I am looking for a good lightweight backpacking gun. I want a fighting chance against a cougar, grizzly bear or person who attacks me. It has to be lightweight, I will probably never need it so I’m trying to stay minimalist. I’m thinking a 5 shot 38. Revolver.
Tell me if I’m retarded or not.
38 is enough to stop a person, cougar, wolf, etc etc but what about bears
>not enuff stoppin powa or penutrashun to kill a bear
If a grizzly bear is close enough to you to the point where you have to shoot, your Glock 40 with muh solid copper 10mm rounds are not going to stop the bear fast enough unless your hitting it in its head or heart. I think I a 38 special headshot will kill a grizzly just fine. What do you fags thing? I have more experience around grizzlies than the average person but am no subject matter expert, but I have found it is hard for them to sneak up on you, so I would have time to retreat to high ground and get off a good headshot, or atleast get it to fuck off. Would a headshot not be the goal when shooting a bear with a pistol anyway? I am not sure I would count on a heart/lung kill with pistols.
have a nice day
This. If the OP kills himself, then the things out in the woods can't, so that means OP wins.
You want a .357 mag. if you're set on the revolver. You can shoot .38 through it all day, including P+ loads. Get lots of practice in, and .38 is about as good as you'll get these days ... unless you want to invest in a second .22 revolver for lots of extra practice in addition to your carry piece. Make sure you know the difference with .357, and make sure .357 is loaded in it when it is expected to perform security duty.
If you're willing to go semi-auto, there are small 9mm with 7- & 8-shot capacity. Make sure it handles P+ and maybe even +P+ ammo. You may never shoot those pressures, but the gun will be built rugged enough to handle them.
Regarding bears, nearly every bear that's ever been killed with 9mm or better (including .380 ACP, iirc), almost every incident has been a one-stop shot. Some have needed two, and three or more is exceptionally rare ... probably more the product of someone who never fired a gun before. Anyway, I think .357 is one of the guns that has all one-shot stops, and 9mm only has a sprinkling of 2-shot stops. 9mm, BTW, I also think is the most-used caliber, so the statistical sampling might be better. There's something like under 1000 total bear attacks recorded where a handgun was used to stop the threat, it might even be much lower, like 400. I forget.
>tl;dr
.357
Against bears, ANY gun is effective. In a study on use of guns against bears, just shooting a gun was enough to scare off (or kill) the bear in 97% of the cases. Doesn't matter what gun, even .22LR pistols are effective.
https://www.ammoland.com/2021/06/handgun-or-pistol-against-bear-attacks-104-cases-97-effective/
But yeah, I would go for .357 magnum too.
Bears are not stupid. They know that we humans are crazy and have guns and fire and other shit. They know to stay away, if they can just hear us.
Most of the cases where bear comes into contact with humans is either accidental (they didn't hear or smell you coming) or they are attracted by your food. Just make a lot of noise (use one of those bear-bells or something) and they know to turn around and fuck off.
>bells
Reminds me of the old joke that these are the items most often found in necropsied bear stomachs.
Bring bear spray and a gun for backup (spray usually works but not if it’s a black bear in predatory mode, in which case the bear backs off but then comes back around).
As for cougars, they try to sneak up on their prey then pounce on it and bite through the skull. You have to know it’s coming to get of a shot, so situational awareness is critical in mountain lion country.
For camping, there are portable electric fences that run off D batteries. Make sure to get one that delivers an absolute minimum 1 joule of charge. You can mod cheaper controllers with an extra capacitor if you know what you’re doing
Thank you for your advice
I’ll be sure to shoot a charging bear with picrel
>Broomhandle Femboy's got a new toy
> new
Wrong revolver
>any gun
>use a bell
Bear hands typed these post.
checked
The joke is .22lr works really well bc all you have to do is shoot your friend in the leg so you can run faster
bear spray is fine if you have a gun, but you've gotta be careful if it's even slightly breezy. I've gotta double check, but some fuddlore says bear spray is weaker than regular pepper spray (meant for humans) because supposedly bears noses' are more sensitive. Been using this to justify carrying the POM pepper spray in my EDC (in addition to a gun) out innawoods too. Even if I had legit bear spray, that's not what I'm reaching for first
Bells, sure, but only because you clearly have your other bases covered. I just can't get over how obnoxious they are. Noise pollution is still pollution and I prefer a conversation with my hiking buddy or just not giving a fuck about stomping through the forest if I'm trying to make noise.
