Firearm for Survival Kit?

[DancesWithKnives]

When you go out on a hike or backpack (not a hunting trip, on which you would presumably have a regular hunting firearm or bow), what do you carry in your gear? It varies for me depending upon the location/conditions but I'd be interested to hear what others are packing for hikes/backpacks.

DWK

[DancesWithKnives]

OK, I'll kick it off:

(1) S&W 340PD ultralight .357 snubby for backpacking in black bear country (and two-legged problems). Hurts like hell to shoot full .357s but I'd use it only in situations like if a bear decided to tear into my little tent.

(2) S&W 629 Trail Boss compact 44 with 320 gr. hardcast loads. For hiking without a full pack or a week's worth of food. Good protection and can take game at archery ranges.

(3) Gary Reeder African Hunter in 500 Linebaugh, 4 7/8" barrel. For carry in brown bear country if I'm ever crazy enough to not have a long gun with me.

If I were really planning to collect survival food, I'd carry a lightweight .22. However, I generally bring chow and I'm carrying a substantial gut-mounted survival food supply already!:D

DWK

[Bill Gunn]

This Mod.66 .357...

http://pic90.picturetrail.com/VOL2250/777751/13525437/362296391.jpg



Or this .22 mag....

http://pic90.picturetrail.com/VOL2250/777751/13525437/362296393.jpg

[DancesWithKnives]

Those look handy!

My lightest .22 isn't as light as that mini, it's an alloy frame S&W (422 or something like that?). I wouldn't trade one of my target .22s for the 422 but it's accurate enough to get small game.

Thanks for your input,

DWK

[Bushman]

S&W J -frame M34 .22 LR Armaloy plated with custom grips. Hard to think that I would run into anything much larger than a red squirrel or a tin can that needed shooting. That piece is light enough to forget that you are carrying it, but accurate enough to hit what you are aiming at. I had a M17 K22 for the same job, but if I wanted to carry a K-frame, it would have been a .38 or .357. I sold it and never regretted getting the M34 instead.

[DancesWithKnives]

I kept a 4" and 6" Mod 17 just because they shoot so great. I also use them to teach beginning students on a .357 frame, but without appreciable recoil. However, I agree they are a bit heavy to carry for a .22.

When training new shooters with the Mod. 17s I've had a couple gals say that they absolutely love the revolver and ask "Why can't I just get one of these?" That's when the discussion of stopping power gets serious!;)

DWK

[Smokey]

I bought a Model 63, 22LR for just this purpose but usually end up carrying a Hawes 22LR/22Mag. This gun was given to me by a gentleman about 35 years ago whose son was killed in Vietnam. I've carried that gun so much most of the bluing is missing

When we hunt coues deer in southern AZ I carry a CZ40. The border patrol asked us all to carry a side arm all the time. Each year we see illegals or the drug carriers moving through the area. We call the drug guys in and I believe they catch them everytime. It is a nice place to hunt except you need to be on your toes all the time with the people coming through.

[DancesWithKnives]

I know what you mean. I used to do some camping/hiking around Organ Pipe (and nearby areas outside the Monument) but finally became discouraged with both the number of illegals/druggies and the necessarily high law enforcement presence. Just didn't seem like wilderness anymore.

DWK

[Alan R McDaniel Jr]

I can walk all day with my Ruger flat top 357 in a crossdraw holster. Sometimes I forget it's there. We don't have any bears.

Alan