Camping with your gun

[Rich M]

This is the first year that I have taken my weapon with my while camping. Im not talking about hiking way out in to the wilderness and sleaping under a log. This is a nicely groomed state park with 150 camp spots.

Since OC and CC are legal here and I have my permit as well as it being legal to carry there... There are no issues with thoes points.

I guess I felt weird carrying in a park and while camping. Sitting on the beach with my 9 strapped on. Going to the mens room and hearing the kid in the next stall say "Oh crap, he's got a gun" and then the next kid on the other side of him yells "Who?" and on it goes.

Even though I was CC the whole time, I have to say this was a bit of an experience for carrying a weapon. Blows away the Walmart Walk for becoming comfortable with you gun in public.

 

[mississippi21]

The more you OC the more you get used to it. I OC almost everywhere I go. In my town people don't even think twice about it. I been OC for almost a year had one person approach me and it was a good encounter.

 

[Rich M]

I did have 1 encounter while there. Maybe it was just me...

I was walking back to my site and encountered a fellow walking towards me. As I looked at his face I noticed his eyes come up from my gun that was printing on my tee shirt. I Imediatly looked at his hip and noticed a suspicious bulge that looked similar but smaller than mine.

Our eyes reconnected and we both just smiled and walked past each other.

 

[WB9IIE]

Rich M said "Even though I was CC the whole time, I have to say this was a bit of an experience for carrying a weapon."

:sarcastic:If you were CC at the time of your encounter in the restroom, how did the one boy next to you even know that you were packing? CC means that no one sees what your carrying, or even knows it is there.

 

[imrambi]

Not too long ago I was camping while CC, at two state forest. There was only once that my hand went for the firearm. I had arrived late at the camp site due to a long drive. It was almost dusk, so it was getting dark, and I had to set up my tent.

As I was setting up, I heard a crack. As I looked up, my hand went to my chest so I could drive from my shoulder holster if needed. I saw nothing, and the holster was never unlatched.

At another site that week, I was woken up by an animal brushing up against my tent ans scratching at it. I wait a few moments and grabbed a flash light. (Note firearm is in holster inside my tent, and not on my person.) As I scanned the area, I saw the animal. I think it was just looking for food. But a white stripe on the middle of the back of the small animal told me not to do anything.

I then closed up the tent and went back to sleep.

 

[Mosbyranger]

I have a pop up camper. When using it there is always a Ruger Vaquero .45 Colt in reach. Never had to use it but it's comforting to know its there.
MR

 

[tuts40]

I did have 1 encounter while there. Maybe it was just me...

I was walking back to my site and encountered a fellow walking towards me. As I looked at his face I noticed his eyes come up from my gun that was printing on my tee shirt. I Imediatly looked at his hip and noticed a suspicious bulge that looked similar but smaller than mine.

Our eyes reconnected and we both just smiled and walked past each other.

Your CCW status was compromised by your gun/holster/clothing combo. ...Time to rethink your gun/holster/clothing would be my only thought here.

 

[Rich M]

Rich M said "Even though I was CC the whole time, I have to say this was a bit of an experience for carrying a weapon."

:sarcastic:If you were CC at the time of your encounter in the restroom, how did the one boy next to you even know that you were packing? CC means that no one sees what your carrying, or even knows it is there.

Ok.. Ok.. I was in a stall... and had to drop the trousers... :fie: :sarcastic: The stall walls are kinda high and it was impossible to hide it without removing the holster from my belt and holding it on my lap. I really dont want to go much farther with this particular point but I am looking into options for this very issue. I have had kids try to divert my attention while another reached under the stall and tried for my wallet at another campground in the past.


Tuts40:
Yes, my S&W Sigma in its OWB DeSantis hoster does print heavily if I dont have my belt tightened just beyond comfortable. I have been thinking about my options to solve that. Without talking to the guy, its hard to tell what he actually thought. These were my assumptions based on the interaction as it was. I also know mine is there and am somewhat paranoid that its showing to much. It may not show to a non carry person like it does to me, if that makes sense. But yes, Im looking to enhance the concealment factor.

