Favorite Camp Guns

When considering camp guns, the choices are  numerous and often debated. Of course, there is no end all answer, but it is a fun conversation point for those of us who love both camp and guns. One's decision is based on a litany of factors that might include where you live, size and weigh
t limitations, and your application for the piece-- to name just a few. Here at Foothills, we'd like to share a couple of our favorite campfire companions and why they've made the fa
vorites list.
You can't have a conversation about camp guns without mentioning a quality .22. The .22 has a lot to offer in this realm. The ability to carry large quantities of ammunition for general plinking and recreations is a major bonus. The .22 allows for nearly endless shooting without breaking the bank or making too much racket.  Useful for target practice, dirt clod destruction, and the elimination of snakes, the .22 lands near the top of our favorite picks. When it came time for me to make my choice purchase, I walked out the door of my local gun shop with a Ruger Mark IV Hunter edition. The pistol is beautifully crafted with rosewood grips, a stainless fluted barrel, and a nice set of fiber optic sights. The Ruger Mark series has a long history of reliability and accuracy. Mine has processed everything from cheap, bulk ammo to CCI. It has run fla
wlessly no matter what I've fed it. You would not be wrong for making a Mark series pistol your campfire partner.
It's unfortunate, but one of the roles the camp gun might be pushed into is that of a self-defense piece. While anything is better than nothing, most wouldn't argue that the .22 is lacking in the realm of man-stopping capabilities. I've had a number of run-ins with "old green-teeth" on excursions in rural areas and in national forests, but I've always been comforted by the weight on my hip. A few months back, I came across an old model three-screw Ruger Blackhawk chambered in .357.  It was in a city pawn shop where most of the cliental wasn't interested in old revolvers. The pistol had seen better days as the grips were cracked, the bluing showed some wea
r, and the frame was etched with what I believe is an old police evidence number. That being said, the revolver functioned flawlessly.  I walked out with it for $350. I replaced the grips with a nice set from Altamont and touched up the bluing with over-the-counter solution. This has become an all-time favorite to carry. A hot .357 will take any animal in my part of the country, including "old green-teeth." The 4" barrel carries like a dream and the gun has proven very accurate. When loading lead bullets, it's really inexpensive to shoot and CCI snake shot has made quick work of a couple of water moccasins during summer trips. Lastly, old Ruger three-screw revolvers are just cool to carry and a pleasure to handle.
 

A list wouldn't be complete without talking about a good camp carbine or rifle.  Just like camp pistols, the camp carbine scabbard could house a long list of different rifles.  It's a hard choice, but for my favorites list, the scabbard would be filled with a Winchester 1894. This was also a pawn shop purchase for me that came in some disrepair. I enjoyed cleaning it up, though, and refurnishing the old stock. A friend helped drill and tap the receiver for me, and it now wears a set of fiber optic Skinner aperture sights. These were a major upgrade to the carbine and really took it to another level in the area of accuracy. The weapon is light, fast, accurate, and so much easier to carry than some of the modern rifles that many people get excited about these days. The Winchester 1894 has been serving in the role of camp carbine for over 100 years and even longer if you include its predecessors. Just seeing it resting against a tree or stool in the firelight seems to put you in touch with cowboys and outdoorsman from years past who stared at the same beautiful night sky.  Mine happens to be chambered in the classic 30 WCF, but any caliber selection offered would perform just fine in this handy carbine.
These are just a few of my favorite camp guns that find their way on my hip, in my pack, or in the truck more frequently than others. Whether serving in a plinking role, hunting, or as a defensive side arm, the camp gun is an important and fun tool to discuss. Thanks for joining along in the discussion, and be sure to tell us about your favorite camp guns in the comments.