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Originally Posted by UPhiker
I always carry a J when hiking. I got that "danger" feeling once and was glad I had it with me, although I didn't have to pull it.

J frame with a couple of reloads always has been a comfort on the trail. I have been hiking the AT for longer than many folks here have been alive. Not a single time have I been unarmed.


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the j frame is a lw and great reliable choice.


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I get it that serious backpackers are understandably very weight conscious. But, even a 7-shot, 10 ounce S&W 351PD in 22WMR would have easily saved the day. A few spare rounds of 22WMR ammo is lightweight and fairly weather resistant as well.

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Originally Posted by MontanaMarine
I get it that serious backpackers are understandably very weight conscious. But, even a 7-shot, 10 ounce S&W 351PD in 22WMR would have easily saved the day. A few spare rounds of 22WMR ammo is lightweight and fairly weather resistant as well.


AMEN!

I carry my G43 in a Hill People Gear chest pack when hiking and don't even notice it.


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Originally Posted by 340boy
What's crazy to me is that I dare say, most, hikers are so against guns that they would almost rather be raped or chopped into pieces than carry a firearm for protection.
Foolish in the extreme.


I know folks who have said they would prefer such treatment who then were victimized. In every case they changed their minds after surviving their victimization.


"I'm gonna have to science the schit out of this." Mark Watney, Sol 59, Mars
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Originally Posted by DocRocket
Originally Posted by 340boy
What's crazy to me is that I dare say, most, hikers are so against guns that they would almost rather be raped or chopped into pieces than carry a firearm for protection.
Foolish in the extreme.


I know folks who have said they would prefer such treatment who then were victimized. In every case they changed their minds after surviving their victimization.


Yep. Hiking sticks don’t work well against a machete.

I don’t go anywhere without a gun. If I can’t take my gun, I don’t go. Some may label it as paranoid, but I just call it being prepared.


"Allways speak the truth and you will never have to remember what you said before..." Sam Houston
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It makes a great deal of sense to carry a defensive firearm when you’re on a remote trail. For most of my backpacking years, in Canada’s mountain parks, firearms weren’t an option. I got into the habit of carrying my hand axe on the trail. Nobody batted an eye, and only once I was asked by a stranger why I carried it. I smiled and said it was for chopping firewood, but it kept falling off my pack. The person (a European tourist) seemed to accept that.

Nowadays on the trail I have a small defensive pistol in a waist pack, and I still carry the axe. It does keep falling off my pack, you know...


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Originally Posted by DocRocket
It makes a great deal of sense to carry a defensive firearm when you’re on a remote trail. For most of my backpacking years, in Canada’s mountain parks, firearms weren’t an option. I got into the habit of carrying my hand axe on the trail. Nobody batted an eye, and only once I was asked by a stranger why I carried it. I smiled and said it was for chopping firewood, but it kept falling off my pack. The person (a European tourist) seemed to accept that.

Nowadays on the trail I have a small defensive pistol in a waist pack, and I still carry the axe. It does keep falling off my pack, you know...


Can’t imagine that Doc. A good axe or Bowie knife would damn sure beat nothing though.


"Allways speak the truth and you will never have to remember what you said before..." Sam Houston
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This won't keep me off the AT. Be Well. Rusty


Socialism is a philosophy of failure, the creed of ignorance, and the gospel of envy. Its inherent virtue is the equal sharing of misery. Winston Churchill.
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Originally Posted by chlinstructor
Originally Posted by DocRocket
Originally Posted by 340boy
What's crazy to me is that I dare say, most, hikers are so against guns that they would almost rather be raped or chopped into pieces than carry a firearm for protection.
Foolish in the extreme.


I know folks who have said they would prefer such treatment who then were victimized. In every case they changed their minds after surviving their victimization.


Yep. Hiking sticks don’t work well against a machete.

I don’t go anywhere without a gun. If I can’t take my gun, I don’t go. Some may label it as paranoid, but I just call it being prepared.



