I carry my Glock 30 (.45) camping/hiking/biking/etc... I also own:
Sig Pro 2022 40 s&w
H&K P2000 40 s&w
H&K USP Compact 40 s&w - this is actually my wifes carry for her nature hikes while doing photography.
I've fortunately never had to use them.
I highly recommend any of these particular guns or gun brands - they are well proven and highly reliable.
Before you buy take a gun safety course and then spend a lot of money practicing! If you can afford it you should also take tactical training courses. A gun will do you NO good if you do not know how to use it properly under strenuous situations.
Sig Pro 2022 40 s&w
H&K P2000 40 s&w
H&K USP Compact 40 s&w - this is actually my wifes carry for her nature hikes while doing photography.
I've fortunately never had to use them.
I highly recommend any of these particular guns or gun brands - they are well proven and highly reliable.
Before you buy take a gun safety course and then spend a lot of money practicing! If you can afford it you should also take tactical training courses. A gun will do you NO good if you do not know how to use it properly under strenuous situations.
My vote is for walther P22, the 3.4 barrel. Its small enough for backpacking, reliable, durable, and safe.
K
kennisondan
Guest
Since I am a gun fanatic I would like to weigh in. I have owned and sold and traded for many years; I believe that the thread has covered it well. in Addition to a bigger gun, consider getting a good 22 caliber ( maybe a ruger single six convertible with 22 and 22 mag cylinders ) the ruger and other semi autos mentioned last forever hold ten shots, reload with a new clip and are cheap to shoot. Right now for defense I am not worried about having my 22 ruger auto with me in the truck and strapped in a belt or shoulder holster when hiking, scouting, etc. because with practice you can get very good, hunt squirrels etc. For the big gun, the smallest I would carry is 357 mag ( 38 fit it fine for cheaper, less recoil shooting ) and the 44 mag ( also shoots 44 special ) is enough for big game and big animals with the right load. Deer and big cat size : 240 or more grains, bear medicine : 300 grains. I would not use less than a four inch barrel, as it get harder and harder to control and shoot accurately. The cowboy styled single actions are my personal favorite, recoil is less perceptible cause of hte way the handle allows it to rock upwards on the shot, but do take a little more practice for repeat shots than a double action. I use Smith for duble action and Ruger for single action. Always adjustable sights for me, on anything. regardless of how effective a pistol can be it is not a rifle cartridge you are firing. Home defense : 12 gauge, going around other folks, pistol. I would also say that when backpacking, hiking camping, a good knife should not be left behind. Whatever you get, paractive with it, a lot. safety and accuracy and remember it is like a tool set or an umbrella, or a first aid kit - if you do not have it when you need it you wasted your money. If i had to only have one gun, I would choose a 357 or 44 so I could use it for everything all up and down the scale. i am not down on autos and love my nine Milllimeter, 45's, 40 cal. but they are more niche guns for personal defense and the only one I would use is the 357 sig auto or the 45 auto. I would say those cross over into bear or big cat defense and handle two legged fine. With my autos I always get it out and shoot it in, smooth the ramp leading to the barrel and shoot it more. The wheel guns in my experience are great and ready to go. I bought the autos when i had kids, cause they can cock it easily with little hand arm strength or coordinated efforts and touch one off - where the auto can be unloaded but ready enough with the clip loaded and none in the barrel. or with the clip pulled out slightly many will not fire until it is put fully into the butt. The autos do not always function if you hold it loosely, so your girl friend will have to hold it tight enough and lock her arm(s) for reliability. Wheel guns do not care if you hold them tight or not. My wheel guns also sometimes carry a load of shot then the realthing, so the wife can shoot and not miss the first time then if the thrreat continues, it works around to the real bullets. She is not instantly choosing deadly force. She likes that idea. sometimes we load one for her that way if I am goig to be away for a while. - just my two cents ( uh.. ten cents ) Dan K
mdursa said:
If they had a 9mm exactly like that, I would own one. I have thought about the P22, actually. It is just a very comfortable firearm to hold. I have a Ruger Mk-II that I don't really like, and I wouldn't mind having one of those.
I really want a proper Colt SAA, though. Made by Colt, and produced yesterday. They are a mint, though.
I've clocked a Nickle one at 1800. And what I want is a pair. One with a case hardened or blued frame, with nickle ancilleries. The other I would like to be the opposite, with a nickle frame and case hardened or blued ancilleries.Something tells me I am probably nearing a used boat with the price, though.
I don't remember what brand it was, but I like the idea with my left arm being strong, but too twitchy to shoot with accuracy. It was a 5 shot single or double action revolver chambered to accept (among other things), 410 guage shotgun shells. Aim with my right hand, and spray with the left. It is apparently a development of the off-hand shotgun idea. I like the concept a lot.
It may be my next gun purchase if I ever make one.
Cheers,
Kennith
JSQ said:I'm assuming you're aware of the P99 right?
I have one in .40 and I like it although it will fail the Bic test.
Yeah, but that is a bigger weapon, though. I like the compact nature of the P22. The thing is tiny, and still manages a comfortable grip.
Edit: Let me rephrase that. The P99 is a little cumbersome for it's size. I would much rather have a PPK than that, and it sits on my "to purchase soon" list.
Cheers,
Kennith
Edit: Let me rephrase that. The P99 is a little cumbersome for it's size. I would much rather have a PPK than that, and it sits on my "to purchase soon" list.
Cheers,
Kennith
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Light 45 ACP revolver for backpacking: S&W 325PD
For bear country (or a bad part of town): Ruger Super Redhawk Alaskan 45 Colt/454 Casull.
For bear country (or a bad part of town): Ruger Super Redhawk Alaskan 45 Colt/454 Casull.
My first handgun given to me by my dad was a Ruger Mark II .22 semi-auto. It is still my favorite pistol. It performs without fail, is easy to clean, won't ruin your hearing, will protect you in a pinch. Look for one with a "bull" barrel (as opposed to a tapered barrel)...it's a bit heavier, but in my opinion, easier to hold still while target shooting. Also, for ease of care, look for a stainless one as opposed to a blued finish.
Eric N. said:
The Hills Have Eyes
was his name Mercury.
im a fan of the original,havnt seen the new one yet.
jim
bri said:
wasnt Deliverence filmed in VA.
they didnt need a set from what i read ,they just went into some neighbor hood and it was all there.
OINK OINK OINK,
atriot:
kennisondan said:
Exactly why I went with a SigPro 2340 in .357 Sig. It packs one hell of a punch in a light, compact package that shoots very clean and easy. Should handle a wide variety of "problems" whether in the home or in the wild. :bigok:
jimjet said:wasnt Deliverence filmed in VA.
they didnt need a set from what i read ,they just went into some neighbor hood and it was all there.
OINK OINK OINK,
Nope, filmed in Natahala National Forest in Western NC aka Rudolph country:victory:
And yes I do play a banjo
Cheers,
Mike