Back country carry gun

[F. Vaccaro]

I have a Montana archery elk hunt later this year, so I used that as an excuse to buy a back country side arm. I kept debating on the 44 mag revolver vs. the 10mm auto. I have a couple Ruger Blackhawk 357s, so I have a feel for what shooting a revolver is like. I have several automatics in 380 and 9mm. I was leaning towards a Ruger Redhawk with a 4 inch barrel.

My Montana elk guides all carry Ruger Alaskans in 44 mag. They provide the archery hunters with a can of bear spray. When I hunted in Alaska last year, the guide carried a Glock 20. The assistant guide had a S&W 500, but rarely carried it. Instead he toted a 338 WM rifle. The wrangler had a side arm, but I can't recall what it was. When he tagged along with us on the hunt, he carried a 45-70 rifle.

After much research and discussions, the advice from a friend and shooting instructor help me decide to go the 10mm auto route. My friend told me most people shoot the 10 better than the 44 mag revolver.

Next, I started looking at the Glock 20, S&W M&P and the Springfield XDM. After much back and forth, I went with the Springfield with a 4.5 inch barrel. I liked the idea of the grip safety. I found a deal on GB that included 5 mags and when it arrived, there were actually 6 mags, all 15 rounders.

I purchased 2 boxes of ammo at the local Academy sporting goods and shot the entire 100 rounds quite accurately...........better than my 9mm CC gun. I am quite happy with it.

I went onto AmmoSeek and found a good price for 1000 round case and just received it. Also ordered a Holosun red dot and chest rig holster, using the 15% discount code that Springfield included.

Where is your hunt scheduled?
the Glock 10mm is gaining favor here particularly with fly fishermen.

 

[375 Ruger Fan]

Where is your hunt scheduled?
the Glock 10mm is gaining favor here particularly with fly fishermen.

East side of the Paradise Valley, about 20 miles south of Livingston. Hunting with Rising Son Outfitters (https://www.huntinginmontana.com)

 

[F. Vaccaro]

East side of the Paradise Valley, about 20 miles south of Livingston. Hunting with Rising Son Outfitters (https://www.huntinginmontana.com)

Nice country there. Good luck. Keep us posted.

 

[Opposite Pole]

Probably doesn't want to get shot by his own gun in the back country.

Do these have a reputation?

 

[Bullthrower338]

Almost to good old wind blown Livingston right now @375 Ruger Fan

 

[375 Ruger Fan]

Do these have a reputation?

If you Google the Sig P320 you will see lots articles, videos and mention of recalls and lawsuits about people having accidental or unintentional discharges. Many were law enforcement members. Guessing most were the 9mm or 40 cal variety.

 

[BeeMaa]

A 450 marlin in BLR WITH 350 GR bullet will be an excellent back country gun to pack. I modify 350 gr tsx bullets by shaving a little bit of the tip and also the magazine. They feed well and shoot well. Short rifle to carry aswell ready for most game. At 2200ft/sec. Can also be loaded with 350gr Hornady.
Krish

For me it would be my Blaser R8 375H&H with 300 grain Barnes TSX. It's about 4" longer than the Browning 450MARLIN, but nearly the same weight and makes about 500-800 lb-ft more energy.

Backup to the rifle or for fishing in the backcountry...chest rig with my Springfield XD-m 9mm with a reflex sight. I simply don't shoot at 45ACP or 10AUTO well enough (or often enough) to be proficient in any situation beyond a gun range. Ammo would probably be the Buffalo Bore 9mm+P 147 grain hard cast bullets, but I'd have to work that out at the range first.

Backup to the backup? Always go out with a partner who is also carrying a rifle and pistol. Your odds of detecting a bear or stopping them if necessary just doubled. As did your chances for surviving a possible attack.

 

[F. Vaccaro]

Glance behind yourself now & then also!

 

[revturbo9967]

DNA tests show 4 bears killed near Hope were not responsible for fatal mauling

Biologists believe a brown bear attacked and killed Schilling, and one of the black bears killed may have come across the body later.

www.adn.com

Yeah, sure. My friend, Dan, was killed even though he deployed a whole can of bear spray. The can was found empty near his body. When a bear decides to kill, only lethal force will stop it. Dan was a very experienced hunter and outdoorsman who probably read the same BS that bear spray USUALLY works and now he is dead because of it. I have witnessed two brown bears fight to the death of one of them. There was no stopping by either of them. The winner ate and laid on top of the loser for three days before moving on. When they make up their mind to kill, give me a firearm every time.

