Wilderness camping and gun safety

covered wagon wrote:
When camping as the lone camper with miles of wilderness around, do you feel safer with a loaded firearm handy? Or is having the magazine ready to slide in a better option? Thank you for any thoughts. I need to learn as I start investing time/ money in gun safety. Please no politics. Thank you again

Please tell me where you plan to camp alone with miles and miles of wilderness around? Give me an example, please.

How many of you who responded to the OP have EVER had to shoot an animal in when camping "with miles and miles of wilderness around"?

How many of you have EVER had to even get your firearm out in response to an animal?

I'd really like to know. No political agenda here at all whatsoever.

And in case you are wondering, I was an NRA instructor for many years (Pistol, Rifle, Shotgun, Home Firearm Safety, Range Safety Officer) as well as a Federal Firearms Instructor for Backcountry Firearms Skills. I have attended Gunsite Academy. I worked in remote parts of Alaska for 23 years and carried a 12ga shotgun and a revolver during that time. Not once did I have to fire them for personal defense. I've camped in Alaska, Canada, Idaho, Washington, and Montana and in remote places.

I think you are far better off using bear spray than a firearm. I suggest you also buy one or more of the practice bear spray (inert) and learn how it disperses, how long it lasts, and how important being upwind is when you shoot it.

Being attacked while boondocking in the wilderness is about on par with being struck by lighting.

Pretty much..Although one time we were out on the horses hunting and when we came back to camp in the evening,one of the truck campers was tore up pretty bad from a bear trying to in thru the top vent to get to the bacon grease from the knucklehead's breakfast..He called the Fish and Game and they took hair samples from the aluminum TC the bear left..Turned out to be a grizzly that Idaho officially did not have at that time...LOL

When I am in the Wilderness area of the Selway-Bitteroot and the Frank Church I always carry my BFR wheel gun in 45-70...When not,the wife has the 45acp and I the .357 Mag...Plenty of 22's for plinking...Firearms are a great addon to truck camping and family fun..

Well since you asked..... As others have said an unloaded gun is a useless gun. My weapons are loaded and ready 24/7. They havnt just up and killed anyone for 50 years. I prefer a revolver and shotgun but I'm old. Revolver's are not very picky when it comes to ammo. If it fits in the cylinder it is a pretty good bet it's gonna go off and keep shooting. Yeah it's only five or six shots usually but again, I'm old. I'm not going looking for a gun fight unloading 15 rounds and reloading shooting at bad guys while doing flips and stuff. I'm pulling my weapon as a last resort and taking out who or what is trying to harm me or my wife. I carry and shoot 357's. Because I can use relatively less expensive 38 ammo or affordable 357 reloads to practice with and then 357 mag hydro shock whatever for defense. A good quality revolver will stand up to lots of shooting and last forever if you take care of it. Proper training is good but if you dont practice and shoot regularly you are at a serious disadvantage especially in a high stress situation. You need drawing, aiming, and firing to feel second nature so to speak. Practice! Oh yeah and pump shotgun with 00 buckshot while in the camper will shut them down at the door pretty effectively.

I appreciate the responses.

What we hear in the news brought me to carrying my nostalgic Henry 22 Mag (all I have). Only loaded in the evening and stood up in the corner at least affords some sense of recourse if I need.

Yes being the greenhorn that I am, I need the classes that I think will be very interesting. I do camp some lonely beautiful places.

I retired after 34 working years as a max A prison supv ! I always am armed and trained

Unless I am crossing the Canadian border, I have 2 handguns with me while traveling. I was a federal firearms instructor for 23 years and know how and when to pull out my firearm and when to shoot. I hope that I never have to do either, but, if needed I will. My wife is an excellent shot with a handgun or long gun. She also will use them if needed.
My firearms are loaded and I carry a spare magazine for both of them. Knowing how to do an emergency magazine exchange (without looking at the firearm) may save your life. YOur eyes should always be searching for danger, not looking at your gun.

Get some gun education. A concealed carry class would be great.
Opinions on guns are like elbows. Everyone thinks what they do is best. It is, for them.
I will tell you this. Having experienced the need for a gun and not having it will guarantee you won't let that happen again.
What I pack in the camper...20 gauge Remington youth 870 pump shotgun, short and handy. Ruger SR9 (9mm) kept at hand. Out of the RV a Ruger LC9 in my pocket. All of them are loaded and ready to go. Unless you have had a lot of stress type training your head will be going about 1,000 MPH, in the wrong direction.
I keep a S&W 642 38 snub nose where the wife can get to it. No safety and no exposed hammer. Just pull the trigger, and keep pulling it.

I have wondered why there has not been more firearm/hunting questions in the truck camper forum as a truck camper is the only RV I have ever owned without the room or closets for long guns for hunting..Very limited on space especially for 24" barreled rifles other than on the bunk or in the truck cab..

As the op mentioned,the TC can get back in where the other RV's cannot and why I own one, but firearm/ammo space is very limited for those wilderness surprises..

As an NRA pistol instructor for many years I know what is considered safe. I never felt the need to carry myself although I have had a concealed carry permit for years. But in todays atmosphere every time I go to town I am armed and here with a "stand your ground and castle doctrine" laws I feel safer. Hope I never have to fire a shot. In the woods, I have a big ol wheel gun for out there even when hunting with a long gun.

covered wagon wrote:
When camping as the lone camper with miles of wilderness around, do you feel safer with a loaded firearm handy? Or is having the magazine ready to slide in a better option?

X3 for training..I was born and raised hunting in the backcountry..Hunting handguns are almost always,wheel guns in larger calibers..Semi auto's can do it with shot placement and a proper bullet but not recommended..An acquaintance did kill a charging Brown bear with a 9MM but he is an Alaskan Bear guide with hundreds of bears under his belt..

To your question..Since you were talking magazines you are talking semi auto handguns..I always have the clip in and barrel empty ready to slide one in if necessary..That's called the Israel method..Carrying one in the chamber is asking for trouble and accidents especially for those with little to no firearm experience..

We just had a Grizzly spotted within a mile or so of town..LOL..People were and are over reacting to it..Most wild animals run off at the first site of a human or the sound of a barking dog..I have been around a lot of bears and have shot quite a few and I see no threat or have I ever even on horseback with spooked horses..I was more worried about the horses dumping me than the bear...I could go on about this but I won't...

So,in answer to your question..Clip in barrel empty or better yet,get a wheel gun in a proper caliber to carry with you in the remote wilderness you are talking about..