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Hikers Companion Pistol?

GAgunLAWbooklet

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The Hen that laid the Golden Legos
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What's a light weight, but not tiny sized, centerfire pistol suitable to carry for defense against wild animals, feral or rabid dogs, wolves or mountain lions?
Gun MUST be light... when hiking 10 miles up and down hills, every ounce counts.
Gun need not be small... it should have a decently long barrel and sight radius.

No snubby revolvers.

No pistols weighing 30 oz. or more.
16 oz would be nice.

What's on the market that fits these criteria?
 
The Ruger LCR-X with the 3" barrel
still weighs only 15.7 oz.
5-Shot .38 spl, with good sights.
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357 not bad, but for some applications a bit small. The S&W model 69 or 329 would work pretty good. The 69 weighs about 34oz, L frame 5 shot. And would make a great slim carry piece. The 329 about 26oz., 6 shot. Both come with 4" barrel and you can use shot shells for snakes and cast bullets for bears. If you reload you can work up a load you can hit accurately with.
 
When you are alone in the backcountry and concerned about bears hang a noisy item from your pack like a rattling Sierra cup so they can hear you coming and get off the trail before you surprise them and get into a situation.

that poor lady in Colorado probably surprised that mama bear too near her cubs
 
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