^Gorgeous rifles btw....
>I prefer a conversation with my hiking buddy
same, i sing too, the bell come out when im in deep brush and cant be bothered to sing to myself
>.22lr works really well bc all you have to do is shoot your friend in the leg so you can run faster
That's why you always bring several young children on a camping trip. Saves on bullets.
>fuddlore says bear spray is weaker than regular pepper spray (meant for humans)
That's not Fuddlore. The Fuddlore is actually the opposite claiming bear spray is stronger. Bear spray legitimately just has a lower OC percentage. Comes with the bonus of making it less like huffing fire if it blows back on you. Plenty of videos of people getting bear sprayed vs people getting hit with human strength stuff. If I can find it one of my favorites shows the effects of bear spray and human pepper spray on styrofoam. Guess which one starts eating away at the foam.
People think "WOAH IT'S FOR BEARS! THAT MUST BE SUPER STRONG!" because people apply gun logic (Ya gotta have .44 mag! blah blah blah) to it. Bear spray is still going to suck to get hit with but it's 2% absolute maximum OC vs sometimes over 10% for the human stuff. EPA actually caps the OC component for anything marketed as "bear spray". Just make sure if you decide to carry human strength for use vs wildlife it's a large capacity can with a long range (like a bear spray can has).
Anyone who shoots cougars is a gay moron. have a nice day DeShawn.
Mountain lions hunt people. If the cat picked you for supper, it's okay to shoot it.
Cougars will go after children and small women. When I go hiking and camping, I take my 9mm. But I don't have anything large besides, deers foxes and black bears in my state. If I lived in a place with Coyotes, wild pigs and grizzly bears, I'd take a PCC or magnum caliber.
>Afraid of bears.
Read up and learn about them. They're a lot less dangerous when you know what to do around them (and NOT to do). If you see a mountain lion coming after you (usually you won't see it), put the first round into the ground in front of them and spray them with dirt & stones.
IF that is a viable option. Very much be prepared for a follow-up shot, if needed.
Cougars usually don't have the nerve for that sort of noise and impact. Make sure there are no kittens anywhere near you and you'll be fine. Like, if you see kittens, find an urgent need to be five miles somewhere else. Immediately. Also a good plan with bears & their cubs. In most animal attacks like these, it's because they feel their young are threatened. Don't leave their young without a momma because you were being retarded. Please.
If you happen to kill a cougar for whatever reason, check to see if she's a nursing mom. If yes, get professional help immediately and try to find the kittens so they can be rescued. Please.
38 special is somewhere between .380 and 9mm. Why not just go 9mm? There are 9mm revolvers that use moon clips which are much quicker to load than speed loaders. That's a concern too when you're limiting yourself to 5-6 rounds with a revolver.
I'm going with the outdoors handgun meta and would suggest a 10mm. If you really wanted to keep it minimalist there are plenty of documented cases of 9mm killing bears. Big fucker Alaskan coastal grizzlies too. So any 9mm handgun would do.
Yeah most of them are basically big raccoons. As a general rule if the animal isn't big enough to slaughter you in one swipe or bite, it's not as big of a threat as its violent posturing would have you believe. If it comes at you it's time to draw but most animals will do what's called a bluff charge, just acting really violent to scare you out of their area. Don't be such a pussy when it's a smaller animal than you. Stand ground and yell or fire a warning shot, don't shoot unless you have to because animals are neat. Here's examples of bluff charges, they're scary situations but these animals can't kill a human very quickly so it's not like you're in extreme danger when you have a gun vs its lil teeth and claws.
