i've been considering adding a pack rifle/ pack pistol to my gear and i wanted input from others who hike,camp,expedition etc. with firearms. after my own research i've found two that i'm debating over (other suggestions are welcome) cant decide between walther p22 and the henry AR-7 (U.S. Survival Rifle) thoughts?
The Henry is the ideal choice for a pack rifle. Unless you're in bear country - then I'd suggest .44 mag revolver or .308 rifle (if you don't mind lugging a longarm around attached to your pack).
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a .40 cal compact handgun is the consensus around here... small but will get it done...
what is small about a .40? a .22 will get the job done in the right hands. its all about shot placement. a .40 is a very effective cartridge. why do you think just about every law enforcement agency in the nation carries one?
yeah its taht narrow niche i'm trying to fill. thanks for the input on the AR-7 i've not fired this but i assumed it'd be fairly accurate, i dont know why i just thought it would be. the walther p22 seems to be a very accurate plinker but i hear it can be tempermental with cheap ammo (cheap by .22 standards).
i know revolvers are incredibly reliable and defense against bears and cougars etc. really calls for somthing large. honestly i dont want to lug a Hand cannon because by the end of the day it feels like a real cannon on your back. as far as people are concerned, i seriously doubt and sincerely hope i'm never in a situation where i'd be pointing ANY gun at a person, let alone shooting it. nonetheless if that situation were to occur i dont think anyone wants to get shot with any calibre bullet, frankly a well placed .22 round is a lot more valuble than a wildly inaccurate .50. as stated above ammo gets expensive, with .22LR ammo i can afford to burn a few thousand rounds without burning a hole in my bank acct. .40, .357 even .38 gets pricey comparativly. expensive ammo discourages practice.
tell me about it. just picked up another box .300 savages... nearly $2 a round for a good load. $1.50 for a decent load.
Agree fully on the .308. The 700 will go with me on every outdoor adventure from here on out. I wouldn't downgrade the firearm - just upgrade the pack for backpacking. Eberlestock makes a SWEET rifle pack.
I do love the Taurus Tracker in .357. Just seems to be about the very perfect size.
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Agree fully on the .308. The 700 will go with me on every outdoor adventure from here on out. I wouldn't downgrade the firearm - just upgrade the pack for backpacking. Eberlestock makes a SWEET rifle pack.
I do love the Taurus Tracker in .357. Just seems to be about the very perfect size.
yea, i've been looking at a new revolver. i like the trackers. i've shot one in a .44 with a 4" barrel. kick in the pants. i like the .44 but its way too much gun. i wouldnt mind owning one though. i want a .357 mag next. i already have one, but want a more modern firearm with a molded grip.
i would go with the glock 22 which is the full size .40. great caliber, good reliable firearm that is easy to maintain. if you look into something like that though, you at least have to shoot that and the sig sauer 226.
i appreciate your post and originally my home defense choice was my trail defense choice (12ga mossberg pump) because, hey, theres no human that dosent respect the sound of a pump clearing the chamber. there are a few things that have deterred me from carrying that black beast. as stated above i'm looking for a survival firearm,i'm not looking to be buffalo bill or rambo, thats what the shooting range and hunting is for. and i know "survival" is a very broad definition but it is intentionally so. the two major concerns i have with the pump is 1 size. assume a populated survival scenario (i.e. Katrina) the 12ga. is highly effective at making a statement, but you dont always *want* to make a statement and with somthing that size you dont have a choice. also buckshot isint going to stop a determined attacker, definitly not a bear or a cougar, and if your full choke only has slugs for the last 2-3 rounds... well i think you're outta time by then. also. i'm not looking to hunt with this sort of gun (at least nothing bigger than grouse if neccisary) so i'm not sure if stopping power is as big of a concern. as you mentioned most bear encounters end with both parties walking away cautiously. for the most part most predators dont want to eat you, and would jsut as soon leave you alone. (mama bear and lil bear... well thats just BAD timing) also waht if you have a broken finger/rib would you rather fire a 12ga. or a .22? i do not disagree with you regarding the simplicity and efficacy if a pump tahts why they make good home defense guns, they have massive presence and if fired,(if you dont care about pictures and drywall) you can fire them half asleep and still hit wat you mean to hit). Hunting rifles are again a different story, i'm talking about a basic survival tool here, simply the sound of any firearm discharge scares most things, even predators. a .22 will kill rabbits, squirrel, grouse etc if it came down to needing the food. a larger round i fear would decimate somthing small. also a serious question to you as a professional in the forrestry sector (that LOOKS sarcastic, but i promise its not. ) have you ever been in a situation where you've needed to use a firearm for defense/food? looking back do you think the calibre would have made a difference at that point? again those arent disrespectful questions, i'm jsut trying to get what i need, info-wise. i know you didnt wanna calibre debate, but i dont come here for internet BS either, while i dont spend as much time in a tent as you i do enjoy spending an inordinate ammount of time outdoors.
