Overlanding/Camping Firearm preference

G19 with Fed HST 124grn

Old Winchester Model 1200 that's been cut down to 18.5 inches with a tube extension. Nothing fancy here. Tube full of buckshot, sidesadle velcro "shotgun card" with 5 slugs. Then 2 more cards in my personal bag one with buckshot, one with slugs.

Sometimes I'll bring some burner ammo with me if I think I might want to plink a little bit. Not so much this time of year as it's hunting season and I don't want to screw up anyone's hunt. If I do I usually bring either my 604ish clone or XM177ish clone along with me unless I'm going a place those aren't allowed.
 
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Generally if we think we’re going to need a firearm for animal protection or in general I bring my Beretta 1301 12 gauge shotgun.

It will protect us from anything in North America and don’t have to worry about convoluted state or Federal laws.

Just on transportation laws

Hope this helps.
 
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A factory 14 in barrel 870 clone 12 Gauge, only 5 shells but it is small and tucks in behind the seat just fine. I carry everything from bear slugs to small game loads.

It is largely a piece of survival equipment, always in rarely used.
 
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rgallant said:
A factory 14 in barrel 870 clone 12 Gauge, only 5 shells but it is small and tucks in behind the seat just fine. I carry everything from bear slugs to small game loads.

It is largely a piece of survival equipment, always in rarely used.
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How do you deal with crossing state lines with a SBS? Or is one of those birdhead/pistol grip "firearms".
 
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@Downs Ah in Canada 1 set of rules for the whole country - they suck but they are the same everywhere. Down to 12-inch factory supplied barrels on pump action 12 gauges are not considered any different than a 18 or 21 inch barreled shotgun for use. Our firearms regulations are pretty bizarre to figure out but we win on that one, pretty much only that one but there you are.

I replaced the rear stock with a magpul as well as the slide furniture, and the factory ghost ring sights are solid.
 
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I should have checked your location before commenting, lol. Makes a lot more sense now.
 
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I never realized how many fellow nautical enthusiasts we had here, and crazy how terrible we all are at it. I too lost all of mine in a boating accident. Now, if I *were* to make a recommendation for carrying when Overlanding (or any camping) it'd be the same suggestion I make when it comes to carrying at all, with a few caveats: carry the firearm you are most comfortable and effective with, which should also be the firearm you have the most rounds through. Also, and this is one people often overlook... carry with the same ammo you practice with. Or I guess, I should say that the other way around: always practice with your actual carry ammo choice for your carry firearms. Too many people practice with cheap range ammo, then carry some fancy round that promises a cannonball sized wound channel. If you've shot with both the range ammo and the carry ammo enough to know you *and* the firearm react exactly the same to either ammo, I suppose it's fine to save the $. However, if you just assume you and the firearm will perform the same with completely different ammo you might run into issues. Case-in-point, I didn't follow my own advice and got my ex some special defense ammo aimed at smaller females for her G19. We had it in the bedroom safe for a few months with only that ammo before I decided to take it with me on a range trip. To my surprise, the G19 wouldn't reliably cycle with that ammo. I'm very fortunate we didn't find out "the hard way."

Don't get caught up in the caliber/ammo debates. I used to do it myself. At the end of the day the most effective round is the one you'll put on target. If you are competent across lots of platforms and calibers you're probably not asking "what should I carry" on an Overlanding forum.

Also, the *only* caveat I'd really make to my general advice above that is more camping/hiking/Overlanding-specific would be some areas (say, Grizzly country) dictate more than a basic handgun in something like 9mm. Of course, you should still make sure you have plenty of practice with the firearm you pick for those areas, just like you would your regular carry piece.

And finally, speaking of bears, do you know the most effective caliber for bear defense?














































































































.22 so you can pop your buddy in the knee! Okay, do NOT actually do that, it's a joke people. I thought this thread needed some levity.

-TJ
 
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tjZ06 said:
Also, the *only* caveat I'd really make to my general advice above that is more camping/hiking/Overlanding-specific would be some areas (say, Grizzly country) dictate more than a basic handgun in something like 9mm.
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Someone gathered a bunch of data on this one time. Basically it came down to having something that goes bang is usually enough. In 123 reported cases of a handgun being discharged to ward off or kill a bear, a handgun was effective 98 percent of the time (eithe the bear was killed or it stopped doing what it was doing and moved off) with only 3 known "failures" of making the bear stop what it was doing. .44 mag by far had the highest number of reports with all being stopped or deterred, but 9mm was reported in 7 different cases and all were successfully killed or stopped.

Personally, given the option, I'd take a 12ga with some 1oz slugs :tearsofjoy:
 
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@Downs got the basics, very loud noises will generally move a nuisance or curious bluff charge bear off, that is why bear bangers work well. However an aggressive - territorial, predatory or Mom in defense mode bear is a whole other problem it is estimated that a grizzly or black bear from a standing start will cover 100 meters in 8 to 9 seconds they can accelerate to between 30 and 35 mph in that distance and can maintain 20 to 25 mph for upwards of 30 to 60 minutes. So you need to get targeted effective rounds on that bear, in call it 9 seconds with my 12 gauge shoulder, I get 2 - 3 if am lucky but the muzzle would touching the bear for the 3rd shot. Several books recommend aiming for the shoulders to break the bone and functionally stop the bear, if you look at the profile of a charging bear you really don't have a lot good targets. Center of maas with large rounds is best 12 gauge bear slugs, or big bore carbines.
 
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Interesting topic, recent studies find that firearms are around 80% effective at stopping bear attacks and bear spray 99% effective. Mainly due to the quickness the spray can be accessed and deployed effectively.
 
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@genocache The other aspect to bear spray is most bear charges are bluff's, so bear bangers, bear spray, and rubber shot work incredibly well. It is the aggressive "I am going to put you down" attacks where bear spray fails, and usually to fair at close range. A lot of the articles are about close range encounters sub 50M, that to me at least to me is way too close. Although to be fair I shoo'd a small black bear off my deck the other day, by banging on the glass door and then yelling "get out of here" with a broom in hand, so my advice might be a bit suspect :tearsofjoy: he huffed a bit but left.
 
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