Bear:
Mountain lion:
oh fug a gougar
I'm going to magdump that gay mountain lion with an AR15 and there is nothing you can do about it.
> that vid
MIMINE!
I fucking love vids of cats fucking up bears. Probably one of the most satisfying thing there is.
Cats and geese don't fuck around.
?si=csLi3rJ4WT27_OU2
This has to be one of my favorite vid of all time. Fucking fat whale getting rightfully bodyslammed into the ground by an animal probably ~1/20th her weight.
Anon, I'm going through a horrible break up right now, that video made me laugh my ass off, I needed that. Thanks.
For me its the dog going
> Nope. Not getting involved.
And that final look back when she goes in
> Wait you leaving me alone with this menace?
Oversized orphan paws typed this post.
>Also a good plan with bears & their cubs
hahaha I will always remember that post by a US park ranger about the elderly German couple who proudly showed him a video they had recorded of themselves hugging and petting a grizzly bear cub they had found "abandoned" on a hike
My favorites are the idiots that act like bison are big friendly floofs that just LOVE posing for your selfies. Every year at least a few foreign tourists get tossed or gored.
Keltec PMR30. Just keep shooting.
I've been backpacking for about 20 years now, 2-3 times a year and I have never once run into a situation where Id wished I had slogged an extra 6-7 lbs to have a gun on me. I've seen my share of bears, never been lucky enough to see a puma. The one time a bear raided my camp, I was dumb enough to think the beach we were backpacking up wasn't bear territory, so we didn't set up a bear box or tree hang a bag. Bear took my pack that was leaning on my tent, dragged it 30 feet and took all the bagels, bread and carbs out of it. Did not touch the salami log surprisingly. Car camping or hunting is gonna net you a lot more fun for gun activities. With backpacking imo its a waste of the meager space you have to work with. You'll get a lot more fun value out of a small fishing pole, cassette player, or more booze.
I knew a guy who backpacked his AR to Havasu Falls, reasons unknown. Meby scari injuns...
>cassette player
ikr. Leave the tunes at home.
90s tech can take exponentially more punishment than bringing some new school made to break apple shit
If youre ever out there more than 5 days or in some serious morale killing conditions, heavy rain etc, a couple classic albums or mini board games can make all the difference. The no fun allowed shit is for boring REI sport backpackers
Wife and I bring cards and hot chocolate and I’ll have a book as well. Really helps with morale on the long hikes when your at camp.
The problem with cassette players is the extraordinarily high 3rd harmonic distortion. Human ears are quite sensitive to odd harmonics. Even records, with their very limited dynamic range, sound better, so it’s not an issue of old vs new
oh no I agree tapes sound incredibly shitty. But theres something cozy to the cheapness/anemic nature of the tape sound when out inna woods. Bust out the wine bag and the Cream/Sabbath/Tom Tom Club tapes that sound like theyre being played over a Yak Bak, and it hits the same ambiance that a harmonica would.
Im going to get some flak for this but bear spray is much more effective than guns when it comes to bears. When you are scared shitless (and you will be if a bear charges you) it is very easy to miss. Bear spray is light and will create a nice cloud of “fuck off” in front of you.
For cougars I would not worry too much, like other anons said a small handgun is probably fine for scaring them off.
