge pistol grip shotgun loaded with 00 buck...and a 1911 in the tent with us...

 

[Kid44]

I had the chance

S&W Mountain gun fits the bill for me.

44 Special will handle most dog & human problems.

44 Mag can be loaded with hard-cast SWC to deal with bigger threats.

44 Shot shells for the no-legged vermin.

And the Mountain gun series are round butt and have a tapered barrel profile to help reduce weight.

You could do almost the same with a good 357. Barrel length from 2.5-4" will pack nicely.

I had the chance to get the 4" 586 but got the 6" instead and have no regrets. I did buy the 2.5" Model 19 also and don't regret that either. Kinda have the best of both worlds with the 6" and 2.5" Both are very good shooters but the 586 can easily handle some of the "hotter loads". There are better choices, but I wouldn't shy away from taking a deer with the 586.

 

[KSDrifter]

.22Mag. Dump a box of ammo into your pocket and go. It’ll stop all kinds of dogs.

 

[THEmodelof1989]

Over the years I’ve tried Pythons, Smith M29’s and 19’s but long ago settled on a Colt 1911 with hard cast H&G #68 200 gr SWC at about 1000 fps.

The 1911 is plenty for anything here in Colorado, is much more pleasant to carry than a magnum revolver and is much, much quicker.

A 1911 is quicker than a magnum revolver? Please, explain this to me. Like... in what way?

 

[DR505]

A 625-7 Mountain Gun in .45 Colt. What else would anyone want to carry?

 

[DR505]

A 1911 is quicker than a magnum revolver? Please, explain this to me. Like... in what way?

I know of one way...much quicker to lose all of your brass.

 

[bigwheelzip]

Camping choice is the same as for woods walks back home, 3" 686+, carried concealed.

 

[22hipower]

My camping days are pretty much over but if I was still camping my choice would be my Governor. Anything will pretty much work but I've become a believer in the Governor which I used to condemn as the dumbest revolver S&W ever built. With the range of 410 loads available it will eliminate snakes/rodents/etc. (killed a skunk at about 40 feet with it) and would definitely discourage the dogs you mention. With a few stiff Colt 45 loads included you can stop just about anything in North America if you have to. A big plus is the light weight; at 30 ounces (unloaded) it can be carried all day comfortably. I've tried about everything else and there are many good choices but the Governor has been a real positive surprise.

Jeff
SWCA #1457

 

[Rpg]

A 1911 is quicker than a magnum revolver? Please, explain this to me. Like... in what way?

Quicker in that it can be presented from the leather and accurately fired in MUCH less time than a magnum revolver with a comparable length barrel.

 

[StrawHat]

Quicker in that it can be presented from the leather and accurately fired in MUCH less time than a magnum revolver with a comparable length barrel.

Apparently you are not in the company of revolver men very often.

Kevin

 

[bondjamesbond]

My 317 with CCIshot shells in the first two

 

[Lostaro]

Depends on the camping...tent camping out away from it all I will have a full size revolver of some sort...357 or .41mag

Nowadays my camping is "glam-ping" in our 30' travel trailer. A campground full of aluminum sided RVs filled with people is a real concern.

I usually have a revolver with first couple rounds being a shot cartridge....for snakes and such.

If someone/something were to come into the camper their first "greeting" would be from our German Shepherd....I'll back him up

 

[DR505]

Quicker in that it can be presented from the leather and accurately fired in MUCH less time than a magnum revolver with a comparable length barrel.

Um...no.

 

[JDinAZ]

A 625-7 Mountain Gun in .45 Colt. What else would anyone want to carry?

well now theres one more im gonna have to look for. classic time tested calibers cant be beat! rekon they was good nuff for the trail back then they otta still do the job nowadays. in general...

 

[lrrifleman]

A 1911 is quicker than a magnum revolver? Please, explain this to me. Like... in what way?

Being comfortable with both a 1911 and a revolver, I would suggest that against a traditional (6 shot) magnum revolver, a 1911 can be:
1. Emptied faster
2. Carry more rounds; hence, neutralize a threat faster, and
3. Reloaded faster.

In most instances, if I were camping out West (tent or camper), I would prefer either a 41 Magnum, 44 Special/Magnum, or a 45 Long Colt. I would expect that my greatest source of concern would be either poisonous snakes or 2 legged vermin.

 

[arjay]

I’m with Rpg.When I carry it’s a government model with the same loads. The biggest threat around here other than ticks,mosquitos,lightening,hypothermia and avalanches is a protective mama moose in the spring.Dont piss off mama lol

 

[steelslaver]

Depends on where and when I am camping. Usually a small case of handguns goes along. A big bore revolver and a 22lr are always going to be there. I can always add to the pot with a 22. Set around camp and shot some cans. Set some bread crumbs outside the tent a night while playing cards, then have a hit the crumbs with a big light and blast some field mice.