Rifles and Handguns for Woods Camp and Hunting
Key Takeaways
SHIT THAT WORKS!
243 Winchester - Savage Model 110
375 H&H - Dakota Model 76
45 ACP - Glock Model 21
380 Auto - Browning Black Label
Transcript
Hi folks, we're back in the Lemhi Mountain Range. I just did a video on day packs for hunting in warm weather, so I'm wearing the same clothes, and by the time I get home, they’ll need to be washed! You can see we’ve got a beautiful camp here. This video is going to be all about rifles and guns for camp and hunting.
Now, if I can get my lovely assistant (my wife) to give a close-up of these rifles, you’ll notice that they’re very different. In my old age, I appreciate beautiful wood on rifles, but I wouldn’t use this kind of rifle in harsh, rainy, or cold weather. However, for this kind of hunting, I enjoy carrying something pretty.
The rifle my wife is using is a Savage 110 chambered in .243. I’m not exactly sure why we brought this rifle, except that it works. It’s accurate with Buffalo Bore ammo and kills deer reliably. It has a short 20-inch barrel and all stainless steel, so it’s almost a disposable rifle—but any rifle that works this well isn’t disposable. It’s a push-feed action, not controlled-round feed like mine. People say you need controlled-round feed, but push-feed rifles work just fine.
As for my rifle, I’m carrying a Dakota Model 76 chambered in 375 H&H. It’s a controlled-round feed rifle with a three-position safety. I don’t need this much power out here, but I enjoy shooting 375s and appreciate classy rifles. If I were in Alaska, I’d use a synthetic-stocked rifle for weather resistance, but for now, this rifle works well. My spare ammo is in my backpack because I don’t want to cover the beautiful wood with an ammo cuff like my wife has.
Regarding handguns, I don’t usually carry one while hunting with a rifle unless I'm in bear-heavy areas like the Alaska Peninsula. For camp, I prefer my Glock Model 21, which has a 14-round capacity and an extended barrel for a suppressor. At night, I add a Glock light to it, and there's always a round in the chamber.
My wife carries a Black Label Browning, chambered in .380. It’s a scaled-down 1911 with a grip and thumb safety, and while underpowered compared to a 45, with the right ammo, it will get the job done. It’s loaded with full metal jacket, flat-nosed rounds for deep penetration if needed.
We carry our guns chambered, and if you handle them accordingly, they are safe. An unloaded gun isn’t much more than a club in a life-or-death situation. My wife carries her handgun in a cross-draw holster, and it fits her hand well, especially after wrist surgery years ago.
That wraps up today’s discussion on guns for camp and wilderness carry. I know some people will disagree with my opinions, and that’s fine—this isn’t theoretical for me, it’s real life. Mother Nature is beautiful, but she doesn’t care about you. You have to care about yourself and be prepared. Thanks for tuning in, and I hope this video is of some benefit. We’ll talk again soon.