Yeah just spray a fogger and hope you don't end up fucked too. The only time I ever used OC in the field the gasses got in my eyes. There was no wind, I wasn't moving forward, the gasses just expand outward from where the stream was and linger in the area. Shut my eyes down for about 30-45 seconds, like cutting a really fucking Hispanicy onion. At least it gave the recipient of the liquid a more lasting effect because he wasn't concerned with using the time I was blinded to grab my gun, he was rubbing his own eyes and it definitely lasted longer for him. Most officers will keep OC on then because it's required by uniform standards but they'll never use it. Bring up using OC to cops and they'll laugh and say yeah fuck no, maybe on a bitchy dog but never in a fight situation because of the propensity that it ends up affecting you. It does that a lot, far more than is talked about. It's something they tell you day one, don't actually use this shit or I'm not going near your fight. It's downright fucking dangerous to the user even if used properly, like I said there was no reason for a cloud of invisible gas to get into my eyes with no wind or movement towards where the stream was. OC is shit and I don't recommend it for anyone but women who literally cannot fight, stab, or shoot someone effectively. You're gonna fog up an area? Holy shit you better loose a stream behind you while running away, don't even get me started on agencies that still use foggers. That shit is for filling up prison cells before you breach with gas masks on.
>For cougars I would not worry too much, like other anons said a small handgun is probably fine for scaring them off.
If you see the cougar, you are probably fine (unless it's a mom). They are ambush predators and will attack you from behind. Paint eyes on the back of your hat.
.38 is anemic compared to other revolver calibers. Get an actual .357, and practice with .38 until you're comfortable enough with the mechanics to move up to actually .357 loads.
Otherwise, Glock 20.
Just get a glock 29, put underwood screwdriver bullets in it, and be covered for literally whatever.
Done, move on.
Also can't believe I'm on PrepHole and regards are whinging "why do you need to carry a gun innawoods? I backpack all the time and don't see the need to carry. Some guy I know carried an AR! Can you believe it?!"
Get fucked all of you. I'm going to start carrying a fucking "waterworld" style krinkov when I go hiking now just so I can take pictures of it next to my gucci ultralight backpacking gear in all the fancy colors just to really set all you cucks off.
This is PrepHole. Your cock should be good enough for people, cougars, and wolves.
For a bear you'll need my cock.
https://www.themeateater.com/gear/general/best-bear-defense-guns-and-cartridges
Use the internet. You get better answers than "muh dick".
>"use Google not the esoteric knowledge of thousands of autists"
>links to a literal AI generated article
Idiot.
yknow i often times wonder why i ask PrepHole questions more often than i do google, but
>the esoteric knowledge of thousands of autists
is a damn good justification
Except it's almost always wrong.
idk man i got some good shooting advice on here and now I shoot really damn well
i trust my judgement and autists to find resources rather than an algorithm thats purpose built to get me to buy shit
WTF are (You) even here for? PrepHole is the very definition of
> "the esoteric knowledge of thousands of autists"
Really doesn't sound like the sort of place you're looking for.
I take a Colt King Cobra I got from my Grandpa after his death. It was his backpacking gun since the 80s.
OP here
Some of you have given excellent feedback but I feel like I need to clarify what I’m looking for
I need an effective enough gun in the lightest package possible. I’m looking at the airweight/airlite line of sw revolvers, and maybe micro 9s
Also I have lots of experience with black bears, call me a liar but I have been retarded and lucky enough to walk up and pet one, they are like raccoons and will run away a lot of the time
OK, so everyone laugh at me. I'll say the line: Korth.
You'll pay for it and everyone will laugh at your gucci toy at the range. However, this specific picrel is worth taking a look at. It's designed as a backup piece for, get this, actual Sky Marshals. It's intended use is inside a pressurized cabin, highly concealable, small, back-up piece. I've read good things about it and always have been curious to shoot one myself. And I've wondered if there's a .38/.357 upgrade for it. A 9mm revolver is kind'a cute, hits hard in its intended range use, and could have other advantages like compatibility with a general kit made of 9mm.
wtf is that holosun laser(?) Ive never seen that before
I'd use it if you gave it to me, but there's no fucking way I'm paying $4,000 for a snub nose revolver.
.357 stainless revolver and if hunting is allowed, a good old lever action rifle in .357 too. The same style "combo" was carried by cowboys and ranchers in US.
