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.380 on a ultralight backpacking/camping trip?


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Home Forums General Forums General Lightweight Backpacking Discussion .380 on a ultralight backpacking/camping trip?

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  • #1279509
    Stephen Glines
    Member

    @saglines

    So, I am going on a long backpacking/camping trip. I am hoping to cover about 35 miles through rugged terrain, so every ounce matters. I was considering bringing my .380 for protection which weighs only 14 oz with a full magazine. My other option would be my 9mm which weighs 30 oz with a full magazine. (more weight than I like) Mind you, I used to take a buck knife as my only protection. I understand that the .380 will not stop a bear or other large animal, but neither will my 9mm. My hope is that a couple of warning shots into the ground will scare a bear off. (likely to only encounter black bears if at all) Because if it comes charging I know the 9mm, .380 and the Buck knife aren't going to stop it. I would also have the gun for protection against any undesirables or crazies (scarier than any animals) that I may encounter. Thoughts?

    #1780798
    Andy Schill
    Member

    @aschill

    Why carry a pistol YOU KNOW will not even come close to stopping a bear? Especially when you state that's the intended purpose for the pistol. I wouldn't gamble my life on warning shots either.

    Do yourself a favor and read up on how to handle bears in the back country and go grab some bear spray.

    #1780801
    John S.
    BPL Member

    @jshann

    Ultralight bazooka is the only way to travel.

    #1780802
    Stephan Doyle
    Member

    @stephancal

    Where are you going?

    Black bears are not dangerous.

    Usually suspicion of "crazies" is paranoia.

    #1780808
    Chad Miller
    Member

    @chadnsc

    Locale: Duluth, Minnesota

    saglines,

    Please don't take offense to this but you don't know what you're doing in regards to personal protection. Taking a small caliber firearm to 'scare off' large animals with a few warning shots is a terrible idea and in truth won't work. The same goes for protection against people.

    Bring bear spray if you're really worried about large animal and or 'crazies'. Learn how to use the bear spray and how to camp in bear country.

    I for one think that you're being a bit paranoid as for the last eight years I've backpacked in areas with black bear, grizzly bear, timberwolf, and the occasional big cat and have never had an issue with any of them. Heck the only thing I've ever encountered that was remotely dangerous was a bull moose but he wasn't in rut and he didn't care what I was doing.

    As for personal defense from other people; I have a great deal of personal experience and training on this topic. All I'm going to say it this; if you're worried about people hurting you where you backpack don't backpack there.

    #1780814
    Casey Balza
    Member

    @equals

    The best tactic against crazies is…..be crazier than the crazies….

    #1780836
    John S.
    BPL Member

    @jshann

    Yes, show the crazies you're nuts two.

    #1780840
    Edward Z
    BPL Member

    @fuzz

    Locale: Sunny San Diego

    As someone who carries a firearm professionally every day for the last 14 years, I can say that leaving it behind for the trail is immensely liberating. While necessary in society among other humans for saving lives, including yours truly… It is largely ineffective and squarely un-UL. It's important to separate your fears from one realm to the next. Entering into nature and it's animal element on educated terms and employing best practices is the true responsible solution. It's said often here that we pack our fears. So read up, hike awarely and in tune and enjoy being a tiny fleshy creature in the world of other fleshy creatures surrounded by unimaginable beauty. And watch out more crossing the street to your car on the way, it's much more likely to hurt you.

    #1780849
    Joseph Reeves
    Spectator

    @umnak

    Locale: Southeast Alaska

    Go with bear spray for backpacking, a side arm isn't effective. We do carry a shotgun on kayak trips to Admiralty Island (largest concentration of brown bears anywhere), but also have bear spray at the ready under the tarp.

    #1780862
    W I S N E R !
    Spectator

    @xnomanx

    Cardio…cardio…cardio. Hasn't failed me yet.

