Need for a hand gun or any Gun?

[mtgirl]

Is BlastFest 07 for males only, or can us gun-toting chicks come play too ?? Sounds like good stress relief. :D

[sanjuanmtneer]

"we could arrange to stay at the B&B, have a shooting and drinking night"


Shootin' and drinkin'.

Now we're talking!':shock:'

[FlyGirl]

Is BlastFest 07 for males only, or can us gun-toting chicks come play too ?? Sounds like good stress relief. :D

And I am going to bring my official Red Ryder, carbine action, two hundred shot air rifle

[fleetmack]

And I am going to bring my official Red Ryder, carbine action, two hundred shot air rifle

Don't shoot your eye out and break your glasses

[mtnmaniac]

I'm a member of the NRA but I think it's retarded to carry a gun on the trail. And that's despite confronting and/or making eye contact with several large predators alone in the backcountry. In fact just last October I did 5 days in the Teton backcountry. ALL the frickin bears were coming down to eat before winter. I saw 1 male grizzly not 40 yards away, and 2 days later a female black bear and her cub about 5 yards away (closeness was my fault for no noise and lack of paying attention). All I had to do in the aggressive black bear's case was back off a few hundred yards, start singing, and allow her to move away. There's a joke out there where a guy says to a ranger "I'm going into bear country, what size gun should I take?" The ranger says, "I'd suggest the smallest caliber you can find because it's lighter to carry and won't hurt as much when the bear shoves it up your a$$." A large bear can take a 12 gauge slug and not so much as give a $hit, so unless you're gonna carry a very large caliber hunting rifle, I wouldn't bother. And even though a large caliber handgun will work against a mountain lion, the rare occasion that one is eying you for dinner is gonna pounce from dense cover on you so quick you won't even have time to present your weapon, let alone aim and shoot to kill. So the bottom line is: why pack a heavy weapon that's not even gonna do you any good? You're just going to expose it to the harsh elements and possibly have a very bad accident with a loaded weapon. It's also a good idea to leave target practicing for less pristine areas where you know what's behind your target, and you won't disturb others seeking peaceful solitude.

[speedpolka]

It's also a good idea to leave target practicing for less pristine areas where you know what's behind your target, and you won't disturb others seeking peaceful solitude.

I couldn't agree more with that. Twice this summer I was within 5 feet of a bullet hitting a tree. Both times I was bushwhacking down a drainage and had to jump behind a tree flat on my stomach, screaming my lungs out like a little girl to let whomever it is know that I am there. When I got down to where the guys were, they acted like it was my fault that they almost shot me. Pricks, each and every one.

I couldn't care less who carries or who doesn't. Just be careful.

PS I have enjoyed reading this thread. The discourse has, for the most part, been very civil. Thanks.

[gander4]

Twice this summer I was within 5 feet of a bullet hitting a tree. Both times I was bushwhacking down a drainage and had to jump behind a tree flat on my stomach, screaming my lungs out like a little girl to let whomever it is know that I am there. When I got down to where the guys were, they acted like it was my fault that they almost shot me. Pricks, each and every one.

I couldn't care less who carries or who doesn't. Just be careful.

That's pretty scary. People should never shoot where you can't see what is there. I keep the target practice for the range or the farm where I won't hit anyone.

[skier25]

I couldn't agree more with that. Twice this summer I was within 5 feet of a bullet hitting a tree. Both times I was bushwhacking down a drainage and had to jump behind a tree flat on my stomach, screaming my lungs out like a little girl to let whomever it is know that I am there. When I got down to where the guys were, they acted like it was my fault that they almost shot me. Pricks, each and every one.

I couldn't care less who carries or who doesn't. Just be careful.

PS I have enjoyed reading this thread. The discourse has, for the most part, been very civil. Thanks.

Crap! That is scary stuff, right there. I've encountered hunters on lots of trips, but never have I been shot at!

I really haven't ever found a use for a gun when I go into the wilderness, and I don't do a lot of hunting. A knife is my best friend out there!

...a very big knife!