Modern 9mm is as- or more powerful than .38spl. Literally just get a Glock. They're lighter, cheaper, and higher capacity than revolvers.
The sw 638 air weight is lighter than micro 9s
It also costs the same as a Glock 19, uses a weaker round, and holds ten less cartridges. I mean the odds of you being attacked by a panther, lynx, or whatever are damn near infinitesimal, meaning that your choice of carry pistol is really more for peace of mind than any real necessity. So from that perspective anything you want to spend your money on will be adequate. For an actual animal attack though the more rounds you can bring to bear as quickly as possible the more likely you are to survive and possibly even remain unscathed.
so you want the sw airlite revolver?
get that then, you probably wont even shoot it at anything
That’s what I’m currently looking at unless somebody can give me an alternative that is a similar weight but more effective
you should post a picture of that gun and then say you're looking for alternatives on the post
https://www.smith-wesson.com/product/j-frame-163070
You are right but I can exactly go back and edit my post so here you go
OP here again
I’m not going to carry anything that is not best weighed in oz
So no lever action bear hunting rifles, no full sized 10mm hand cannon, no steel frame guns, im trying to be as lightweight as possible here, and choosing a slightly more anemic cartridge may be necessary to do that and I can live with that, unless somebody can give me a make and model that can give me the “best of both worlds”
lcrx 3" 357 if you care about weight, they're 21oz and have nice DA triggers.
38 is enough to stop a bear but obviously 44 or a rifle caliber is going to do better, but even 9mm is enough to kill or stop one. The chance you actually get attacked by a bear is really low tho
Sig p365/hellcat with underwood xtreme penetrator
Get a 9mm semi-auto handgun. You get surprised by a predator you're pretty much guaranteed not going to shoot anywhere near as well as at the range so shot placement isn't going to be great. Adrenaline is a hell of a drug. 17+1 +P JHP beats the living shit out of 5-6 rounds of anything you'd realistically carry in a revolver. You want lowish recoil and lots of followup shots. Other bonus is more mags are easy as shit to carry. Get a solid holster and a mag pouch you can put on your belt and you'll be set. Other calibers to look at for this are 10mm and .45ACP (double stack only). Wouldn't carry anything less than a 9mm. I'd only go for a revolver as a backup gun if my primary fails. Personally I'd recommend the Beretta Px4, have one and it's a great reliable gun. Mine is full size but they do make compact and subcompact.
If you're in an area where big predators like grizzlies, mountain lions, and wolves and big dumb herbivores like moose are a common threat carry a lightweight semi-auto detachable mag rifle like an AR of some sort on a sling that allows you to quickly use it. Your gun is useless if it's strapped to your pack and inaccessible when bigfoot reveals his feet aren't the only part of him that's big.
If you can't carry the extra weight of a basic bitch Glock or something similar and a spare mag you have no business hiking through the woods until you've spent more time at the gym.
>more time in the gym
I have hiked over a thousand miles this year already, you have never walked a day in your life. Go outside. I am not looking for a duty handgun, I already have a 17+1 9mm with a dot and a light and all the current Gucci gear to go with it
I am looking to carry the bare minimum here.
Carry your full size handgun 100 miles through the mountains in 3 days and you will sing a different tune
>you have never walked a day in your life
A bold assumption. I march often and my workout involved lots of pushing a cart with 450+ pounds on it and the cart adding even more resistance with it's own settings. Every day is leg day if you commit to it.
>I am not looking for a duty handgun
I get that, but a revolver is a shit choice. If you don't want to carry a full size then get a compact or subcompact. Just make sure they have the good capacity. When a grumpy moose pops out of a bush and charges you you're not going to be shooting anywhere near your normal level and won't have the time to easily put your shots in a perfect place to drop the fat fuck. Accuracy by volume becomes a bit more important.
