What do you carry in the woods?

[ST911]

A Glock 20 or 29 is a good choice for a backcountry gun. Get good ammo for it.

[Powder_Burn]

A Glock 20 or 29 is a good choice for a backcountry gun. Get good ammo for it.

Who is making trustworthy 'real' 10mm ammo these days? Also, would it be an issue to run hardcast in a polygonal rifled barrel? The Buffalo Bore offerings seem interesting for the backwoods application.

[Pathfinder Ops]

I would buy a S&W Mountain Gun in .44 Mag to carry in Montana if it were me. Carry at least three speed loaders as well (for the two-legged varmints).

This is how I roll.

I hunt with a lever action 44mag as well. It keeps things simple.

So when I'm backpacking It's my carry gun.

I used to just carry my 1911 but in the hiking/ packing world when you meet up with a tree hugger they seem less squeamish with the revolver than my semi auto.

Go figure.

[Alpha Sierra]

This

[jsmithy]

S&W 44. magnum

+1 on that. It's a great choice for the intended purpose.

[dbrowne1]

Like others have said, the same thing I carry every day (with an additional reload given that help might be hours away). Two-legged predators are still the biggest concern in the backwoods and mountains. There's nothing on 4 legs anywhere near me that is substantially larger than a human, so I can't think of any reason to carry something different/bigger.

I'm more concerned about water, communications, first aid, having the right clothing, etc. if I'm in the middle of nowhere.

[varoadking]

Hiking?

I can think of far better ways to waste my time...

[Frank207]

I was very surprised to see 17 fatal black bear attacks from 2000 to 2009

with 10 fatal brown bear attacks so says Wikipedia.

Having worked as a fish and game officer. I have seen a 300 lbs spring bear(boar) killed with a 22 rifle (at close range) up to the big 45-70. I never responded to a bear attack or a threating bear. More along the lines of theres a bear in my bird feeder or in my trash.
Bullet selection is probably more important than anything, in fact. A black bear is tough-muscled with thick fur, hide and fat layers (depending on the time of year). You need a bullet that will penetrate through all that, and most hollowpoints used are not good choices

44 Magnum 240-grain JSP

41 Magnum 210- grain JSP

500 S&W 275 Grain Deep Penetrating X Bullet

Good luck and enjoy the outdoors

[Oscar 319]

Hiking?

I can think of far better ways to waste my time...

To each their own. Personally, I spend every chance I get away from the urban hell I work and live in. I love our mountains.


My son, daughter and a pug bear in an alpine meadow last year.

The biggest threat I have ran into are moose, especially mother moose.



There are black bears and cougars, though I've never encountered either. As stated before, people are more of a concern than wildlife.

I carry one of my Glock .40's loaded with duty ammo (180 grn bonded JHP) and a Browning Buckmark .22 for fun. It beats a sharp stick.

I do own a 6" Model 29 .44 Mag. I love the gun, but it is too heavy to pack all the time. I also do not shoot it as confidently as my Glocks. I would love to get a S&W Mountain Gun.

When camped, I usually have a shotgun with a slug/00 stagger loaded.

[Heavy Metal]

Oscar,

Be very wary. My sister was once bitten by a Moose!