I’m sorry for your friend. It’s a sad reality though. Many think a grizzly will stand down with spray, unfortunately it does not work every time. I would never condone breaking the law, but I will do whatever is necessary to stay alive in a bad situation with a grizz

 

[revturbo9967]

I have a Montana archery elk hunt later this year, so I used that as an excuse to buy a back country side arm. I kept debating on the 44 mag revolver vs. the 10mm auto. I have a couple Ruger Blackhawk 357s, so I have a feel for what shooting a revolver is like. I have several automatics in 380 and 9mm. I was leaning towards a Ruger Redhawk with a 4 inch barrel.

My Montana elk guides all carry Ruger Alaskans in 44 mag. They provide the archery hunters with a can of bear spray. When I hunted in Alaska last year, the guide carried a Glock 20. The assistant guide had a S&W 500, but rarely carried it. Instead he toted a 338 WM rifle. The wrangler had a side arm, but I can't recall what it was. When he tagged along with us on the hunt, he carried a 45-70 rifle.

After much research and discussions, the advice from a friend and shooting instructor help me decide to go the 10mm auto route. My friend told me most people shoot the 10 better than the 44 mag revolver.

Next, I started looking at the Glock 20, S&W M&P and the Springfield XDM. After much back and forth, I went with the Springfield with a 4.5 inch barrel. I liked the idea of the grip safety. I found a deal on GB that included 5 mags and when it arrived, there were actually 6 mags, all 15 rounders.

I purchased 2 boxes of ammo at the local Academy sporting goods and shot the entire 100 rounds quite accurately...........better than my 9mm CC gun. I am quite happy with it.

I went onto AmmoSeek and found a good price for 1000 round case and just received it. Also ordered a Holosun red dot and chest rig holster, using the 15% discount code that Springfield included.

I went with the g20. I carry a g30 from time to time and the 20 feels identical. I haven’t shot it yet but I will run it through its paces after Zimbabwe. Im hunting elk and mule deer in 24 in the Dubois area of Wyoming which has a high concentration of grizz. Spray, g20 and a few 15 round mags will be on my chest that week. I’ll also keep an inreach mini on me, just in case I fail during an attack I have a last resort of calling for help. But that’s the end of the line.

 

[375 Ruger Fan]

Glance behind yourself now & then also!

Just like fighter pilots say.........keep your head on a swivel and watch your six (o'clock position).

 

[colorado]

A 450 marlin in BLR WITH 350 GR bullet will be an excellent back country gun to pack. I modify 350 gr tsx bullets by shaving a little bit of the tip and also the magazine. They feed well and shoot well. Short rifle to carry aswell ready for most game. At 2200ft/sec. Can also be loaded with 350gr Hornady.
Krish

And when you're fly fishing in the "Bob" and it's leaning on a tree 30 feet away and you feel a grizz breathing next to you ...

 

[F. Vaccaro]

And when you're fly fishing in the "Bob" and it's leaning on a tree 30 feet away and you feel a grizz breathing next to you ...

Bear spray! That’s what the experts tell us!
Bear spray shouldn’t care which way the wind is blowing & start .4!

 

[rookhawk]

I'm curious about this topic in light of recent product availability.

Generally speaking, a big gun has been favored for back country due to grizzlies. If for no other reason, a warning shot is loud and can deter a problem.

Colt has started offering a number of snake guns once again.

Would a stainless 44mag (is that the small Anaconda?) be a good one? Is a Python 375 enough gun?

I'm thinking A.) Something with no safety, b.) that is stainless steel, c.) that shoots a big caliber, d.) that is relatively compact, that would be the ticket.

What is the go-to wheel gun in 2023 for the outdoorsman's protection?

Postscript: I used to own a Ruger Super Blackhawk Hunter in 44mag and did hunt with it. That's too big, I'd definitely get myself killed by putting it somewhere out of reach if that was my sidearm. I need something smaller.

 

[freefall]

I'm curious about this topic in light of recent product availability.

Generally speaking, a big gun has been favored for back country due to grizzlies. If for no other reason, a warning shot is loud and can deter a problem.

