Gun for extended camping in NW states

[1911haulic]

I'm planning an extended camping/tour/hiking/fishing trip in the north west , Wyoming, Montana, Idaho and returning through the southwest back to the east coast. Probably three or four months.

Protection recommendations please; I'm 5'9", 150#s and 70 years old in pretty good shape physically.

I have 357s in 4 & 6 inch stainless; a shoulder holster and a cross draw holster.

I have 10mm & 45 1911s with Chest, shoulder, and OWB side holsters.

I have a Colt Kodiac 44 mag 4.25 inch stainless with cross draw holster.

I also have Stainless Rossi 357 rifle.

My initial thought is the 4" 357 loaded with hardcast rounds in the shoulder holster and the 357 rifle loaded with hollow points.

I also have a South Carolina CWP. I also plan to carry bear spray.

Thanks for suggestions.

 

[stansdds]

I won't make a specific recommendation and I'm sure someone will come along and say they never go into the woods of the NW without a 40mm grenade launcher. I will say that having the sidearm and rifle in the same caliber makes logistical sense. Hmmmmm, might be mistaken, but I think the concept of a lever action rifle and revolver in the same caliber does go back to the days of the wild, wild west.

 

[dave1918a2]

You didn't mention the barrel length on the 44. I lived in Colorado for 50+ years and did a lot of camping and backpacking. Always carried something that started with a 4. Mostly a 6.5 inch pre 29 or a Colt Delta Elite loaded with 200 gr jacketed. Never really needed either one. But when backpacking in CO became a new source of stuff for two legged hijackers, just the mere presence of the weapons was a deterrent. My old buddy also carried His 6.5 inch 29-2.

 

[2wheels]

I’ve been roaming around the NW States for over 50 years. If I had to pick one from the list it would be the 1911 in 10mm, with spare mags.

Remember, most bear attacks happen when the bear is surprised, so always make noise to let ‘em know you’re coming. Keep food away from sleeping area.

 

[Wyo]

I've been camping, hunting, backpacking, etc. in NW Wyoming (and the rest of it too for that matter) for well over 60 years and my tastes have changed. I carried for years either a 6.5" M29 Smith or an old 3-screw Ruger Super Blackhawk that had been chopped and customized to be more packable. I gave those up about 15 years ago - too big, too heavy and too slow for follow up shots. My choice now is the 10mm. I have 1911's but those still have the weight problem. So my normal choice now is a Glock 20 or, sometimes, the G29 usually with 200 gr. hardcast loads. The G29 especially is easily packed, lightweight and reliable. Capacity with either is good and I carry a full sized mag for a reload with both. Ballistically, the G29 is within 10 fps of my G20 with the same loads. I can carry it concealed OWB under a light jacket or shirt. I carry it in a Hill People chest pack when backpacking. The gun does double duty as I can carry it as easily in town as in the country. All in all, this is a choice that I'm very pleased with.

Interestingly, I'm not alone here. The very clear trend in these parts over the last few years has been to move to the 10mm, usually in a Glock with hard cast loads but not always. We had several human/bear encounters in Wyoming last summer with at least a couple of bears shot dead (maybe more than a couple, I don't recall for sure) and in every encounter I can recall the shooter used a 10mm. Most of my friends carry the 10mm now too.

My second choice would be a .357 with heavy hard cast loads. Penetration with those loads is as good as with a .44 and follow up shots are much easier. Either way, I think you would be well served. Enjoy your adventure!

 

[BoulderTroll]

I don't own a 10mm or a 44 mag, but if I had your choices, OP, I agree with Wyo and 2wheels, a 10mm would be my choice. I absolutely would not bring a long-gun. Any gun that you don't have with you constantly is a liability, not a benefit, and I just don't see the realism of constantly carrying a rifle while hiking, fishing, grocery shopping, etc. By far the most realistic threat you will face is auto theft while your vehicle is parked at trailheads, fishing holes, and while running errands. I would just constantly be stressing that I was leaving a free firearm for thieves while I was out trying to enjoy nature. If we were talking Alaska, I would switch to a 12 gauge, but for the states you are planning to visit, I think it would have more disadvantages than benefits.

 

[Doug M.]

I am partial to the two platforms in .357. The primary risk is not large carnivores, but "human" predators. The 10mm auto pistol is probably the best compromise, as it is possible to shoot it faster and more accurately than a revolver for most of us and has adequate ballistics.

Remember that if you are coming to WA, they have the silly magazine capacity restrictions which means no to most Glocks (Glock is VERY explicit in teaching to avoid reduced capacity mags as they are not adequately reliable for serious use).

 

[cracker57]

I believe the 10mm is the new bear round, and it would be my choice.

 

[Rule3]

Is this a Bear thread?

 

[BoulderTroll]

Is this a Bear thread?

