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KC8QVO 
Group: Members
Posts: 588
Joined: Mar. 2008
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Posted on: Jan. 01 2013, 9:01 pm |
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I'm just curious about those that carry firearms - What gun and caliber? Why?
I don't want to turn this in to a discussion about carrying vs. not carrying, just on guns and calibers please.
My regular carry gun is a .40 S&W M&P compact. One of my long-time backpacking buddys carries a G27 with us (glock equivalent of what I have). However the general answer I get from those I've asked about guns for wildlife defense (bears, etc) is some form of high-power round, .44 magnum is a very common response but I've heard people say a 10mm, .357 mag, .41 mag, and .45 long colt also.
So I am posing the same question here to those that backpack and carry, if you do what do you carry and why?
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Steve
KC8QVO.com
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| Post Number: 2
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High_Sierra_Fan
Group: Members
Posts: 39516
Joined: Aug. 2005
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Posted on: Jan. 01 2013, 9:07 pm |
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" Do any of you carry a firearm?, Protection from wildlife"
Nope, zero need (Sierra, etc. basically non-Grizzly country and even there it'd be bear spray and smarts for me).
Bear Attacks: Their Causes and Avoidance (revised edition) [Paperback]
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overthehillwalker
Group: Members
Posts: 580
Joined: Apr. 2002
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Posted on: Jan. 01 2013, 9:19 pm |
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I turned my firearm into the Company Amourer over 40 years ago. No interest since.
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| Post Number: 5
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QCHIKER
Group: Members
Posts: 1728
Joined: Oct. 2009
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Posted on: Jan. 01 2013, 9:28 pm |
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No weapon for me either. I do carry bear spray if in bear country. Otherwise what wild animal is going to get me a chipmunk or a squirrel.
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| Post Number: 6
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toesnorth
Group: Members
Posts: 2500
Joined: Jan. 2007
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Posted on: Jan. 01 2013, 9:32 pm |
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Guns are heavy and not terribly practical. Bear spray is lighter and more efficient.
For what it's worth, I live and backpack in grizzly, wolf and cougar territory and have for decades.
The only time I usually carry is when I'm on an extended trip with pack animals.
OR, sometimes when I am backpacking alone or with another female in a more populated area.
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"Failure is never as frightening as regret."
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| Post Number: 7
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hikerjer
Group: Members
Posts: 9129
Joined: Apr. 2002
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Posted on: Jan. 01 2013, 9:45 pm |
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I've been backkpacking for over 40 years, mostly in black and grizzly country. I have never carried or needed a gun. Frankly, I consider the idea a little ridiculous. Bear spray is with me when it's prudent.
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"Too often I have met men who speak only of how many miles they've traveled and not of what they've seen." - Louis L'Amour
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| Post Number: 8
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High_Sierra_Fan
Group: Members
Posts: 39516
Joined: Aug. 2005
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Posted on: Jan. 01 2013, 10:05 pm |
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Yeah it's all good until they start eyeballing yah...
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| Post Number: 9
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paulbrown
Group: Members
Posts: 5152
Joined: Nov. 2005
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Posted on: Jan. 01 2013, 10:09 pm |
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Sometimes if going with my wife . Realistically i think its only been three times in many dozens of trips.
.45, .380
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- The dude abides
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| Post Number: 10
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Tigger
Woods Pouncer
Group: Members
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Joined: Apr. 2005
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Posted on: Jan. 01 2013, 10:13 pm |
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Bear Spray
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If I'm going to be lost, in the woods is where I want to be...
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| Post Number: 11
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gunslinger
Group: Members
Posts: 6018
Joined: Mar. 2007
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Posted on: Jan. 02 2013, 7:06 am |
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.44 mag is a good choice.
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For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.
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JimInMD
Group: Members
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Joined: Feb. 2011
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Posted on: Jan. 02 2013, 7:35 am |
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You're not going to get the discussion you want, but I'll play along...
What kind of bears? There's a big difference between an eastern Black Bear and a Kodiak Brown.
For what it's worth, I can't see a .40 in a short barrel as a very good choice. .40 is almost always found in JHP and a JHP will of course expand at the expense of penetration. Being as bears are densely built creatures, bullet penetration to a vital organ isn't going to be easy under any circumstances with a handgun. The short barrel is just costing you more velocity.
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Checking out for a while, find me on FB.
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Montanalonewolf
Group: Members
Posts: 4791
Joined: Mar. 2010
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Posted on: Jan. 02 2013, 8:22 am |
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I carry bear spray instead of a gun but if I were so worried about bears I thought I needed one, I wouldn't carry some pissant handgun. It would be a short-barreled 12ga pump shotgun with alternate loads of 000 buck and hollowpoint slugs with a sidesaddle holding another 3 of each.
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Ignorance is curable with education. Stupidity is refusing to be educated.
Those who don't read have no advantage over those who can't.
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| Post Number: 14
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eggs
That's sofa King assume
Group: Members
Posts: 4232
Joined: Nov. 2007
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Posted on: Jan. 02 2013, 8:51 am |
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This comes up every few months. A simple search would have given you all the info you needed.
