Camp gun rifle caliber?

[moondawg]

Just thinking...what would be a good rifle caliber for camp protection? Something to have at camp, good out to 50-100 yds, and would work on big game (like bear/hogs) if need be?

I'm thinking any of these:
45-70 lever action rifle
44 mag lever action rifle
12 gauge shotgun

 

[MUP]

Probably the 12ga. A really versatile firearm for all kinds of applications. ;)

 

[DaveB]

Yep, 12 gauge. 9, 4, slug

 

[dirtyhands]

Yeah shotguns are great but you'll have more fun with a 45-70 slinging a 525 gr piledriver

 

[MUP]

No argument there :D

 

[Deer Assassin]

44 mag suppressed

 

[moondawg]

I was interested in the 45-70 until I saw ammo prices...it's a bit steep for me. :shock: It costs more than my 7mag ammo. I wouldn't be able to afford the ammo to shoot regularly.

I am intrigued by the .44 cal, though. Sounds like fun to shoot from a rifle, and leaves a big hole in the target.

I already have a 12 gauge shotgun, and figured this would be the best bet. I was just curious about other calibers. Now if I could do better at shooting slugs, I'd be happy!

 

[Kimberman]

Another 44 Mag vote.

 

[Hunter 257W]

I'd vote for a 12 gauge pump. i say that for this reason. When i think of all around camp protection gun, I think about the need to shoot out into the dark at night at targets that are poorly lit. You need a gun that handles like an extension of your arm and points instinctively for that type shooting. A shotgun is way better than a rifle there.

 

[Jon54]

Crossman bb. A zillion rears ago, my brothers were camping out in the smokey mountains in my dads station wagon. In the middle of the night they found a black bear rocking the car. My oldest rolled the window down and shot him in the privates. Funny, the bear ran off.

 

[AllOutdoors]

12 gauge should work fine for moonlight or campfire ranges.

 

[Coldfusion]

Cool option would be keltec shotgun. It has two tubes to load you can change which one is feeding. Keep one loaded with 00 buck and the other with slug. Close range and out to 100 yards easy with plenty of stopping power.

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[PillsburyDoughboy]

I think either the 12 gauge or the 4570 would be fine. If I were in bear country I would probably opt for the 4570 because I think the typical foster slug is rather soft and can create a shallow wound cavity on heavy body animals like bear and moose. if I were to use slugs it would be so,etching like a Brenneke or solid copper,

I think accuracy goes in favor to the 4570 for the most part. 0-25 it's not a big deal. Get much past that and accuracy goes to the rifle. lighter weight too if the gun needs to fill a dual role for a pack rifle. certainly with aging eyes a 1x4 Leuoold with fire dot would be my preferred method.




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[PillsburyDoughboy]

Of course another argument could be made for a camp rifle and the versatility of the shotgun gets it the thumbs up. Sometimes it's nit big critters but small,critters that need to be dispatched. feral cats, wild dogs, Opossum all could be easily dispatched with a 12 gauge with some shot.




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[dirtyhands]

You can kill a possum all the way up to a grizzly with a 45-70. Mine has an 18.5 inch barrel so its perfect for quick I'm about to poop my pants shots and it's a takedown so I can stick it in my backpack. Plus it's way more fun to shoot at the range. I've never taken out my shotgun and shot it for fun.

 

[PillsburyDoughboy]

You can kill a possum all the way up to a grizzly with a 45-70. Mine has an 18.5 inch barrel so its perfect for quick I'm about to poop my pants shots and it's a takedown so I can stick it in my backpack. Plus it's way more fun to shoot at the range. I've never taken out my shotgun and shot it for fun.

I realize you can kill opossum with a 4570 but it's probably not ideal.

It's been a long time since I messed with either so I had to look up the energy tables on the 12 gauge slugs vs the 4570. 0-25 it's a toss up really. the 4570 energy levels really start to shine well past 150 where the 12 gauge starts dropping off more rapidly.

So again if I were in bear country my choice would probably be the 4570. If bear or non dangerous game were a non issue I like the versatility of the 12 gauge.


