OP had it right. Lived in Alaska for 15 years. Standard carry was a ruger rehawk ``5-1/2” barrel in a crossdraw shoulder holster. I still have mine although I left Alaska in 95.
What Did You Carry in the Back Country
- Thread starter RETDOE
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Mostly the worse critters I can run into are cougars (the 4 legged kind) and black bears although grizzlies are starting to creep back in. My M&P 10mm is what I carry mostly unless I what to carry want I used to carry my 329pd.
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Never lived in or carried in the back country but when I’m in the woods during deer season I always carry a Glock 41 (.45ACP) on my hip. Sure it isn’t a .41 or .44 Mag but it’s fine for me in East Coast woods.
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M 57 41 mag. and in rifle, 45-70
Usually a Colt SAA in .45 Colt, at least in years long past. Later an old Ruger Super Blackhawk that was pretty heavily modified. Finally, a Glock 20. Weight matters more to me now than it did back in the day. There was usually a 12 ga. shotgun of one sort or another around too. This picture was taken more years ago than I care to remember - sure wish I had that old Land Cruiser back!
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Back country means something different here in North Carolina than it does out west. No brown bears or mountain lions in NC. The eastern NC swamps are full of big fat black bears. They are rarely a concern. I like to hike deep into the swamps, looking for different reptiles, enjoying the scenery, etc. Usually carry a Smith & Wesson Model 629 (.44 Mag) with 5" barrel in a chest rig or Galco OWB. Sometimes a Glock 40 (10 mm). Hard cast lead ammo. Probably overkill. A .357 would be sufficient.
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The backcountry to our West is a short walk to the Swamp.
To our East and South it's called the Ocean.
The Sec6, which usually wears Hogue monos and has been
my Swamp gun since around '80.
158gr JSP handloads.
On the Ocean it depends on whether I'm in my kayak,
a Sportfish or on a bridge in the Keys.
My boy in Colorado carries a G20 now or the 629/4"
with HC factory ammo.
I think he carries the G42 when skiing.
His Kendo training as a kid makes his ski poles useful.
I have 460/3.5" for the Rockies.
Cross draw holsters work for me.
To our East and South it's called the Ocean.
The Sec6, which usually wears Hogue monos and has been
my Swamp gun since around '80.
158gr JSP handloads.
On the Ocean it depends on whether I'm in my kayak,
a Sportfish or on a bridge in the Keys.
My boy in Colorado carries a G20 now or the 629/4"
with HC factory ammo.
I think he carries the G42 when skiing.
His Kendo training as a kid makes his ski poles useful.
I have 460/3.5" for the Rockies.
Cross draw holsters work for me.
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^^^^^^^^ great pictures.
Spent the summers or 76 and 77 in Alaska with my Dad's Colt New Service in .357 magnum. The locals preferred gun was a short barreled 12 gauge pump with slugs.
Still have my 1983 Big Red....... up on blocks these days [didn't want the Boys to take it out] in favor of a Honda 4-wheeler or RZR.
My Penn's Woods carry is a 3" 66 or 4" 686 with 158 gr soft point .357s. My prefered holster is a Bianchi 111 Crossdraw!
Still have my 1983 Big Red....... up on blocks these days [didn't want the Boys to take it out] in favor of a Honda 4-wheeler or RZR.
My Penn's Woods carry is a 3" 66 or 4" 686 with 158 gr soft point .357s. My prefered holster is a Bianchi 111 Crossdraw!
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Eddie Southgate
Member
I'm a .44 Special fan . I load the Keith solid with either his 2400 load or 8-9 grains of Unique.
SGT ROCK 11B
Member
Originally .357 Magnum and I preferred a four inch Model 19. Then in the 1980s .44 Magnum in either four inch or six inch Model 29. Now I'm back to .357 Magnum and a four inch Model 686 Plus.
SquarePizza
Member
In the NY back country areas I have typically carried a S&W 657 PC or a Glock 39 (45 gap) depending on length of hike or extra gear carried, with the G39 taking over when weight is priority.
What I carried way back when
Since the thread title was "what DID..." (past tense) I thought maybe it would be appropriate to post some "back country" pics of what I carried in 1966 while in Germany. Back country being defined then as the NATO field exercise area known then as "the Graf"...a 400 sq kilometer area left just as it was at the end of WWII. No inhabitants, rubble villages, still active minefields, both axis and allied derelict tanks, trucks, etc., left where they were abandoned. Used for live fire training. The other back country was the ammo dumps (some bunkers had nukes or so we were told) at Koppern.
Cold duty for sure...M14 rifle and 1911A1, both with live ammo..never saw any bears, but those hogs can get very large in the wild where they are foraging for themselves.
Since the thread title was "what DID..." (past tense) I thought maybe it would be appropriate to post some "back country" pics of what I carried in 1966 while in Germany. Back country being defined then as the NATO field exercise area known then as "the Graf"...a 400 sq kilometer area left just as it was at the end of WWII. No inhabitants, rubble villages, still active minefields, both axis and allied derelict tanks, trucks, etc., left where they were abandoned. Used for live fire training. The other back country was the ammo dumps (some bunkers had nukes or so we were told) at Koppern.
Cold duty for sure...M14 rifle and 1911A1, both with live ammo..never saw any bears, but those hogs can get very large in the wild where they are foraging for themselves.
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What happened? I have always admired big bore single actions, now I want to know what made you decide to never carry one again.
When I lived out in the wilds of Spotsylvania County (Va), it was almost a quarter mile to the hard surface road. I'd "hike" that every few days at least, carrying a mighty Ruger Bearcat in 22 LR. I don't think I ever took it out of the holster, but I was ready had a pine cone ever gotten out of line.
We did have a black bear reported in the neighborhood once. It was quite the kerfuffle. A couple of young women passed me on my walk one morning and warned me about it, then seeing the Ruger, one of them said "Oh...You've got a gun, so I guess you're safe." "Yes ma'am. Thank you though. 'Preciate the information." I didn't ask them why they were walking the road if they were worried about a bear.
I never did see that bear, but did see a runaway Emu once. That's about as wild as it get's around here.
We did have a black bear reported in the neighborhood once. It was quite the kerfuffle. A couple of young women passed me on my walk one morning and warned me about it, then seeing the Ruger, one of them said "Oh...You've got a gun, so I guess you're safe." "Yes ma'am. Thank you though. 'Preciate the information." I didn't ask them why they were walking the road if they were worried about a bear.
I never did see that bear, but did see a runaway Emu once. That's about as wild as it get's around here.
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K Harris
Member
While living in Alaska in the mid 90' we always had one of the Remington 870 Wingmaster's with us when away from town. We also had a Ruger Blackhawk .357 loaded heavy. Thought about getting a Super Blackhawk, but never did. Our hunting rifles were 270's. Now, it is a Smith & Wesson Model 19.
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