Here is a thread from 2010 all four pages
Nothing has changed since then. I think on this forum you would be in the minority when it comes to carrying a gun
I do not and have no need for one while backpacking
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Eggs
Home of the egg
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| Post Number: 15
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treelinebackpacker
Group: Members
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Joined: Aug. 2011
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Posted on: Jan. 02 2013, 9:06 am |
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I have a friend who carries a 9mm with hollowpoints.
He's a little paranoid though...and I once saw him fire at a racoon because he freaked out.
I've always felt like while they do add a sense of security, they also make some people a little jumpy and end up desperately gripping to it without it ever leaving their side.
I've always felt more secure with a can o bear mace. Easier to use generally.
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sdsviet
Group: Members
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Joined: Apr. 2010
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Posted on: Jan. 02 2013, 11:46 am |
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if bear country and state allowed. either open or concealed (mainly concealed) glock 29 (4.5in barrel) with underwood 10mm 220gr heavy cast. besides that, probably never. you are also asking this question on the wrong forum. best bet is to hit up the concealcarry forum or site. cant remember exactly the sites name.
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skinewmexico
Group: Members
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Joined: Sep. 2008
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Posted on: Jan. 02 2013, 3:32 pm |
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Only at the movies.
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Con men understand that their job is not to use facts to convince skeptics but to use words to help the gullible to believe what they want to believe. - Thomas Sowell
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| Post Number: 20
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rayestrella
Group: Members
Posts: 6411
Joined: Nov. 2004
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Posted on: Jan. 02 2013, 4:38 pm |
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Oh yeah, sure. I carry a no-fail handgun.
It is an old non-working auto that I covered and filled with congealed bacon fat. If I am scared of a coyote following me or a bear sniffing around I throw it in the brush and can be 10 miles away by the time they are done licking it...
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I measure happiness with an altimeter
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| Post Number: 21
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frihauf
Group: Members
Posts: 1029
Joined: Feb. 2002
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Posted on: Jan. 02 2013, 6:25 pm |
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When it is just my daughter and I, I carry either a .45 or .357, but not for the wildlife.
Ben
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"Beer is proof that God loves us and wants us to be happy." Ben Franklin
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| Post Number: 22
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KC8QVO
Group: Members
Posts: 588
Joined: Mar. 2008
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Posted on: Jan. 02 2013, 6:44 pm |
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(Montanalonewolf @ Jan. 02 2013, 5:22 am)
QUOTE
As to what other forums to look to: nothing in the personal security vein is going to do it: they will have NO idea what it takes to stop a bear. Try some hunting forums. I understand Elk hunters have a particular problem when they wring that "dinner bell" for the attuned Grizzly....
Right about the self-defense crowd, I'll look in to the hunting forums.
(frihauf @ Jan. 02 2013, 6:25am)
QUOTE When it is just my daughter and I, I carry either a .45 or .357, but not for the wildlife.
Ben
Who says wildlife is only of the 4 legged variety?
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Steve
KC8QVO.com
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charadeur
Group: Members
Posts: 162
Joined: Mar. 2011
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Posted on: Jan. 02 2013, 8:40 pm |
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357 mag for two legged predators. I agree that the Alaska study shows that spray is more effective against bear. However a well placed shot is 100% effective against anything. If you are carrying and you don't go to the range at least once every other week you will lower your chances of hitting your target. The firearm needs to be second nature. And if like the poster above's friend you are shooting a things that go bump do us all a favor and sell your firearm and buy bear spray. When I hear stuff like that I wonder if there should not be a IQ test before buying a firearm.
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| Post Number: 25
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Fatpacking
Group: Members
Posts: 80
Joined: Nov. 2012
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Posted on: Jan. 02 2013, 10:51 pm |
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I EDC when I am out and about except when hiking. When on the trail and out in the woods, I don't feel the need and wouldn't want the weight. It's bad enough I have to carry a gun plus 10+ pounds of other crap around my waist 40 hours a week.
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| Post Number: 26
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| Post Number: 27
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BradMT
Group: Members
Posts: 3410
Joined: May 2005
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Posted on: Jan. 03 2013, 9:39 am |
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I live/hike/hunt/backpack in grizzly country.
Backpacking, I only carry bear spray.
Backpack-Hunting, obviously I have a rifle.
Packing out dead elk, bear spray with a 357 Ruger Security Six .357 stoked with 180 LBT's as back-up to spray.
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Contentment is natural wealth, luxury is artificial poverty. – Socrates
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| Post Number: 28
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wcolucci
Group: Members
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Posted on: Jan. 03 2013, 10:42 am |
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My buddy, (retired), who goes on 90% of my trips always packs, but he loves pistols and carries concealed in NYS...He has never fired it or had it out in anger the past ten yrs I've been backpacking with him. Always covers it up when near other folks too out of courtesy
I like pistols and old rifles too but not on me in the woods thank you.
My pal is a responsible 65+ year old retired Veep from a major bank......so I'll cut him some slack too
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| Post Number: 29
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desert dweller
Greetings
Group: Members
Posts: 8845
Joined: Feb. 2002
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Posted on: Jan. 03 2013, 6:20 pm |
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No gun. Bear spray and wits.
I hike in bear, big cat, coyote (4 legged and 2 legged) and javalina (wild boar-like peccary) country. Biggest fear I have in the backcountry is bees. Can't run from them, can't shoot them.
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Seek Higher Ground
Can you feel the silence
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| Post Number: 30
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Survival Skills 101 • Eat Better