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Runt previously said:
After reading your posts I’m confused if you are looking for a fun gun/plinker or a real useful survival firearm. I suggest a Remington 870 12 Gauge shot gun or similar (i.e. clones). Excellent for any defence issue. Short barrelled models can be bought with folding stocks. What I take on camping trips can be found here Dlask Arms Corp. . Dlask does ship to the USA on a regular basis (sister company is on the other side of the border). The 8.5 " barrelled shot gun is quite light (4.5 lbs) and easy to stow in the Cruiser. On a hike it easily straps on to a frame pack or can be worn on a sling. The other camping firearm that is usually with my family is a Remington 700 LTR. It’s a 308 cal. 20” barrelled rifle that weighs in at 7.5 lbs. With Leupold M4 scope, sling & loaded mag. it weighs in at 10 lbs. These are the lightest most useful defensive camping fire arms I have found for Canadian Wilderness. Far as people protection goes I would think that there is nothing more intimidating looking then a shot gun. In a stressful situation a shot gun is wonderful for its simplicity of use when loaded with 00 Buck shot (aim not required as it sprays out of the barrel) with the last few rounds loaded as 3” slugs. It also requires very little practice.
My only concern when camping is bears and the above mentioned firearms are the minimum I would use against a Black bear or Grizzly as a last resort only. A Ruger Super Redhawk .454 Casull shortened to 4.5” or the Alasken 3 “ model would be the smallest pistol I would recommend for bears. It’s very nice (low recoil) to shoot with .45 Colt Cowboy Action loads. If auto loaders are really what you want the Glock 20 (10 mm) is a excellent choice (high cartridge capacity (15) or Glock 29 (compact version of the 20 holds 10 rnds) & 357 magnumish power) for black Bears but way light for Grizzly’s. There is also the option of using a .22 cal conversion kit such as Advantage Arms or Sciner for the Glocks. These are slide replacements so it takes about 15 seconds to change calibers. Just remember that if a bear is on top of you an auto loader will not cycle the slide if you have it stuffed into its belly and squeeze the trigger.
Usually with bear encounters you have some warning i.e. false charge verbal warnings (sounds like a huff huff sound) etc. Grizzly’s are highly intelligent and generally leave the area if they come across humans unless they have a kill or young in the area. With a Cougar, you’re screwed....if you ever see one.....just leave the area. They are amazing killing machines and attack without warning. Luckily this is very rare with adults and usually the animal is sick or old.
The small .22 cal. rifles and pistols are fun but they are functionally useless other then target shooting, rabbits, grouse etc. Just my 2 cents ..... and I don’t want to get into a calibre debate. My experience is not hobby based (i.e. internet BS) I work/live out doors as required for my chosen profession as a Forest professional. I have spent more days in a tent in my adult life then I have in a house. I have unfortunately had many bear encounters which generally turn out with me running/walking away. Sometimes the bears chase after you and you have no choice. Far as Cougars go...I have seen them rarely and I instantly leave the area. I have worked with one fellow that was actually attacked by a Cougar when working on the B.C. coast and had the scars and news paper clipping to prove it....nasty looking scars. He claims there was absolutely no warning. I believe him....I’ve had fresh tracks in the snow around me and never seen or heard a thing.
Get a big calibre if you want a firearm for defence. Get a .22 if you want a plinker. Get a Glock with a .22 cal conversion kit if you want both. Get a shot gun if you want simple easy to use defensive tool. Sorry for the long winded write up.
) have you ever been in a situation where you've needed to use a firearm for defense/food? looking back do you think the calibre would have made a difference at that point? again those arent disrespectful questions, i'm jsut trying to get what i need, info-wise. i know you didnt wanna calibre debate, but i dont come here for internet BS either, while i dont spend as much time in a tent as you i do enjoy spending an inordinate ammount of time outdoors.
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