That's it--my thoughts exactly ! Going without preparation is total ignorance. Dozens of times these pilgrims on the trail have asked me with contempt in their demeanor, "What's that gun along for?"

We've hiked and climbed hundreds and hundreds of miles over the past 38 years, and never once have we done so without protection along.

Once, while hiking in the rugged, remote Taylor Hilgard wilderness, we were back in about 8 miles, just shy of the base of Imp Peak. There had been no other cars at the trailhead. Yet up ahead, I saw two guys bring their horses up on the trail, forming a "V" shape on the trail, blocking our path. From appearances, they looked like trouble--dirty, scruffy--imagine the dopes in the movie "Deliverance". We were about 50 feet from them, when one of them said a nasty comment to us. We had a peak in mind, and kept going forward, and when we were about 15-20 feet from them, they saw my .44 magnum on my hip, and for lack of a better way to put it--it was all over. They got out of our way, but I had eyes on the back of my head that whole trip, not knowing if they would show up again, or if they had a rifle back at their camp.

When one goes into places like this, you're on your own--and in a potentially difficult spot if something occurs and your wife is along.

While weight might be an issue for some, we take two rigs along--the second one concealed--just in case one gets hurt and has to leave--each are still armed.


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however, contrary to popular thought, one begins with the the narrow end.
the more you progress, the more it expands into greater discovery--and the less of an audience you will have...
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i like the AT. but one has to recognize it's been discovered by all kinds of folks. some of whom might be running from the law for whatever minor or major reason.

i try not to stare or glare at anyone suspicious in my mind, but there's more dangers on the trail than just an occasional aggressive blackbear.

local communities realize the economic impact of the trail for their community, and do their best to offer assistance as necessary.


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Originally Posted by DocRocket
Originally Posted by 340boy
What's crazy to me is that I dare say, most, hikers are so against guns that they would almost rather be raped or chopped into pieces than carry a firearm for protection.
Foolish in the extreme.


I know folks who have said they would prefer such treatment who then were victimized. In every case they changed their minds after surviving their victimization.

I can believe it.
What a hard way to learn the lesson that our personal protection is our own responsiblility.


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No AT for me, but the axe idea isn't bad. Cruiser's axe, double-bit, is fearsome in determined hands. Wouldn't want to use one to fend off someone with a machete, though .. much rather have a firearm.

Tom


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Originally Posted by Gus
i like the AT. but one has to recognize it's been discovered by all kinds of folks. some of whom might be running from the law for whatever minor or major reason.

i try not to stare or glare at anyone suspicious in my mind, but there's more dangers on the trail than just an occasional aggressive blackbear.

local communities realize the economic impact of the trail for their community, and do their best to offer assistance as necessary.
I don't glare or stare but, growing up in Detroit, I've got the "I see you and know what you're thinking but don't try it with me" glance down to a science. I normally carry my J with the BB +P Outdoorsman load in the gun (on the trail) and two speedstrips of Corbon DPX in my pocket. I also carry a Griptilian clipped to my other pocket.

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Originally Posted by UPhiker
Originally Posted by Gus
i like the AT. but one has to recognize it's been discovered by all kinds of folks. some of whom might be running from the law for whatever minor or major reason.

i try not to stare or glare at anyone suspicious in my mind, but there's more dangers on the trail than just an occasional aggressive blackbear.

local communities realize the economic impact of the trail for their community, and do their best to offer assistance as necessary.
I don't glare or stare but, growing up in Detroit, I've got the "I see you and know what you're thinking but don't try it with me" glance down to a science. I normally carry my J with the BB +P Outdoorsman load in the gun and two speedstrips of Corbon DPX in my pocket. I also carry a Griptilian clipped to my other pocket.


very good. makes perfectly good sense.

the AT is important, but one has to be careful.