Colt has started offering a number of snake guns once again.

Would a stainless 44mag (is that the small Anaconda?) be a good one? Is a Python 375 enough gun?

I'm thinking A.) Something with no safety, b.) that is stainless steel, c.) that shoots a big caliber, d.) that is relatively compact, that would be the ticket.

What is the go-to wheel gun in 2023 for the outdoorsman's protection?

Postscript: I used to own a Ruger Super Blackhawk Hunter in 44mag and did hunt with it. That's too big, I'd definitely get myself killed by putting it somewhere out of reach if that was my sidearm. I need something smaller.

A through D are the sanest considerations I have read in this thread. (Adnittedly, I gave up about page 4)
I'm unfamiliar with the Anaconda, but you cant go wrong with a 4" 29 or Redhawk. Either of those in .45 Colt would be appropriate too. A 250-300 gr bullet at 1000-1200 is going to do the job, if you do your part.

 

[rookhawk]

A through D are the sanest considerations I have read in this thread. (Adnittedly, I gave up about page 4)
I'm unfamiliar with the Anaconda, but you cant go wrong with a 4" 29 or Redhawk. Either of those in .45 Colt would be appropriate too. A 250-300 gr bullet at 1000-1200 is going to do the job, if you do your part.

Pictures of these options. A few years ago these were out-of-print $4000 guns, they are now reissued driving price down to MSRP rather than collectibles.

The 44mag

Anaconda - Colt's Manufacturing LLC

www.colt.com

The 357

Python Family - Colt's Manufacturing LLC

www.colt.com

The 357 that may be better for carry:

King Cobra Family - Colt's Manufacturing LLC

www.colt.com

The Classic 45LC SAA (not stainless, so probably not the best carry for rough country in a holster)

Single Action Army - Colt's Manufacturing LLC

[elementor-template id="2698"]

www.colt.com

Here's a DAO 357 they make that looks like it could take a beating and would snag in bush or on the river:

King Cobra Carry - Colt's Manufacturing LLC

[elementor-template id="2686"]

www.colt.com

 

[rookhawk]

I looked, and they used to make a 4" anaconda in 44 magnum. It was stainless. Reviews said the Double Action trigger was a hard pull (good for safety purposes) and of course it was Single Action if you needed precision.

If they remake this one again I think I'm likely a customer for back country carry:

 

[375 Ruger Fan]

I have shot 300 rounds through my newly acquired Springfield XDM in 10mm and not one hiccup. Also, no problem with a 100 rounds at one range session. I put a Holosun red dot on it and that took some getting use to, as it was my first use of a red dot. To me, it felt like you really had to point the muzzle down to acquire the red dot. Once I got a feel for it, I can see where it really helps with accuracy and quick target acquisition.

@rookhawk I agree a reintroduction of a 44 mag Colt Anaconda would make a good option, if you can shoot it well.

The Ruger Redhawk does exist now and I have been tempted to buy one off of GB. Price range seems to be $900-1000 or so. Just not sure if I could shoot it well enough.

 

[Albert GRANT]

One of the grand mysteries of life is when I see a fella going out hunting with a rifle and then I see a great big giant hog leg attached to his hip.

And if the conditions present themselves just right I do ask why.

Amazingly, Many is the woods walking squires who say ," in case the rifle breaks".

The next amazement comes from hikers carrying something that just doesn't go with shorts and a tee shirt and that is .the same 3 and 1/4 ton hog leg that makes out enjoyer of nature walk lopsided by noon.

And with that most can't put 6 in a pie tin at 25 yards.

Carry something you can hit with, like a 17 glock or other high cap pistol.

A good hit with a 9 is better then a miss with a boomer.

Or learn how to control and shoot the boomer and grow stronger, lol.
I have the 4.2in Ruger GP100 in .357 mag, which is not a boomer, but I love it and it's easy to shoot. I am however looking at getting a .480 Ruger just for fun. Will I carry it in the woods? Of course! If I'm feeling up to hauling the extra weight and bulk around that particular day.....

 

[rookhawk]

That looks like a good gun to shoot at 5' away when there is a problem. It will go off. A non lethal wound in haste would probably still turn the animal. It doesn't look like it is prone to jamming, corrosion, or that it would go off half cocked easily.