Woods Gun

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Originally Posted by Danimal

I should have been paying more attention. It was a big patch of those little red berries that the bears like. Red Currant is what I think they are, but anyway as I was walking towards the patch I thought that I heard something like three times but I just figured it was squirrels or something running around and I wanted to make time getting up the valley. Had I stopped and paid attention I would have seen the cub because it was not in that much cover. In the end it turns out it is a bad idea to scare a bear cub.

I hear what you guys are saying about the .357 / 38 argument, but that is settled for me because if I buy the .357 I have both. [Beer]

How much ammo do you guys with .357's carry? I think that 12 rounds of .357 and maybe 20 .38 special would be sufficient to get out of most Colorado survival situations and it would not be that heavy.

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Besides a full cylinder maybe 3-4 speed loaders should be more than adequate even with starting a couple fires or signaling.

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Originally Posted by jim

Test yourself one weekend and see how long you could go without either. I'm not saying you're out cutting the grass, doing wind sprints etc, just kick back and see what you can do. I've done 5, the 5th being real tough, 3-4 days no problem.

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Man, talk about not having anything better to do. LOL! [LOL]

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Originally Posted by Whistler

Wheel gun in .357, pack a few .38 and shot for the snakes & smaller stuff.

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This.

My 3" Smith M60 is the ultimate in versatility, convenience and practicality for me when hunting elk around the ranch.

That said, for backpacking excursions into the high country, lighter is better. I'll usually carry a Diamondback DB380 with CorBons or my Kahr P9.

I will say a 12 Gauge with an assortment of slugs, buckshot, and 71/2s. Along with a .357 mag.

I am a little confused by the specific need-

If you are talking about a weapon to have in a survival kit in the case you are daypacking and somehow get lost for several days, then I actually would go with either a .22 pistol along the lines of a Ruger MK2/browning Buckmark and similar that can signal, take small game and would be effective against 2-legged varmits.

If we are talking what to take on a multi-day backpack trip out into the hinterlands- I would personally take a sidearm in .45acp, and a lightweight rifle- in my case these days that would be an AR, but I used to hike with a Spanish Mauser carbine in .308. Yeah, I know about ultralight backpacking stuff, but if I am going to purposefully be out in the wild for more than a day or two then I am bringing some firepower along. The qualifications are along the lines of relatively short- I hate snagging on every bush I pass, lightweight- Because I am the one carrying it, and preferrably in a caliber capable of taking medium sized game at a reasonable range. There are a LOT of guns that suit the need- the camp carbines from Marlin in 9mm and .45, various lever action rifles in .44mag, 45LC, .357MAG, .30/30, bolt carbines in any caliber you can think of, the RUGER carbines in .44mag, .223, etc., and one of my old favorites but just horrible to find these days, the M1 Carbine in .30 carbine, excellent "woods gun" stuff there. As mentioned above, the AR platform in 5.56 or .300AAC either one would fit the bill, especially in CAR format with a 16" pencil barrel and probably even a composite lower. A 16" pencil barrel with liteweight components and a composite lower would be super light, pack lots of firepower, and will go bang when you pull the trigger. Very compact and easily lashed to a backpack or broken down to fit inside one, there is a lot of flexibility there.

What about a single six with a 22lr and 22mag cylinder. It is easy to carry a box of each and have the little extra power with very little weight issue. Your not going to stop a charging bear, but a 22 mag will easily work on 2 legged predators. I like the 38/357, but it does add considerable weight.
A charging bear will take a LOT to stop. Last year I shot a bear with a 45-70 at about 10 yards, and he was not charging. It still took 3 shots in the vitals to put him down.
I usually carry my Colt .22 pistol when backpacking. It is lightweight and easy to carry for long distances. The biggest things I have shot with it was a bobcat and a coyote, both dropped the first shot.
Maybe look into a PMR-30 if you can find one. I don't know how reliable they are, but 30 rounds of 22 mag should make about anything want to change location.