Gun for extended camping in NW states

[Smeckler]

I personally would not want to rely on a 38 as a means of defense if I were packing in grizzly country, like the OP is planning to do.

It's good to know your limitations. And there are browns in WA. The thing is, bear attacks in the lower 48 are fairly rare unless you're in Yellowstone (and firearms aren't allowed in the park anyway). Bears will attack right after coming out of hibernation, or going into hibernation if they haven't found enough food. You can carry any arsenal you want into the woods, the reality is the best defense is jingle bells tied to your shoes so they can hear you coming and leave. Bears don't see humans as prey, they see them as annoyance.

Here's a list of attacks in North America. You'll see most take place in Canada or AK.

List of fatal bear attacks in North America - Wikipedia

 

[Rob613]

I carry a Glock 20 loaded with standard pressure, lead flat nose Buffalo Bore when I’m in the mountains.

I live on the outskirts of one of Montana’s larger cities. We’ve had lions, cats and bears around but they rarely attack humans. Last year the kids even have a school delay because a bull moose was on the playground.

 

[Paul105]

Take what you shoot best and are most comfortable with.
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Handgun Defenses Against Bear Attacks - 170 Documented Incidents, 98% Effective
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FWIW,

Paul

 

[Autonomous]

Firearms are allowed in national parks with the exception of some structures. High-capacity magazine law in Washington is hard to comprehend. Does import just mean bring in permanently by a resident or an out-of-stater bring one in on a trip?
RCW 9.41.370: Large capacity magazines**”Exceptions**”Penalty.
Firearms | Washington State
Concealed carry exception in WA without a permit. See (8).
RCW 9.41.060: Exceptions to restrictions on carrying firearms.
A lot of experienced outdoorsmen in bear country have traded their heavy revolvers for 10mm pistols. The vast majority of shooters can shoot follow-up shots quicker and more accurately with a pistol.
A good, fast access holster is just as important for your bear spray as your handgun. A pocket or cheap, floppy holster costs precious time.

My kit includes a very loud Storm brand whistle, EDAP bear spray in a molded holster and handgun with either chest or hip carry holster.

 

[1911haulic]

Lets get serious...enough of the guns. You bringing fly rods or spinning rods? Hope the answer is fly rods!

Sad to say, but spinning rods for my sake. The main thing I'm bringing is my camera. I've driven through the NW six times, this time I'm going to stop and smell the coffee. I promise to leave it as good or better than I find it.

 

[BoulderTroll]

It's good to know your limitations. And there are browns in WA. The thing is, bear attacks in the lower 48 are fairly rare unless you're in Yellowstone (and firearms aren't allowed in the park anyway). Bears will attack right after coming out of hibernation, or going into hibernation if they haven't found enough food. You can carry any arsenal you want into the woods, the reality is the best defense is jingle bells tied to your shoes so they can hear you coming and leave. Bears don't see humans as prey, they see them as annoyance.

Here's a list of attacks in North America. You'll see most take place in Canada or AK.

List of fatal bear attacks in North America - Wikipedia

I live in the North Cascades, and I had to check google to see if you were right about browns in WA. Consider me educated, though from the sounds of it, they are extremely rare.

As for bear protection, I don't carry any firearms when backpacking in black bear country. I always hike with my dog, and bears give dogs a lot of space. But I also don't backpack in grizzly country.

 

[BoulderTroll]

High-capacity magazine law in Washington is hard to comprehend. Does import just mean bring in permanently by a resident or an out-of-stater bring one in on a trip?

Take it from someone who lived in a state that had magazine laws for decades...there is nothing hard to understand about "import" in Washington's gun laws. Ask someone from California or New York if someone can import their 15 round pistol mag into the state on vacation, and you'll likely be laughed at. Washington's new law is clear as day, and there are no exceptions for guests.

 

[Model29-26.5]

The 44 mag.
Bear stopper. The others will just make him mad…
If you’re in the NW in the woods, that’s basically what you’ll want to be prepared for.

 

[SnidelyWhiplash]

This just came up last week…my bro-in-law and his wife are going on an RV trip this summer to the PNW. He asked me which gun was best against the admittedly small chance of meeting an aggressive bear…he already plans on bear spray. He owns no revolvers and has .45 ACP and 9mm pistols. He’s thinking his .45 with hardball ammo.

If it was me I would take along a .44 Magnum or a 10mm pistol…most likely a .44 with deep penetrating rounds.

 

[gunbarrel]

I'm also 70. Are you going alone...? I would not, but that's just me. The most common causes of death for older men in the wilderness are heart attacks, falling and drowning. Be prepared to deal with that.

As far as firearms to take with me, I'd take one of these Benelli shotguns and a bandoleer stocked with with slugs, buck shot and small game/bird shot. That should take care of anything from small game to bad guys, to bears.

