Wilderness camping and gun safety

[covered_wagon]

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

[54suds]

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

[BarabooBob]

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.

[TxGearhead]

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.

[jaycocreek]

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..

[ferndaleflyer]

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.

[jaycocreek]

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..

[Tvov]

Look around for clubs in your area. Joining a club is great for having a place to practice and meet others with the same interest. Most clubs also run training classes.

[thomas201]

Another vote for formal schooling. Also consider dual purpose, big 4 legged animals, not just the 2 legged. Invest money and time in practice. The bullet does the work, you have to put it in the right place.

[wanderingaimles]

The fact that so many in this community carries, makes all safer, because the miscreants never know who doesn't.

[specta]

I've carried a loaded handgun for years.
An empty gun is a useless gun.
Its not about "feeling safe".
I'd recommend that you take a concealed firearm class. They provide a lot of good education.
I'm sure that the instructor will be able to recommend a gun range that has someone there that teaches gun safety.

You need to be educated, trained and comfortable keeping a loaded firearm.

[deltabravo]

covered wagon wrote:
Or is having the magazine ready to slide in a better option?

WHEEL GUN ALL THE WAY!

[cewillis]

Never felt remotely unsafe on any of my deep offroad camping trips. But I almost always had the shotgun ready (at night -- not while driving), 1 to jack into firing position and 7 in reserve.
00 buckshot or rifled slug, depending on the area. Never fired a shot.

[azdryheat]

(Wherever I am) I am always safer when I have a loaded firearm handy. I not only feel safer but I am safer. My wife says she feels saver when she knows I'm armed, especially in these trying times. Having an unloaded firearm is foreign to me. I was a cop for 30 years, my guns are always loaded.

For the doubters:

Are you better off having a fire extinguisher loaded with firefighting chemicals or having one that you have to load the chemicals prior to use?

Are you better off wearing your seatbelt or not wearing it but having it handy?

Keep your gun loaded. Hope this helps.

[jimh406]

I don't feel safer with no round in the chamber, but wrong forum to know all of the reasons why.