Gun for extended camping in NW states

[Autonomous]

How is the Medicare Plans? Asking for a friend.

As I stated earlier, it varies from county to county. Year to year as well. You have to do your own homework.

Basically, higher population counties have more choices.
I got lucky when I built my retirement home on the outer fringes of a county with moderate population and good Medicare choices. Had I built just a couple miles away in the county with 2% of our population, I'd be stuck with a bad plan.
How bad is that plan? Several times when giving health care providers my address they abruptly ask if I live in that other county. When I tell them I am in this county, they breathe a sigh of relief and say 'good.'

 

[smoothshooter]

Thank you smoothshooter,

Great advice, my mind says I'm 25 and my body says I'm 100. I do currently live and practice as you have advised. However, as you stated there are many scoundrels that do not respect others. This reminded me I need to take a pick and a shovel.

LOL.
I like your attitude!

 

[Doug M.]

**
My commentaries are inserted below the** here and there.

Let’s face it-you are an old man (as am I) traveling alone, which requires some extra precautions on your part compared to someone traveling with a companion(s).
You are more vulnerable to problems with human predators than any animal predators.
*
Sound points.

Pick a couple of Glock 40 calibers.
*
This advice would be sound (although I would advocate for the 10mm variants for a lot of reasons) except for the magazine capacity issue. Reduced capacity mags are a complete no-go for any serious use in any Glock; they are range toys only.

Since you will be basically on your own, whether in crowds, walking across parking lots, or hiking, you should have your gun on you AT ALL TIMES, even when sitting by the campfire in the evening. Good quality flashlight too. Human predators see a solitary older person as easy prey, and may observe you for a while at a distance before making their move.
The increased proliferation of drug cartels operating all over the US, even in National parks has put a different face on vacationing in remote areas. As a tourist you will not have information as to what areas to avoid and could stumble into some bad locations and situations.
I have made it a habit of stopping at sporting goods stores and ranger stations periodically when traveling out west and inquiring about places to avoid and safer ones to spend time at.
It is not my intention to scare you out of taking what is likely to be a wonderful extended vacation, but to prompt you to really be on your guard more than you may be used to.

*
Generally practical advice. Securing guns in an RV can be tough; we are putting a truck vault in ours.
Also: Try to make sure your fuel level does not get below half; there are areas out west where fuel stops and other support are pretty far apart.

 

[smoothshooter]

Actually, I’ve about decided that the perfect trail gun such as you might want here is a S&W Model 60-4. That’s the 3” stainless J frame 38 Special with adjustable sights and a barrel lug. I load mine with a 148 gr DEWC over 3.5 gr of Bullseye. That gets right at 800 fps in my gun. It’s good for everything you would use a .22 for along with self defense, etc. Probably wouldn’t do much on a griz but that’s not really much of a risk. It would be plenty adequate on a mountain lion or coyote. I recall Terry Murbauch (sp?) wrote an article arguing this years ago and he made good sense. I said above I often carry the 10mm and that’s true if I’m in the Absarokas or other western mountains where the griz are thick. But if I’m in the Big Horns or any of the southern mountains or deserts I go with the 60-4 these days. Hasn’t failed me yet!

I have had one of those J frames witn3” barrel for 20 years.
Like it a lot.

 

[smoothshooter]

I've lived in WA and OR my entire life and have spent a lot of time in the wild. I feel fine carrying a 4" 38spl loaded with Underwood Hardcast Keith. I've seen signs of a bear, but never seen a bear. You might see a cougar, but if you do, the cougar saw you a long time ago and so far has decided you are more an object of curiousity than prey. Just stay away from it and go about your business.

I have thought for years that a 38 Special with 148 to 160 grain bullets is the ideal outdoors gun/cartriidge.

 

[1911haulic]

*
Generally practical advice. Securing guns in an RV can be tough; we are putting a truck vault in ours.
Also: Try to make sure your fuel level does not get below half; there are areas out west where fuel stops and other support are pretty far apart.

I have a diesel 4X4 with a 100 gallon jocky tank/pump in the bed.

 

[BoulderTroll]

I have a diesel 4X4 with a 100 gallon jocky tank/pump in the bed.

Heck, forget Idaho and Montana, you're ready for the Dempster! Go north, young man!

 

[DJINCO]

AMMO for Back country

Whatever your choice of gun to carry while in backcountry, I would highly recommend looking at Buffalo Bore Ammunition.

