Do you feel the need to have a weapon when camping

[SunTzuNephew]

The .460 Weatherby is powerful, all right...but nowhere near the most powerful shoulder-fired.

I think this one takes that prize:

http://www.anzioironworks.com/20MM-TAKE-DOWN-RIFLE.htm

A standard (non-explosive) round has some 39,500 or 40,000 ft-lbs of energy. The Weatherby? around 8100 ft-lbs. The .50BMG with an 800 gr (half the size of the 20mm) bullet has about half the energy, just under 15K ft-lbs.

 

[Rbertalotto]

I do not believe anyone would consider a 50 BMG or a 20mm rifle a "shoulder fired" rifle. These are always fired from some type of rest. Either prone with a bipod or at least resting on a windowsil or some other support.

Sure, you could fire them from the shoulder, but I doubt you would hit the wide side of a barn.....:coffeedrink:

 

[SunTzuNephew]

I do not believe anyone would consider a 50 BMG or a 20mm rifle a "shoulder fired" rifle. These are always fired from some type of rest. Either prone with a bipod or at least resting on a windowsil or some other support.

Sure, you could fire them from the shoulder, but I doubt you would hit the wide side of a barn.....:coffeedrink:

I've fired my Barrett from the shoulder. Hit what I was aiming at (kind of) , a large boulder about a mile away.

It's not the most accurate way to shoot it, but it can be done. And the muzzle blast is less apparent to people nearby since it doesn't reflect off the ground.

The 20mm weighs in at 39 lbs, which is somewhat more than the Barrett does (30 lbs). It could be done, with indifferent accuracy. Considering how hard it is to get ammo, I don't think I'll be buying a 20mm anytime soon.

 

[Rbertalotto]

I've fired my Barrett from the shoulder. Hit what I was aiming at (kind of) , a large boulder about a mile away.

Now THAT is some fine shooting! 5280 feet! 1760 yards!......... How big was the boulder? I've had one shot kills on Prairie Dogs at upwards of 700 yards, but that is with a benchrest rifle, 42 power scope and a very sturdy shooting bench.

With a full on, NRA High Power shooting jacket, mits, shoulder strap, eye blinder and an "across the course" rifle that is designed to be shoulder fired, I don't believe anyone I know that is a "High Master" could do that...........very impressive to say the least!

 

[SunTzuNephew]

The boulder was about 40' across and 30' high. The laser said it was 1710 meters away, and it took me two shots to hit it - the first was a bit low and way to the right. It did knock a good sized piece of the rock out. This was on a friends ranch in Hot Springs, Mt.

One problem with a very long-range rifle is finding a place to shoot it. My house only has room for a 300 meter range...OK for 5.56 and even 7.62 but shooting a .50 at that ranges is just a waste of ammo. On long ranges you spend more time going back and forth to the targets than shooting (even if you drive). The longest public ranges are usually 300 meters, finding a 1000 meter dedicated (real) range is nearly impossible. I put a lot of miles on my VW back in my youth, driving around the SW US shooting in 1000 meter matches (with a Win 70 Army Match in .308, iron sights).

 

[Rbertalotto]

Ya see........A boulder that size, out here in New England, is called a mountain.....

But that is still a fine piece of lead slinging, and I'm sure your 1000 yd experience paid off..........nice work.

 

[SunTzuNephew]

Ya see........A boulder that size, out here in New England, is called a mountain.....

But that is still a fine piece of lead slinging, and I'm sure your 1000 yd experience paid off..........nice work.

Thanks. We shoot prairie dogs out here too...doping the wind really helps at a mile.

 

[john101477]

I have seen the BMG fired from the shoulder. but have never personally fired one. I have shot a 300 ultra mag at 800yds. 8 of 13 hit paper 13x16. my first 4 shots I will blame on heat waves and my last shot I will blame on my aching shoulder and pounding headache. first and last time I shot that rifle. I much prefer my 30-06 for shoulder or rest shots. looking for a new Remington M700.
With my Ruger m77 ultralight I have found 165gr to be about perfect.

I might add you guys are super lucky to live in areas that do not limit the type of guns you are able to buy to much. California sucks!!!
Sealy Lake Montana would be much better or any where else for that matter

 

[Christian P.]

wow 33 pages already..!