 

[santa]

At my cabin which is fairly remote I keep a 12 gauge and a 410 bore Mossberg pump and my handgun. There are a number of bears including a few grizzly in the northeast part of Washington where my cabin is, hence the 12 gauge. In my younger thinner years while backpacking I carried a Ruger 357 magnum and a NAA 22 magnum for backup. I backpacked many trails in the high Sierra and the 357 was adequate for anything I might meet. I have ALWAYS had some king of gun while camping from my first camping trip back in 1970. Even just a 22 can help you sleep. 99.99% of the time just knowing a gun is near is enough. I am thinking of getting bear spray because it works well Im told. Does it?

 

[Hamilton Felix]

I'd say get the bear spray but don't leave the magnum behind. I've heard that bear generally don't like being sprayed, but I wouldn't bet my life on it. Also, I've heard that spraying it onto items is likely to just make the bear think "oh, he's seasoned it for me, now nice!"

You must be older than I am. I turned 21 in 1975, have not been without a gun since. It's a Right, and it's also a Duty and a Reponsibility.

 

[tuts40]

Tuts40:
Yes, my S&W Sigma in its OWB DeSantis hoster does print heavily if I dont have my belt tightened just beyond comfortable. I have been thinking about my options to solve that. Without talking to the guy, its hard to tell what he actually thought. These were my assumptions based on the interaction as it was. I also know mine is there and am somewhat paranoid that its showing to much. It may not show to a non carry person like it does to me, if that makes sense. But yes, Im looking to enhance the concealment factor.

Yeah, i can appreciate that. Say, have you met anyone yet that uses the "SuperTuck" holster by Crossbreed. I've used it for years, so does one of my daughters now, and I'm not sure why anyone would want to CCW with much else. Works for me. Galco makes a model like it now called the "KingTuck" of which I use for a PM-9. I use the SuperTuck for the glocks. Anyway, I swear by them and have used thier customer service now once and they surprised the H-e-double toothpicks outa me with great service. (no, I don't know anyone at the company)

Have a good day sir and enjoy the weather!

 

[Rich M]

Simple answer... I bought the holster off the shelf the day I bought the gun. I had never concealed carry before this gun and was not educated in what is available.

It was a few weeks later that I found USACarry and have been learning ever since.

 

[-06]

My 357 is my camping/hunting/hiking side kick. I go to sleep with it in my hand or under the pillow. State/fed laws bed----.

 

[Rich M]

I'll be lookin into the Crossbreed here soon. I hear lots of good things. I like this one too. Maybe just not for a tee shirt holster.

 

[santa]

I'd say get the bear spray but don't leave the magnum behind. I've heard that bear generally don't like being sprayed, but I wouldn't bet my life on it. Also, I've heard that spraying it onto items is likely to just make the bear think "oh, he's seasoned it for me, now nice!"

You must be older than I am. I turned 21 in 1975, have not been without a gun since. It's a Right, and it's also a Duty and a Reponsibility.

Actually I turned 21 in August of 1976. I have had a gun of some kind since I was 14 in 1969. The bear spray is to avoid the killing of a bear that is either out of season or illegal(grizzly) and the hassel proving to 'fish and game' it was a self-defence situation. But if needed I will use lethal force to stay alive. I didnt know about spraying it on stuff. I learned something new. Thanks. And while I like to think Ive grown smarter and better looking with age my wife burst out laughing and said "dream a little dream". Oh well.

 

[Mobuck]

The campground where I worked last summer was privately owned and "no firearms allowed". That was the posted rule but I never saw it enforced. Part of my job was an early morning patrol of the grounds to check for "animals" either 4 legged or left over party ones. I usually carried a Ruger 44 mag single action stuck behind my belt in front just in case I actually found one or the other. Campground was only 3/4 mile from National Forest along the easiest pathway to the Arkansas River so there was a good chance of meeting a large furry critter. When the larger groups of bikers were in camp, I often carried a Ruger 9mm with an extra mag or two. I ALWAYS carried a lodgepole pine walking stick of suitable size to use for a buffer or bluffer as needed.