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This girls murder after being abducted while hiking on the AT here in GA was the reason GA finally started making carry much easier.

https://www.google.com/search?q=mer...420j0j8&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8

I have no idea if she would have carried if legal, but at the time, due to nonsensical laws carry was all but impossible where she was hiking. The section of trail cut across the back corner of a state park where guns are not allowed. The rest of the hike was on National Forest BUT... since that area was also part of a Wildlife Management area only hunters with a permit to hunt the area with guns suitable for the season could carry a gun. Since it was small game season she could have had a 22 or shotgun with #2 shot or smaller if she had a hunting license and avoided the state park.

After this incident the laws were finally changed, Now if you have a permit you can carry almost anywhere.

She was beaten and kept alive in the back of a serial killers van for 4 days. She refused to give up the correct PIN for her ATM which helped catch her killer. He kept trying false numbers and was seen on a lot of video which eventually led to his capture. Unfortunately too late. The state, with permission of the family promised to waive the death penalty if he took them to the body. GA kept their promise, but they had already uncovered evidence in his van linking him to similar murders on trails in Florida and NC. GA sent him to FL to stand trial and get the death penalty.


Most people don't really want the truth.

They just want constant reassurance that what they believe is the truth.
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I had an encounter with a couple jackazzes around here a couple years back. Up in the Avalanche Gulch for those familiar with the area.

Passed a couple dudes in a parked pickup at the mouth of the gulch as we drove in. We went in a mile or two then went hiking up the road a few miles. On the way back out, these two had stopped their truck on a culvert where the creek flowed under the road. One of each of them was on either side of the truck. It was a choke point.

I summed up the situation from about 100 yards out. I could tell by their body language that something wasn't cool.

That day I didn't have the typical Glock on my strong side. I appeared unarmed from the front, from a distance. But I wasn't unarmed. I had an AR carbine slung on one shoulder, riding along my back. They couldn't see it.

When we got to about 50 yards, they were just watching us, with tense body language. I slipped the AR carbine off my shoulder and held it in my hand just ahead of the receiver letting it swing naturally as we continued toward them.

When they saw the hardware, and my eyes on them, their demeanor changed instantly. They got in the truck, started it up and slowly came our direction looking sheepish, and they continued up the road, while we continued down.

I gave them eye contact and a little head nod as we passed.

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Imagine a country without guns, strong molest the weak with impunity.


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Originally Posted by chlinstructor
I don’t go anywhere without a gun. If I can’t take my gun, I don’t go. Some may label it as paranoid, but I just call it being prepared.


Same here. There are a lot of places I'd love to see, but if I can't go armed, I won't go. One example.....the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown NY. I cannot legally carry a concealed handgun in that state, so I'll never see it. Same way with visiting Niagara Falls, and going across to the Canadian side.

Admittedly, I've carried here into buildings that had a no firearms allowed sign posted, but I figure that on the slight chance that I'm caught doing it, I can probably figure out a way to get out of it. A state like New York would most likely not be so easy to deal with.

I believe in that old saying......I'd rather be judged by 12, than carried by 6.

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Originally Posted by JamesJr
Originally Posted by chlinstructor
I don’t go anywhere without a gun. If I can’t take my gun, I don’t go. Some may label it as paranoid, but I just call it being prepared.


Same here. There are a lot of places I'd love to see, but if I can't go armed, I won't go. One example.....the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown NY. I cannot legally carry a concealed handgun in that state, so I'll never see it. Same way with visiting Niagara Falls, and going across to the Canadian side.

Admittedly, I've carried here into buildings that had a no firearms allowed sign posted, but I figure that on the slight chance that I'm caught doing it, I can probably figure out a way to get out of it. A state like New York would most likely not be so easy to deal with.

I believe in that old saying......I'd rather be judged by 12, than carried by 6.

James, I agree with you totally. A lot places I would like to see. The Smithsonian is one. Can’t see myself traveling without protection.
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