[rijaca]

I'm a member of the NRA but I think it's retarded to carry a gun on the trail. And that's despite confronting and/or making eye contact with several large predators alone in the backcountry. In fact just last October I did 5 days in the Teton backcountry. ALL the frickin bears were coming down to eat before winter. I saw 1 male grizzly not 40 yards away, and 2 days later a female black bear and her cub about 5 yards away (closeness was my fault for no noise and lack of paying attention). All I had to do in the aggressive black bear's case was back off a few hundred yards, start singing, and allow her to move away. There's a joke out there where a guy says to a ranger "I'm going into bear country, what size gun should I take?" The ranger says, "I'd suggest the smallest caliber you can find because it's lighter to carry and won't hurt as much when the bear shoves it up your a$$." A large bear can take a 12 gauge slug and not so much as give a $hit, so unless you're gonna carry a very large caliber hunting rifle, I wouldn't bother. And even though a large caliber handgun will work against a mountain lion, the rare occasion that one is eying you for dinner is gonna pounce from dense cover on you so quick you won't even have time to present your weapon, let alone aim and shoot to kill. So the bottom line is: why pack a heavy weapon that's not even gonna do you any good? You're just going to expose it to the harsh elements and possibly have a very bad accident with a loaded weapon. It's also a good idea to leave target practicing for less pristine areas where you know what's behind your target, and you won't disturb others seeking peaceful solitude.

The most sensible statement on this entire thread!!!!!!

[ryanclimbs]

I hate to even go down this road, but making such a blanket statement ignores possible situations. Here are just a couple:
1. Your buddy could be under attach by a cougar and you left that gun at home. I'm sure he would be yelling for you to shoot it, SHOOT IT, as the cat holds onto his neck waiting for him to go limp. And before anyone starts with the "but you could shoot the person" argument, use common sense. The guy would want you to shoot the cat instead of kicking sand in it's eyes.
2. Not every cat attack is going to be a "silent" pounce from 10' away. Some people are more aware than others when in the backcountry. Keen hunters are a good example.

My stainless revolver doesn't care about the elements. It's more important to me that I have it in the RARE event that I might need it, and leaving it home will never save my buddy in trouble... I just like to be prepared no matter how small the probability.

Carry what you are comfortable with and I'll carry my light handgun.

[Neil]

Come on everyone...don't back down...let's get this thread to 300 posts!! Stick with me during the homestretch... :D

[mtnmaniac]

I hate to even go down this road, but making such a blanket statement ignores possible situations. Here are just a couple:
1. Your buddy could be under attach by a cougar and you left that gun at home. I'm sure he would be yelling for you to shoot it, SHOOT IT, as the cat holds onto his neck waiting for him to go limp. And before anyone starts with the "but you could shoot the person" argument, use common sense. The guy would want you to shoot the cat instead of kicking sand in it's eyes.
2. Not every cat attack is going to be a "silent" pounce from 10' away. Some people are more aware than others when in the backcountry. Keen hunters are a good example.

My stainless revolver doesn't care about the elements. It's more important to me that I have it in the RARE event that I might need it, and leaving it home will never save my buddy in trouble... I just like to be prepared no matter how small the probability.

Carry what you are comfortable with and I'll carry my light handgun.

I respect your opinion and your right to carry, so long as you respect my right to enjoy solidarity without getting shot at. Here are my replies.
1) Cats very rarely attack adult humans, and even more rarely attack a group of adult humans. Sure there are very rare instances, but they are always scared off by simply making a lot of noise and throwing rocks. Cats aren't territorial, so if you're confronted by one it will run after you get aggressive. If you don't believe me, check out the statistics on cat attacks. (http://tchester.org/sgm/lists/lion_attacks.html#stats) Even thought the stories are scary, the stats are over a 12 year span, and involve small humans and/or city kitties. I think you're more likely to shoot yourself than a cat in the backcountry. And the articles on that site go to show you should keep your kids ahead of you at all times on the trail.
2) I am a "keen" hunter and have seen cats eye to eye while tracking elk and mulies. You should've seen them take off once I stood up. Cats use the element of surprise to catch their prey. That's why they have big quiet padded feet and camo fur. One time I camped on a ledge that was obviously a kitty lookout over a marsh (their version of a tree stand). I heard it growl in the middle of the night prob upset I was on its lookout. Once I looked outside and turned my headlamp on, it got the heck out of there. Larry the red neck would've made a bigger fuss if you took his tree stand. Also, the articles on above website prove, they do "pounce from 10'". Good luck Doc Holiday!
3) Again, I respect your right to carry with the acception I listed in the beginning. But here's some advice to make life more comfortabel: If by "light handgun" you mean light weight, stainless isn't the lightest material to lug around, get a polymer. If by "light handgun" you mean light caliber, you better hope my notes in #1 and 2 are right because a .22 won't even kill a coon and you're just gonna pi$$ a kitty off somethin terrible with anything less than a .40. And lastly try not to shoot a hole in yourself while tripping around on boulders with a loaded handgun, because the only way that thing's gonna be ready to shoot quick enouqh is if there's one in the chamber.

P.S. Fire is a wild critter's worst enemy- carry a zippo and use it. Sounds hilarious. If you don't believe me, get your dog close and fire it up.