A most innovative new spoon...
 

http://olegvolk.net/gallery/d/34781-...R30ad_9476.jpg

http://olegvolk.net/gallery/d/34784-...fense_8315.jpg

The newest Kel Tec, available Q2 2010. (No affiliation) Interesting to say the least.

If I'm lugging a weapon around I want fewer rounds but something with some stopping power... So not a .22

You are only going to piss off the bear with that.

Exactly my thoughts... Or a large cat... Or a pissed off hiker for that matter...

Kel Tec is coming out with some really cool stuff lately.

I've got my eye on the RFB:

http://www.porkchoponline.com/images/keltec-rfb-2.jpg

Boys, I disagree. The .22 magnum is a pretty powerful round and very accurate. You don't want to take body shots with it and expect it to take down a large animal but it will get the job done. I bet that more deer have been taken with .22's than any other caliber.

I'm not carrying a pistol in the mountains for a deer... How many rampaging bears have been taken down with a .22 mag?

I carry .357SIG when out in the bush. My new P226 takes 18 rds. in the SCT mag. It won't stop a giant bear in one shot, but it will do serious damage on anything smaller.

I really wasn't thinking about bear protection..I agree, a charging bear is only going to get pissed more if you shoot it with a 22mag.

As my room mate pointed out .22 mag is more than enough for a person... I don't worry about rabid backpackers... they are a generally laid back species...

I think it's fine for most backpacking. Not every area still has bears. It's perfect for wolves, coyotes, humans, etc...

I love it! As an avid backpacker and climber I can attest, every ounce counts. There are many times I've been in the wild and would like to have been carrying.
That said, .22, magnum or not would not be my choice.
Can I have less rounds of 44?

I want one for plinking!

Not sure what this is supposed to be good for. What exactly are you taking this for on a hike?

George

Too big and bulky for a proper backpacking .22. The caliber is too destructive to be used to fill the pot with small game, and too small to be reliable to defend oneself from anything larger than an enraged starling.

I carry an old Ruger Bearcat, stuffed deep inside my pack, by no means ready for instant use. It's only there should worse come to worse and I need to feed myself; it is not meant meant to be a defensive arm.

That role is filled by a large caliber, short (4 5/8" or 4 3/4") barreled single action out on my hip. Either .44 mag or .45 Colt, both with 300 grain bullets at about 1,200 fps. All of my backpacking is in bear and cougar country here in the Pacific Northwest.

I wouldn't worry about bear or cougar attacks anywhere in the lower 48. Extremely slim chance.

For survival, try this (2.5 pounds, floats in water).

http://world.guns.ru/civil/ar7-3.jpg

George

I always carry when hiking around here; usually my Ruger 22/45. We have had a few murders in the last two years on the trails and I know that I could stop a man with it..no doubt.
When backcountry hiking and camping, if I got lost, I could certainly use it to help feed myself on game. I will also carry my 9mm if going for an over nighter.
We do have black bears here but attacks are very rare. I intentionally make a lot of noise when I hike to make sure I don't "sneak up" on any bears. If they know your'e coming, they will usually run.

they've had to put down 19 bears in one canyon here, locally, just this summer. a couple of them shot while attacking....

while i wouldn't want a .22 mag for a bear, it will do for most anything else you might need to shoot, short of an elk or moose.

Way, way too big for backpacking. Most backpackers wouldn't really care that it floats, either. Leave it on the boat where it belongs. Pistols and revolvers - small ones - are the order of the day.

Bear and cougar attacks are common enough up here (and, with an increasing population of both them and us, they are on the rise to boot) that a prudent man will take measures to be able to defend himself when out in the wilderness. Uncommon or not, when I'm several days in from the trailhead (and well out of any kind of cellphone service), it would really suck if the unthinkable happened. Better to carry it around and not need it, than not have it and wind up needing it. Just like a first aid kit; a prudent man would never consider being out there on his own without one. Probably (hopefully) never need it, but...

George,
I've got one of those. I didn't think they could still be bought. I also have a 30 round (if I remember correctly) banana clip for it.