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FrearDPT 
Group: Members
Posts: 20
Joined: Jan. 2012
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Posted on: Jan. 15 2012, 9:19 pm |
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I live in the Northeast and for the past few years while backpacking I have made it a point to bring a small firearm with me. One reason is if I find myself in a survival situation and need to shoot some small game for food I will be equipped. Another reason is personal protection from a dangerous/sick animal or human... I know either situation is HIGHLY unlikely but I honestly just sleep better knowing I have a bit of protection. I have an AR-7 survival .22 which is very light and easy to pack. It's relatively accurate at 50 yards and easy to assemble. The problem with that particular firearm is that it packs in 4 pieces and takes a minute to put together, making it ineffective against that dangerous/sick animal or human in a fast pace emergency and also has absolutely no "knock down power."
This past weekend I came across a Kel Tec Sub 2000 (http://www.thetruthaboutguns.com/2010/08/captain-john-raguso/gun-review-kel-tec-sub-2000-40/) and picked it up. The firearm folds in half and is only 16 inches long! It takes only a second put it together and it fires a .40 S&W which packs a much bigger punch than the .22. It's a simple and reportedly accurate firearm (up to 100 yards some report). Basically this rifle looks like the backpackers dream firearm. I am extremely curious to know if anyone else has one and what they think about it.
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| Post Number: 2
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Mudinyeri
Group: Members
Posts: 774
Joined: Sep. 2010
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Posted on: Jan. 17 2012, 1:30 pm |
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Personally, I think that pistol caliber carbines in general and the Kel-Tec 2000's specifically are solutions looking for a problem. If I need a backup gun ... I need it now. I don't want to have to dig in my pack and "only take a second" to unfold or assemble it. If I'm hunting, I'll take an appropriate hunting firearm.
For fun? OK, you got me there. I'm sure the Sub-2000 would be fun at the range. For real protection? No thanks.
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"History is strewn with the wrecks of nations which have gained a little progressiveness at the cost of a great deal of hard manliness, and have thus prepared themselves for destruction as soon as the movements of the world gave a chance for it. " Walter Bagehot, Founder of the National Review
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| Post Number: 3
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GoBlueHiker
Obsessive Island Hopper...
Group: Members
Posts: 14210
Joined: Jul. 2006
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Posted on: Jan. 17 2012, 1:51 pm |
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Disclaimer: you can take my advice with a grain of salt, as I don't personally bother carrying a firearm in the woods. These are impressions.
However, I agree with Mudinyeri's post. For protection against dangerous animals or humans, long-range accuracy is moot. Any conflict of that sort would happen at close range, and you'd want a gun you can have out immediately, such as a handgun in a pouch or holster. If it needs to pack a punch, take a high-caliber firearm, but regardless, it'd kinda need to be available immediately, not after digging it from your pack and taking a second to assemble. There's no reason to shoot anything at 100-yards "in an emergency."
For actual hunting, like Mud said, take an appropriate firearm for that. I see almost no fathomable situation where you'd be stranded long enough in the NE to warrant shooting small game to survive. You could walk to a road in a day from most places and be at a pancake house within 36 hours if "getting out" is your primary goal. If you want to hunt, get a license and hunt. But the "in case I need to hunt" thing doesn't really do much for ya'. An ounce of fishing line and a few hooks would get ya' further in most places anyway.
As Mudinyeri noted, the whole setup kinda seems like a solution looking for a problem to solve. Just my impression, take it or leave it as you wish.
- Mike
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Wealth needs more. Happiness needs less. Simplify.
www.RainForestTreks.com
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| Post Number: 4
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High_Sierra_Fan
Group: Members
Posts: 39801
Joined: Aug. 2005
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Posted on: Jan. 17 2012, 1:57 pm |
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Unless you carry it assembled hanging from your pack harness it's useless for emergencies as mentioned, a waist belt Safepacker holster containing your EDC firearm would be more prudent and as for survival hunting? I'd rather just carry a plb.
As I recall the Armalite, store in the stock, type was developed for downed pilots which have an entirely different set of circumstances to contend with.
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| Post Number: 5
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ol-zeke
me in the Tetons
Group: Members
Posts: 10922
Joined: Sep. 2002
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Posted on: Jan. 17 2012, 2:04 pm |
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I think what you will find here, on this board, is that the vast majority do not pack a gun at all, and those that do use a handgun carried in a pouch attached to the waistbelt or shoulder strap. IMO, the weapons chosen so far are much more likely to find a following on a Survivor board. Some folks just cannot have enough toys, as is the case with many of us here who are gear hos.
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Everything I know, I learned by doing it wrong at least twice.
The easiest way to ruin a Friday is to realize it is only Tuesday.
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| Post Number: 6
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tomas
Group: Members
Posts: 2415
Joined: Oct. 2006
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Posted on: Jan. 17 2012, 4:05 pm |
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I'm with what the others said above regarding personal protection.
And then there is the practical aspect of hunting with a .40S&W - it'll shred small game unless you are placing amazing head shots and I've never heard of anybody trying to hunt large game with it. And this is coming from an owner of a Beretta 96. It's a great round, but not in the applications you are considering.