    YouTube video

    #1780864
    Jason Anderson
    Member

    @jason762

    Locale: San Francisco Bay Area

    Even on Admiralty Island, I never saw a bear. Worked on a trail crew on the island for 3 months up at Young Lake.

    Sounds to me like bears are your excuse to carry your firearm. Go ahead. My excuse is I'm afraid someone will break into the house while i'm on a backpacking trip and steal my G17 :P

    #1780871
    Kier Selinsky
    Member

    @kieran

    Locale: Seattle, WA

    It's said often here that we pack our fears.
    Well said.

    If you must carry something, just carry bear spray. If you don't believe it'll work on crazies, try testing on self :)

    #1780990
    Russ Porter
    Member

    @russp17

    Locale: Anchorage

    My thoughts are do what you want. I like to carry Bear Spray, but if you feel better with a gun. Go for it…

    #1780993
    BlackHatGuy
    Spectator

    @sleeping

    Locale: The Cascades

    "It's said often here that we pack our fears.
    Well said.
    "

    After a few days backpacking I fear my jockey shorts. But I still pack them. So I guess this is true!

    #1781016
    Mike M
    BPL Member

    @mtwarden

    Locale: Montana

    what a first post! call me cynical, but somehow I have hard time believing this question is sincere

    #1781017
    Kattt
    BPL Member

    @kattt

    I am with you Mike. But time will tell.

    #1781021
    Ken Thompson
    BPL Member

    @here

    Locale: Right there

    .

    #1781022
    Cayenne Redmonk
    BPL Member

    @redmonk

    Locale: Greater California Ecosystem

    Don't be a wuss, bring a gun that can stop a bear.

    #1781026
    Dale Wambaugh
    BPL Member

    @dwambaugh

    Locale: Pacific Northwest

    It is the age old frontier standoff! Who will win?

    BooBoo!

    Ninja Yogi Fighter

    #1781030
    Bob Gross
    BPL Member

    @b-g-2-2

    Locale: Silicon Valley

    I would go with a 105mm howitzer with beehive rounds.

    Go big or go home.

    –B.G.–

    #1781031
    Matthew Black
    Spectator

    @mtblack

    I can't think of a .380 that weighs 14oz loaded. Quite frankly I would not enjoy maintaining the level of paranoia and readiness required to make use of it on the trail against human beings and think it would be of more use for ending your suffering than the bear in case of an animal attack.

    #1781033
    Mike M
    BPL Member

    @mtwarden

    Locale: Montana

    I read it as more like this

    #1781059
    Dale Wambaugh
    BPL Member

    @dwambaugh

    Locale: Pacific Northwest

    ROTFLMAO!!!!

    ANDY!!!!! There's a BEAR!!!!

    These, "I'm going to pack this to protect myself from bears" threads come up in outdoor forums all over. My conclusion is that if the OP is lucky, the bear will laugh itself silly, giving an opportunity for escape.

    My wife and I were on a hike yesterday and I was telling her about the guy who had a spear to protect himself from bears. Same answer.

    When we were newlyweds I was sorting out all our camping gear I came across her old aluminum cook kit and it had some odd dents in it. I asked her how that happened and she told of the bear on the Olympic National Park beaches who inspected her pack and chewed on the cook kit for a bit. I asked her what she did, and she said she watched from a LONG way off until the bear left. Good choice :)

    #1781065
    Ryan Smith
    BPL Member

    @violentgreen

    Locale: East TN

    "I can't think of a .380 that weighs 14oz loaded."

    A Ruger LCP or Kel-tec loaded with 7 rounds of .380 ACP comes in at 11-12oz. A Kel-tec PF9, which also would not take down a good size bear, comes in at 18oz loaded.

    Ryan

    #1781069
    Mark Ries
    Spectator

    @mtmnmark

    Locale: IOWAHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!

    I never hurt anyone but being a crazy myself I would feel better if you left it at home. Bear spray has excellent results on me

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