I would imagine so, and I think that's why most folks are offering bear-related answers. The OP clearly has knowledge of firearms already, and would likely not need our input if the question was on CCW in general, in all 50 states. I'm assuming the reason he mentioned the mountain states of the NW, and fishing and hiking, is because he is concerned about bears (especially given his bear spray reference).

 

[Farmer17]

I like to backpack in the northwest also and carry Smith & Wesson M&P 4 inch 10 mm in a pouch holster appendix position on my backpack waist belt. A 35 pound backpack can really restrict your arm and shoulder movement so you need to use a holster that will work with limited arm movement.

 

[1911haulic]

I am partial to the two platforms in .357. The primary risk is not large carnivores, but "human" predators. The 10mm auto pistol is probably the best compromise, as it is possible to shoot it faster and more accurately than a revolver for most of us and has adequate ballistics.

Remember that if you are coming to WA, they have the silly magazine capacity restrictions which means no to most Glocks (Glock is VERY explicit in teaching to avoid reduced capacity mags as they are not adequately reliable for serious use).

I would imagine so, and I think that's why most folks are offering bear-related answers. The OP clearly has knowledge of firearms already, and would likely not need our input if the question was on CCW in general, in all 50 states. I'm assuming the reason he mentioned the mountain states of the NW, and fishing and hiking, is because he is concerned about bears (especially given his bear spray reference).

Thank you, spot-on. Also, thank you to everyone for the recommendations. Based on the comments, I'm leaning towards the DW Bruin using the chest rig for hiking and the shoulder rig for site seeng town visits concealed with a light jacket.

 

[Rat458]

Remember that if you are coming to WA, they have the silly magazine capacity restrictions which means no to most Glocks (Glock is VERY explicit in teaching to avoid reduced capacity mags as they are not adequately reliable for serious use).

It is legal to own and carry more than 10 rounds.
It is not legal to Sell or Buy more than 10 round magazines.
I myself carry a 5 shot revolver in 44 Mag in a chest holster,it allows fast access and works well when carrying a backpack.
With what you have listed the 4" 357 in a shoulder holster is what I would take with me.

 

[BoulderTroll]

It is not legal to Sell or Buy more than 10 round magazines.

Or import. That's why he mentioned that to the OP. Someone from another state is not allowed to bring magazines with more than 10 rounds into Washington state, it would be importing them.

 

[elgatodeacero]

.44 magnum is the best choice since many black bears and grizzly bears where OP going.

With a heavy Keith bullet at high velocity or a tough, deep penetrating bullet like the Barnes 140 grain copper bullet the .357 rifle is a good choice.

A 12 gauge shotgun (slugs not buckshot) and a .44 magnum revolver are a solid choice for the trip OP is headed out on.

Have a beautiful and safe trip OP! We want pictures.

 

[CH4]

This:

"I have 44 mag 4 inch (blued) with cross draw holster."

 

[stanmerrell]

Another Vote for the Glock in 10mm

I like the capacity, light weight, and reliability, of the Glock, but there's another benefit that many often forget. The polymer guns have an inherent flexibility that makes recoil more manageable.

 

[serger]

What do you shoot and hit with best?
That's what you oughta carry. Rounds
on target is what counts. Not what has
the most ammo, looks cool or is light &
comfy.

Carry what you shoot the best.

 

[1911haulic]

What do you shoot and hit with best?
That's what you oughta carry. Rounds
on target is what counts. Not what has
the most ammo, looks cool or is light &
comfy.

Carry what you shoot the best.

I can shoot the eyes off a gnat 25 yards with all of them.

I do prefer the 1911 platform hence the forum name.

But, I've never been attacked by a grizzly.

 

[steelslaver]

I live in the area, have camped all over it and have lots guns to chose from. On a long camping trip I would take your 357 and add some low powered 38s for thing like tasty rabbits. While a grizzly problem is possible, it is very unlikely. In the entire history of Yellowstone park, there have been 8 whole deaths via grizzly in its 140+ year history. This includes the times when idiots feed them and did stuff like take very closeup pictures etc. For an even better perspective during that same time period 7 people were killed by falling tress. Since 1979, where there are more grizzly human encounters than anywhere else, there have been 118 million visitors and just 44 injuries by grizzly bears. That is in the area of the lower 48 with the greatest amount of human bear encounters

You need to take some basic precautions in area with high considerations but you shouldn't do stuff like camp under a lone tree on top of s knob during a lighting storm either.

The chances that a 44 or 45 would have saved you from a bear attack when a 357 didn't would be far larger than one over the national debt

That said I usually have a short 45 colt and a 22 revolver nearby. If your not in a tourist camp ground, but out in the wild, the 22 is fun to plink with There are tons of great places in the National forests and BLM land open for your camping pleasure. No fees, no idiots who are far more apt to be a problem than a bear