Attention Required! | Cloudflare

If funds are tight, I would sell some of those guns to help me buy the Benelli. If you feel that you need a back-up gun, I'd bring along the .357 with the 4" barrel. Make sure you also have a good side-knife, and a machete, although you would probably use a folding knife more than the two bigger blades.

Good luck to you, Buddy; you are going to need it.

 

[BigMuddy]

Many suggestions, and none bad really. Were I in your position I would choose a 1911. Easy to carry and close to indestructible. 10mm is ok, but I would prefer 45 acp. I would have it loaded with 250 gr +p ammo from Lost River. Sounds like an amazing trip.


.45 ACP +P 250 Grn Hard Cast Flat Point (100 RND)

Dan

 

[A10]

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).

The restrictions only apply to purchases. Possession is not a thing.

I carry a 10mm Glock in the woods now. Used to carry my .44 all the time but I like having lots of bullets in the handgun. You would not be undergunned with the .357s though. You might consider a 12 gauge with slugs too. Not much will get past one of them.

 

[A10]

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.

Be careful carrying concealed here without a permit. I don't know if WA has reciprocity with any other states any more.

 

[Doug M.]

If you possessed the full size mags in WA before the ban, you are ok - but someone from outside the state is by definition is importing. The odds an agency on the east side of the Cascades enforcing that silliness are small. On the west side, be careful. As for reciprocity, the AGO used to have a list on their website. It is also lawful for a non-resident to get a CPL, but the delay might make it pointless until your next trip.

 

[BoulderTroll]

The restrictions only apply to purchases. Possession is not a thing.

I'm not trying to make a mountain out of a molehill, but your profile shows you as being in Washington, and you have the LEO badge, so when you give advice on gun laws, folks are likely to pay attention. The OP is from out of state, and the most applicable law for him is for importing "high capacity" magazines, which is illegal in WA. He can't bring them into the state if he chooses to come here, but your post makes it seem as if he can. As Doug M said, possession is only a factor if the magazine was imported to the state before the law went into effect.

 

[Autonomous]

A good resource is only a couple clicks away!

Handgunlaw.us

 

[steelslaver]

The OP is far more likely to be killed by a falling tree in Washington, Idaho or Montana. than a bear. Nobody has recommended a chainsaw yet. I recommend a 045 Stihl or larger, but Huskies are good saws too.

Point is the chances your going to need a handgun to fend off a attacking bear so far down on the list of needs and reasons to chose a big bore handgun. There are a few spots and times those odds jump up, but even then they are still really long odds. Hunting season in certain areas for example. But, for example I hunted in the Ruby river Valley near the Gravelly range for years and never even saw a bear, despite the fact there have been several attacks there. I would bet that if you took the number of people who go there, times the number of days they are there it would be over 10,000 days per attack.

Even in Yellowstone your odds of a grizzly attack are 1 in 2.7 million. I read the odds that has actually occcured while back pack camping in there some where in thee past and it was in the 10s of thousands.

go by lottery tickets.

 

[Autonomous]

I dug deeper in the WA State Atty. General's website I posted earlier.

How does Washington law define “import”?
"Import" means to move, transport, or receive an item from a place outside the territorial limits of the State of Washington to a place inside the territorial limits of the State of Washington. "Import" does not mean situations where an individual possesses a large capacity magazine or assault weapon when departing from, and returning to, Washington State, so long as the individual is returning to Washington in possession of the same large capacity magazine or assault weapon the individual transported out of state.

 

[steelslaver]

And a good attorney can probably explain that to the courts well enough to get you off if you are arrested and charged.

But, then that attorney will want hundreds of dollars and hour for his efforts.

The odds that 11 or more rounds will fix any problem I have are when 10 or less didn't are even greater than the odds I will be attacked by a grizzly bear.

I am working in Washington state right now, I have a semi with me I brought from Montana. None of its mags hold 10 rounds.

 

[1911haulic]

I'm not trying to make a mountain out of a molehill, but your profile shows you as being in Washington, and you have the LEO badge, so when you give advice on gun laws, folks are likely to pay attention. The OP is from out of state, and the most applicable law for him is for importing "high capacity" magazines, which is illegal in WA. He can't bring them into the state if he chooses to come here, but your post makes it seem as if he can. As Doug M said, possession is only a factor if the magazine was imported to the state before the law went into effect.

I'm not planning to venture into Washington. Also, I have a Colt Delta Elite 10mm with 8 rnd mags or I also have the DW Bruin 10mm, also 8 rnd mags.

I also should have provided more lodging information. I'll be pulling an Off-Road RV Trailer and hope to camp along lakes, streams and on Over-looking bluffs with Campground stays to empty and refill tanks every other week. I will not hike far from the base camp and no tent camping.

This is a Retirement present to me for 50+ years of working to go with the "***** kicking" present out the door by my last "WOKE" employer.

Thank you all for the great suggestions.