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To strive, to seek, to find, and not to yield.
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| Post Number: 7
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bad knees
Group: Members
Posts: 2384
Joined: May 2007
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Posted on: Jan. 17 2012, 5:33 pm |
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Bear spray.
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There's a story behind that!
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justwalkin
Group: Members
Posts: 405
Joined: Nov. 2008
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Posted on: Jan. 17 2012, 7:36 pm |
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It's a Kel-Tec, so you're gonna have reliability problems. Yes, you will (I've owned Kel-Tec). I'll stick to my Ruger .357, although any gun is so damned heavy that I don't usually take one with me.
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If a day in the mountains is better than a week at work, why aren't I working in the mountains?
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| Post Number: 10
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FrearDPT
Group: Members
Posts: 20
Joined: Jan. 2012
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Posted on: Jan. 17 2012, 7:53 pm |
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Noted to all that have responded, thanks for the input...
Mudinyeri: The time it takes me to access the rifle ON my pack and have it ready to shoot is actually the SAME time it takes my buddy to draw a pistol out of his waist holster...
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| Post Number: 11
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paulbrown
Group: Members
Posts: 5152
Joined: Nov. 2005
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Posted on: Jan. 17 2012, 11:17 pm |
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If it was the end of days and I had to pick one firearm, it would be a .22. That keltec is junk bro. Spend your $$ on gas to the trailhead.
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- The dude abides
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| Post Number: 12
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Altarboy
Group: Members
Posts: 254
Joined: Jan. 2011
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Posted on: Jan. 17 2012, 11:39 pm |
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As a gun collector and a carry permit guy, I would have to say bear spray is king on the trail. It stops and animal much quicker and if you fall on it causing it to hit you or if you lose it, you won't be out as much.
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| Post Number: 13
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JimInMD
Group: Members
Posts: 3112
Joined: Feb. 2011
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Posted on: Jan. 18 2012, 7:58 am |
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I'm always on the lookout for a Sub-2K that will take 9mm Glock mags, GREAT range toy. I've never fired a KT that I'd trust my life to.
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Checking out for a while, find me on FB.
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| Post Number: 14
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Scott Free
Group: Members
Posts: 179
Joined: Nov. 2006
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Posted on: Jan. 19 2012, 12:44 pm |
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Personally, I think this would be a horrible backpacking gun. Here's someone who disagrees with me: Kel-tec
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See my photography here.
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homebrewd
Group: Members
Posts: 3
Joined: Jan. 2012
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Posted on: Jan. 24 2012, 1:42 pm |
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I am an avid gun enthusiast (pardon the n00b post count), and quite frankly kel-tec is a low low low end brand for quality. That being said, if you are looking for something more effective then a .22 and still enough stopping power to bring down small game they make a .22mag pistol that holds 30 rounds (Kel-Tec PMR-30). I happen to own one, and I have put roughly 300 rounds through it without a hiccup. Its super lightweight, everything is polymer except for the barrel and some internal components. Their Carbines are okay, but .40 caliber is impractical for taking down game of any size (E.G. bear, mountain lion, Moose, etc.) and will shred small game. If you want something small, light and easy to carry that is a great option.
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nogods
Group: Members
Posts: 5486
Joined: Sep. 2007
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Posted on: Dec. 03 2012, 12:23 pm |
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Sung to the tune of "I'm a Believer"
I thought hiking was only true if you carried nada
Meant for people only as brave as me
Fake hikers were out to get me
That's the way it seemed
Too much in their packs hindered my hiking dreams
Then I saw the bear's face, now I'm a fake hiker
Not a trace of poop in my rectum left behind
My shorts are stained, I'm a fake hiker
I couldn't leave bear spray behind if I tried.
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| Post Number: 19
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TWinAlbany
Group: Members
Posts: 116
Joined: Oct. 2012
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Posted on: Dec. 03 2012, 2:45 pm |
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| Post Number: 20
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rayestrella
Group: Members
Posts: 6419
Joined: Nov. 2004
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Posted on: Dec. 03 2012, 3:54 pm |
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Colombian hiker...
Attached Image
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I measure happiness with an altimeter
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| Post Number: 21
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| Post Number: 22
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rayestrella
Group: Members
Posts: 6419
Joined: Nov. 2004
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Posted on: Dec. 03 2012, 4:11 pm |
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Just goes to show spray is better.
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I measure happiness with an altimeter
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| Post Number: 23
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| Post Number: 24
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Altarboy
Group: Members
Posts: 254
Joined: Jan. 2011
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Posted on: Dec. 03 2012, 9:26 pm |
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As a permit holder and gun collector, I only carry mace on the trail. It's lighter, easier to deploy at a fast charging bear (which has never happened to me) and it's less expensive to purchase.
Oh, and I have a keltec P11 as my daily carry (glovebox). It's ok. I leave the finer handguns at home for fear of losing them to a thief. Hard long trigger pull but it shoots. Also, I love the belt clip.
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Survival Skills 101 • Eat Better
