Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Trapping What firearm do you carry on the trapline?

Winchester Trapper .357 Magnum

223 AR-15, the only way to fly for abusive winter travle

In reality nearly all dispatch is carried out sans firearm. Toe catches being the only exception. For plinking loose critters the mdl. 422 is not my #1 choice - although I did make a fairly impressive head shot on a red fox with it while out hunting with Big Sky a while back.

On my hip is a S&W 617 and on my back is a Ruger mini-30.

Smith & Wesson Air lite .22 revolver. Light enough to make you check your pocket to be sure it's still there, 11.5 ounces.

A S&W 617 and either a mini-30 or a 9422 mag The best rifle I ever used that got traded was a plain old .222 w/50gr horn spt. I think that every time that was yanked out of the scabbord some fur went on the board.

My favorite trapline companion was a 6" S&W K-22

Used my Ruger bearcat 22 or a old axe handle

Ruger Single Six.

todd

I don't carry a firearm on the trap line as I don't want any bloodshot foxes. If I were to target wolverine, lynx or wolf, I might consider carrying a .22

Iver Johnson 22 pistol. Cheap, reliable, and not to worried about being beat up. perfect trapping pistol.

Henry AR-7 22 LR and a Marlin Bolt in 22 Mag. I've had enough pull-outs that I shoot as soon as I can.

In my opinion, the 17 HMR is about a half a step ahead of worthless! That's why I don't use one. Yep, I owned one of 'em! 22WMR kicks it's butt!! 'Course, that's just my opinion!

Very well used Rugar Single Six pistol in 22 Mag. with a 17 HRM in the scabbard on the 4 wheeler.

It's been quite a while since I've done much trapping, but usually carried an "Old Model" Ruger Single-Six with 6 1/2" barrel and fixed sights. Sometimes I carried a Winchester 62A .22 pump, instead, when looking to pop a cottontail or two along the way.

This is a great discussion for me to ask this question.

Anyone here ever use the 25 Stevens? If not would any of you be interested in using it? Its a 25 cal rimfire that is about the same size as a 22 mag, so it shoots a heavier piece of lead a little slower. I know I've read it was real popular with trappers when it was around. Hit hard, yet didn't blast the heck out of the pelts.

Any thoughts would be great.

That's a good and bad idea. The 25 Stevens would be a great choice for a trapline gun but you can't find ammo for it. At least I can't. Do you have a source of ammo that I'm not aware of?

From what I've read, years ago trappers in the north carried a Savage Mod 99 in .250-3000. The regular factory load was adequate for big game and they had a chamber sleave so they could shoot a .25 auto pistol bullet in the rifle to dispatch trapped game and also take small game for meat.

The .22 is still the trappers go to gun. Cheap, simple and reliable.

RO

SAA .32-20 WCF, 115 gr. cast LRNFP hand loaded to 700 fps. Don't use it unless I have to, but very accurate, and has accounted for several deer with close head or neck shots while trapping during deer season. (Something you're NOT supposed to do with a .22!).

Ruger Mark II w/5.5" bull barrel and adj sights was my choice when I trapped in Alaska. Great little piece to down a Wolf, Wolverine or lynx in the trap. Also great for knocking a grouse of a limb.