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From: boyd@mailer.cc.fsu.edu (Mickey Boyd)
Newsgroups: rec.guns
Subject: Re: Pack Gun
Message-ID: <35509@mimsy.umd.edu>
Date: 12 Jun 91 16:20:18 GMT
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Organization: Florida State University Computer Science Department
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In article <35478@mimsy.umd.edu>, fish@oasys.dt.navy.mil (Jim Fishenden) writes:
#I am looking for advice on what would be a good gun to carry on deep
#wilderness hiking trips that I often go on. It was suggested to me to
#get a .32 revolver w/ a  3 inch barrel and load it with shot cartrages.
#I am mostly concerned about snakes etc. I am not looking for a cannon.
#Any ideas?

I have never gotten small caliber shot cartridges to work worth a damn.  I 
would suggest a .22 auto or revolver that you can count on (then learn to 
shoot the snake in the lips :-).  The "patterns" obtained by these shot 
cartridges are usually spotty at best, so don't use them!!  If you are 
going to buy a gun chambered for a center fire round (ie anything except a
.22) you might as well get something "large", like a .357, since small 
centerfire ammo costs just as much as the bigger stuff, and (if you get 
a revolver) you can always go down in power (ie shoot light .38 wadcutter 
target loads in a .357mag).  A more complete list of why I would recommend 
a .357mag revolver was posted about a week ago (I think the subject header
was Dumb Beginner Question).  Anyway, there are may guns in this (and other)
calibers that are designed to be light and easy to carry, so you have 
plenty of choices.  Remember that guns and shooting them require lots of 
attention, time, practive, and discipline.  If you are only worried about 
snakes, and are not all that into guns, you may be better off with a good 
staff and some high boots :-).  

 
-- 
             Mickey R. Boyd          |  "God is a comedian playing to an 
          FSU Computer Science       |      audience too afraid to laugh."
        Technical Support Group      |
      email:  boyd@fsucs.cs.fsu.edu  |                  - Voltaire