>Carry your full size handgun
I'd bet your choice of holster is the biggest issue. If hip isn't good try a chest mounted one with plenty of support. There's tons of options, just have to find what's comfortable for long term wear.
And he ought to just carry his 17+1 9mm. Having the extra ammo to account for the fact that you'll be under a lot of stress if you ever have to use it is good. I'm not saying go in full battle rattle, just carry a gun that offsets the fact that when you need it you're going to be flooded with adrenaline, in some degree of panicking, and nowhere near as accurate as you are in calm controlled settings like the range. Dumping 18 rounds is more likely to land a kill shot than dumping 6. Also account for needing power for larger animals.
>bmi over 30
>option irrelevant
I have no interest in participating in those faggy bodybuilding contests where you have to starve and dehydrate yourself on show day. Having a bit of body fat with all the muscle isn't the end of the world. Rather look like an 1800s strong man than those freaks.
I don't drink beer or alcohol of any sort so that'd be kinda odd.
You can practically see the beer gut
Dude it’s not hard to carry a full size pistol for days. Why wouldn’t you bring the pistol you shoot the best?
Anon is just trying to go for a hike and needs a little pocket rocket, not go into battle
>NO JOKER, ITS AN ANIMAL
Short barreled shotgun.
Bingo. This thing goes with me on all mountain hikes. Been near enough to an enormous bear, and stalked for about 15 minutes by a mountain lion, that I'm not too keen on going unarmed. But I'll keep hoping I never have to shoot such critters, as they're neat, and they were here first. If the 3 x 1 ounce slugs aren't enough, well, I guess I had my chance and lost.
>critters think fatso is tasty
Cool. I guess. Won't want me then. Been skinny and fit for years.
aint that a cute little gun 🙂
>pistol grip
>slugs
Why
Not that guy, but a 1oz slug going 1,750fps will turn any living thing inside out.
I maintain that a 1oz slug going 1500fps-1750fps within 75yd will kill anything that walks this Earth, and I'd bet my networth (not a whole lot but it's what I got) that a 1oz slug would kill a breaching humpback whale with proper shot placement. Call me a retard if you must, but I stand firm in that belief.
>9mm pistol you have on you that your shoot well
Seriously. A gun stuffed in your backpack will not help you and would be more of a liability when you take your eyes off the predator when trying to yank your backpack gun out of your pack.
Yeah, why put it in a backpack when rifle slings exist? Black, it's the middle of nowhere. Just strap it to your chest where you can bring it up instantly.
9mm +P JHP like Speer Gold Dot for bears, y/n? Or would standard FMJ work better?
9mm is all I have.
Both I’ll work just fine as long as you do your part.
Wont JHP just expand in the bears fur and not penetrate enough?
Speer gold dots are significantly hotter than most 9mm FMJ target ammo. I’m just estimating it comes out as a wash in terms of penetration. That being said an anon above posted the stats on surviving a bear attack and getting rounds on target is far more valuable for your survival then what ammo you had.
Buy some hardcast rounds and make sure they cycle in your gun. They will penetrate way better than FMJ or JHPs.
There are about 30000 mountain lions in North America while there are over 370 million people.
The life of a cougar is worth more than yours, OP.
On the other hand, it's just a cat. At one point about 870,000 years ago the entirety of 'humans' was down to about 1,200 individuals, according to a recent genetic assay. We bounced back to 8billion. Mountain lions aren't endangered. My life might be, if one decides I'm to be lunch.
I get the distinct feeling there is a cougar in this thread trying to convince anons not to shoot at any wild, murderous fuckcats that may or may not be stalking them through the woods.
>OP is CONVINCED that anything but a revolver is going to be "too heavy"
this fuddlore really annoys me
i get it, you've minmaxed your backpacking kit to the extreme and you dont wanna fuck with it
but come on, a glock and an extra mag isn't gonna kill you
the other anon was right, adrenaline is a bitch, so either practice shooting with your nuts attached to a car battery or get something with a modern capacity
theres a reason this exists.