Am I the only one who thinks that this topic does not have much to do with overlanding and traveling?

I must say I am a bit disturbed right now. I am totally surprised by the number of members here that feel a need to bring a gun where camping.

I wouldn't think that camping is the most dangerous place someone can be, I guess had a different image in my mind. But you guys are right, I am going to bring a gun next time I head to Golden Gate park. You never know, one of these bison could charge me through the fence.

 

[07 Elephant]

I'll throw in a good American's quote here to make it 34 pages.

"Are we at last brought to such an humiliating and debasing degradation that we cannot be trusted with arms for our own defense? Where is the difference between having our arms under our own possesion and under our own direction, and having them under the management of Congress? If our defense be the real object of having those arms, in whose hands can they be trusted with more propriety, or equal safety to us, as in our own hands?"

- Patrick Henry

 

[Tucson T4R]

I always carry when remote camping unless with a group. Since I am usually far away from others on my own I like to have the option if needed.

I used to carry my trusty .45 or .357 and still do if I plan to hike with something. Around camp I now have this little puppy that should cover about anything I'll ever run into. :elkgrin: Those Tucson Grizzlies can get pretty nasty ya know.

SW .460 XVR 8" barrel Normally loaded with 200gr but can shoot up to 390gr slug for some serious knock down power.

Compared to my old .357 reliable:

 

[SunTzuNephew]

I might add you guys are super lucky to live in areas that do not limit the type of guns you are able to buy to much. California sucks!!!
Sealy Lake Montana would be much better or any where else for that matter

Fixed it for you....and thats why this native Californian moved out.

 

[john101477]

Fixed it for you....and thats why this native Californian moved out.

The government and maybe 1/2 the population sucks in California. I love the land itself. amazing mountains, high desert, coastal redwoods. If we could just exile SF LA SD and a few other places, california would be dang near perfect.
haha. my aunt lives in Sealy Lake Mt. I do not blame ya at all for moving out. My problem is if i move my wife will want to move where her family is and that is Florida (central east). It is a nice visit but with no mountains (a mountain is larger than 300 ft thanks) I could never live there. i enjoyed north west wyoming a lot and even south western wyo is nice at times but with no family out that way my wife is pretty firm on that.

 

[john101477]

I always carry when remote camping unless with a group. Since I am usually far away from others on my own I like to have the option if needed.

I used to carry my trusty .45 or .357 and still do if I plan to hike with something. Around camp I now have this little puppy that should cover about anything I'll ever run into. :elkgrin: Those Tucson Grizzlies can get pretty nasty ya know.

SW .460 XVR 8" barrel Normally loaded with 200gr but can shoot up to 390gr slug for some serious knock down power.

DUDE!!! that thing looks big enough to break your wrist!!! I want one

Am I the only one who thinks that this topic does not have much to do with overlanding and traveling?

I must say I am a bit disturbed right now. I am totally surprised by the number of members here that feel a need to bring a gun where camping.

I wouldn't think that camping is the most dangerous place someone can be, I guess had a different image in my mind. But you guys are right, I am going to bring a gun next time I head to Golden Gate park. You never know, one of these bison could charge me through the fence.

As long as I am on american soil, or any country I can swing it, I will always have a means of self defense. Never been to the golden gate park but if it is in SF I think I covered that already. oh and by the way if I am in SF I ALWAYS carry concealed. Animals do not worry so much, I have put myself in what would be considered extreme situations with animals and I am still ok. I carry because you never know what the idiot down the road might be doing/ growing. I have stumbled into many illegal crop growing spots and they generally do not care if your on federal or state property. Humbolt/ Mendoceno/ Shasta/ Trinity/ Tehama counties are full of them.

 

[SunTzuNephew]

The government and maybe 1/2 the population sucks in California. I love the land itself. amazing mountains, high desert, coastal redwoods. If we could just exile SF LA SD and a few other places, california would be dang near perfect.
haha. my aunt lives in Sealy Lake Mt. I do not blame ya at all for moving out. My problem is if i move my wife will want to move where her family is and that is Florida (central east). It is a nice visit but with no mountains (a mountain is larger than 300 ft thanks) I could never live there. i enjoyed north west wyoming a lot and even south western wyo is nice at times but with no family out that way my wife is pretty firm on that.

Seely Lake is a nice area...we're just north of there in Flathead County.