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[moondawg]

The chance of running into bears where I usually go in West TN and in East Arkansas is pretty slim. I know the chances increase in East TN, NW Arkansas, out west, etc. I wouldn't expect to shoot anything over 50 yds, especially around camp. So I'd rely on the shotgun for areas close to home, knowing that it would do for bears/hogs...IF I ever encountered any. Ya never know about the areas in North Arkansas.

Now if I ever ventured out west (or East TN) more into big game country, I'd probably pack a .44 mag or 45-70. Again, that's just for short distances, inside 100 yds, (and even then, mostly inside 50 yds).

I've never shot either the .44 or the 45-70, so I'm just guessing. From an economical standpoint, I'd probably go with the .44 mag, as bullets are a less expensive, and generally more available.

 

[PillsburyDoughboy]

The chance of running into bears where I usually go in West TN and in East Arkansas is pretty slim. I know the chances increase in East TN, NW Arkansas, out west, etc. I wouldn't expect to shoot anything over 50 yds, especially around camp. So I'd rely on the shotgun for areas close to home, knowing that it would do for bears/hogs...IF I ever encountered any. Ya never know about the areas in North Arkansas.

Now if I ever ventured out west (or East TN) more into big game country, I'd probably pack a .44 mag or 45-70. Again, that's just for short distances, inside 100 yds, (and even then, mostly inside 50 yds).

I've never shot either the .44 or the 45-70, so I'm just guessing. From an economical standpoint, I'd probably go with the .44 mag, as bullets are a less expensive, and generally more available.

The 44 mag while very suitable for deer would not be my top choice for a bear . At 50 yards it's got somewhere in the area of 900 ft pounds of energy . While I agree that is plenty enough for white tail and probably enough to ethically hunt black bear ... I would not want to trust my life on one for a dangerous game animal .


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[Cumberlandriver]

30-30 or 12 gauge.
30-30 would work on hogs and black bear and be cheaper to buy and feed than 45/70.

 

[mr.big]

.458 SOCOM

 

[Deer Assassin]

.458 SOCOM

suppressed

 

[landman]

12 Ga
00 Buck

Covers everything

Hogs, Bears, dogs, ISIS, Boogie Man, Etc

 

[moondawg]

30-30 or 12 gauge.
30-30 would work on hogs and black bear and be cheaper to buy and feed than 45/70.

I wondered about the 30-30. Ammo plentiful, affordable, and a decent hunting round.

 

[PillsburyDoughboy]

12 Ga
00 Buck

Covers everything

Hogs, Bears, dogs, ISIS, Boogie Man, Etc

I don't have any experience with the boogie man or ISIS but with 00 buck on bears you better pray for inside room distances .

Slugs would be the preferred choice in bear country


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[moondawg]

12 Ga
00 Buck

Covers everything

Hogs, Bears, dogs, ISIS, Boogie Man, Etc

I don't have any experience with the boogie man or ISIS but with 00 buck on bears you better pray for inside room distances .

Slugs would be the preferred choice in bear country


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That's what I thought. I'd be a little wary of using buckshot on a bear.

ISIS and the boogieman, I'd be ok using buckshot.

Now something like Chuck Norris...45-70! :lol:

 

[Stykbow]

Now something like Chuck Norris...45-70! :lol:[/quote]

So you'd just want to tick him off real good![emoji1] Seriously though, 12ga. with slugs would serve you well.


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[jlanecr500]

Be prepared for whatever comes your way. 45-70

 

[dh84]

A 30/30 would fit the bill. Ammo is very available and inexpensive. Inside 100 yards will kill anything in NA.

 

[TwoSeventy]

12 Ga. Pump Shotgun loaded with 00 Buck.
Also maybe first use a high decibel noise blaster to scare away bears ect..
Even pepper spray large bear carry type.

 

[PillsburyDoughboy]

12 Ga. Pump Shotgun loaded with 00 Buck.
Also maybe first use a high decibel noise blaster to scare away bears ect..
Even pepper spray large bear carry type.

Your kidding right?




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