10mm glock, still a very minimalist option and I've heard it's used a lot in Alaska for bear defense and such stuff
People in Alaska do that with a KKM stainless barrel upgrade to shoot hard cast lead for grizzlies. The barrel upgrade is to prevent lead fouling.
Does the new hi-point 10mm work well? The 9mm carbine has been flawless for me.
Dunno, I live in commiefornia, but where else are you going to find a 10mm for $200? Besides, hi-point has a good warranty so if it gives you problems they'll make it right.
The absolute bare minimum Id recommend for North America is a +P rated 9mm compact loaded with hardcast 147s . Modern 9mm loads are good enough to dispatch large mammals now while .38 special kinda lacks the same upper limits. If you really want a revolver getting a .357 rated one would be better.
Pretty good advice.
If you want to completely cover your bases in terms of larger predators aka grizzlies
>Revolver in .357 or even .44 though you better have some training
More practical choices imo are
>G20/29 (10mm)
>Or drop down to a 9mm doublestack with proper ammo (Buffalo Bore or comparable)
I carried an FNS-40 when I first started guiding in AK (was the only handgun I could find after Sandy Hook caused such a panic, overpaid like fuck and never bought another .40). Other guide I worked closely with up there carried an S&W Airweight (38spl) with TWO OF THE FIVE rounds being snake shot (bc he would travel to the Grand Canyon and guide there in the winter). He dropped a black bear with that gun and whatever poorly selected ammunition it was loaded with, didn't take more than a couple shots. Of course, black bears are not as tough as browns, but still. There's an account of a man driving off a brown bear with a S&W Shield (9mm), I'll try and find it. I'm generally comfortable with a G26 loaded with proper ammo, though I'll pivot to a G19 in a Kenai chest holster for areas with a heavier density of brown bears or moose.
Honestly at the end of the day, I'm way more concerned with what humans will do to each other out innawoods...
How do you like being a guide?
>burnt out attorney
Have your money squared away first - pay isn't great and benefits are nonexistent. That said, it's incredibly fun and rewarding.
>guided backpacking trips for wealthy foreigners in AK during college
>graduated, moved back to WV and became a whitewater rafting guide on a local river
>come winter, got hired as an adaptive snowboard instructor by a non-profit that teaches disabled vets how to ski
I get to work outdoors with amazing people year-round. You meet some kooks on the river, but most of the people out here are incredibly wise, capable, and giving. A good outfitter is a true meritocracy that filters the ones who turn out to be dirtbags or liabilities, but you still learn to deal with people of all types, which is invaluable. It's also helped me grow incredibly comfortable being outdoors in a wide range of climates/conditions, and teaches you a lot about how you'll respond to fight/flight situations, onset of panic, and first-aid emergencies. It's a blast, but if you want to do it full-time (the only worthwhile way imo), you need to be responsible and think about your finances first...
Thanks. How do most of your customers treat you?
All the international clients in AK were lovely. I give them a pass on gratuities (I still got tipped) but it's just not customary where they're from. I was way more concerned with how well they listened to and respected what we asked of them to keep them safe. Only ever had one client, dude from the Netherlands, blatantly ignore us and put himself at risk by sneaking off and approaching a moose+calf we were all watching from a safe distance. Whitewater draws a different crowd, you definitely get some folks who do not understand this isn't a disney ride and if they don't paddle, the hydraulic ahead will flip our boat and thrash us. You get a few who show up drunk and I just send em home, no time for that shit, do it after. But the vast majority of people have pretty life-changing experiences being out in nature doing something visceral like that. I'm the lead trainer for all the whitewater rafting guides at our outfitter (including those becoming TLs and sweeps) and emphasize that everything they do will be scrutinized if something goes wrong, so it's a fine balance between customer service and keeping people in line. Only ever had to physically hit one dude with my paddle (jabbed him right in the kidney). He had shown up drunk with an acquaintance I promised to take out and I'll never make that mistake again. Almost drifted sideways in a gnarly hole bc neither would paddle when I asked, so I let em have it. Not my proudest moment, and I wondered briefly if there'd be consequences, but they knew they were fucking off and it's a moment where I learned a lot and try to share those lessons with my guides.