It's my choice when I am in the back country. Useful for self defense regardless of the critter.

 

[Eddie Southgate]

10 MM in the 1911 because you have it and can probably handle it competently. 2 spare mags on your belt and a box in your pack .

 

[Autonomous]

Pretty sure your problem will be resolved one way or the other before you get to that box of ammo in your pack...

 

[1911haulic]

Pretty sure your problem will be resolved one way or the other before you get to that box of ammo in your pack...

Lol, I think you are correct, and I hope it would be in my favor.

 

[Eddie Southgate]

Pretty sure your problem will be resolved one way or the other before you get to that box of ammo in your pack...

The box is to cover for targets of opportunity , rocks , sticks pine cones and such. If I spend too much time roaming with a gun without burning some powder I git twitchy . I'd actually carry two 100 count bags myself.

 

[1911haulic]

To cover all choices of possibilities; I purchased a new Colt Kodiak 4.25" yesterday.

It looked big in the store, but when I got home and holstered it, it looks huge.

It looks like a gun with a small man strapped to it!

 

[sotexas]

I live in a town where grizzlies show up within a 20 mile radius, every year, I sometimes camp where they are far more common. Lots of people live in areas where they are common. None of the loggers I have ever know run around with 44 mags strapped on, including the timber cruisers who walk around alone estimating the value of the timber in a lease. They all go on about their day, their kids play outside in the trees and they fish along the streams often with nothing butt a pocket knife. They are all far safer than those living in suburbia.

Yet it seems some of you guys wouldn't be comfortable where my family and I live and play without packing one of these around.
A belt fed 40mm grenade launcher

I would be perfectly comfortable with my pistol (carry one everyday) on a hike. If I felt uncomfortable I would add the 870 on a sling.I don't let the Rattlesnakes or Wild Hogs deter my enjoyment of the outdoors in my community.

 

[Rule3]

According to the owner of Buffalo Bore ammo. The 45+P is more better than a 10mm.

 

[Eddie Southgate]

To cover all choices of possibilities; I purchased a new Colt Kodiak 4.25" yesterday.

I looked big in the store, but when I got home and holstered it, it looks huge.

It looks like a gun with a small man strapped to it!

I'd shoot it a lot before I decided that was what I was gonna carry. A new gun is not what I would want to depend on if I only had seconds to stop an attack. That's why I didn't follow suit on the Glock / more firepower suggested by others. I don't shoot them well enough to be willing to depend on one regardless of how much ammo it carries. Size and weight effects quick accurate handling when it's something you are not used to. Good Luck.

 

[Autonomous]

Familiarity and muscle memory do indeed count.
If you shoot, for example, a PPK or Beretta Model 92 and are used to shoving the safety-decocker foreword and up to disengage it, you could get into a jam with a 1911 in a stressful situation.
Same with Glock's grip angle vs. most others in a point shooting situation.

 

[44wheelman]

My brother is an outdoor/gun guy in Idaho. Having just visited him last fall (spending time in the woods), it would be a 4" 357...something light. His "carry" is a 386 in the small of his back. My loaner gun was a Ruger lightweight 1911.

You had no bad choices, pick what's going to be most comfortable / natural to carry.

 

[Smeckler]

I have thought for years that a 38 Special with 148 to 160 grain bullets is the ideal outdoors gun/cartriidge.

I agree, it really is. I think a lot of naysayers aren't aware of 38spl's ballistic possibilities and just think of the soft 720fps RN loads in most stores.

Now days I normally carry the Underwood Hardcast Keith 158gr +P load due to their price. Buffalo Bore's 38spl +P Outdoorsman is another good option, but a bit more costly. A high velocity hard cast bullet is a real bone breaker and still easy to control for follow up shots.

 

[smoothshooter]

I live in a town where grizzlies show up within a 20 mile radius, every year, I sometimes camp where they are far more common. Lots of people live in areas where they are common. None of the loggers I have ever know run around with 44 mags strapped on, including the timber cruisers who walk around alone estimating the value of the timber in a lease. They all go on about their day, their kids play outside in the trees and they fish along the streams often with nothing butt a pocket knife. They are all far safer than those living in suburbia.

Yet it seems some of you guys wouldn't be comfortable where my family and I live and play without packing one of these around.
A belt fed 40mm grenade launcher

It is a different situation for visitors who do not know which places to avoid, and which ones are risky because of drug and human traffickers, etc.