Thanks for sharing. Had a lot of outdoor adventures when I was younger. Had a few people from my troop work as guides in colorado. Full time job as an attorney has reduced me to a weekend warrior (at best). Probably too old (32) to start working as a guide, but doesn't stop me from day dreaming.
>32
Nope, you're prime as long as you're decently fit. I'm 31, been doing it for 10 years and as long as you take care of your body, it'll only make you stronger. Most guys who do this kinda thing say peak physicality is in their 40s, so don't let age hold you back. Even more importantly, you're probably in a way better financial position than me and most of the other kids, and are much more emotionally mature. There will be a learning curve for whatever you decide to pursue (just like anything else obviously), and sometimes it's only 1 step forward with 2 back...but stay focused and you'll develop the skills and experience needed to distinguish yourself as an asset in the community/industry. Protect your body and your reputation and everything else will follow. Good luck man, and gorgeous photo
Thanks brother. I'm going to look into it. My money is great, but the lifestyle is terrible.
NTA but I'm in law school and have long been wondering if there are any other attorneys on this board. Any tips for a soon-to-be lawyer interested in guns and the outdoors on how to maintain my hobbies (mainly hunting and hiking? I know the first several years of law practice can be super busy
If you don't have grizzlies, then just use a 9mm with good ammo. I use pic related with buf bore hc
I'm going to ignore every post in this thread and just tell you to get whatever handgun you want. I go hiking in heavy bear, moose, wolf and lion territory and have never had to resort to shooting any animal. I've had more sketchy encounters with people than animals.
I bring bearspray, a bell, and whatever gun I feel like hauling around.
I dont worry about any animal except moose, those things are nasty.
>mfw Australian posting
Nice camo on the FAL. Was that home-painted or done by ARS or someone similar?
I painted it in my garage with a brush, the trick is to thin your paints
Thanks brah. I've been thinking about giving my Imbel the old baby poo facelift.
You can always retvrn to tradition. I have one of these in .45 LC and it's super light. But, it looks like it costs twice as much as when I bought it now lol. I'd sell it but idk how.
>Glock 33
>threaded barrel with aluminum compensator
>90gr ammo
Problem with tiny guns is that they suck to shoot. The 33 with the above setup is smoother shooting than a steel frame full-size 9mm and weighs ~1.8 pounds loaded. Not the lightest option possible, but it's the best subcompact I've ever shot.
You won't do shit
Your needs are entirely different from law enforcement and military who carry duty weapons
>but muh zerohedge and tucker says putin is the savior of the white race and to buy guns for the bogarloo
kys
Gonna go out on a limb here and say you posted in the wrong thread.
Threads like this remind me how grateful i am to live in europe where the biggest danger outdoors is a tree falling on you
>38 Spc is enough to stop a bear
>hardcast/copper milled 10mm is not
>am I rarted?
Yes
>not going to stop the bear fast enough unless your hitting it in its head or heart
So, the same thing you have to do with any caliber.
https://sportingclassicsdaily.com/defense-against-bears-with-pistols-97-success-rate-37-incidents-by-caliber/
Where are you at OP
I've been using my Beretta 92 as backpacking gun.
But I'm in Florida and we don't have giant bears
Just Pittbulls and random sex offender camps.
I wish we had real open carry here in Florida, so LARPing here is not that good.
You could always carry a carbine, instead of a handgun.
>cougar
Don't use a gun on the kitty. If she is being bratty she simply needs correction.
Size up to a 6 shot .357 with a 3 or 4 inch barrel. You're gonna be able to shoot it much better for only a small increase in overall size.