Why You Need a Good Hiking Revolver

Revolvers are great assets to have on the trail, but why? (Photo: Jeff Wood/Guns.com)

A good revolver on a hike can be a valuable asset. Whether for self-defense – from two or four-legged predators – or for hunting and recreational purposes, having a trustworthy wheelgun at your side greatly impacts your time in the woods.

Why a Revolver?

Why choose a revolver over something like an auto-loading pistol? Revolvers often bring a compact, and lightweight option to the table, using materials like Titanium or composite frames to reduce weight. They also tend to come in more powerful cartridges like .357 mag or .41 magnum versus their semi-auto siblings commonly chambered in 9mm or .40 S&W.

Sometimes it’s just nice to appreciate the simplicity and time-proven revolver design. Whether a single-action or double-action, the straightforward draw, point, and shoot motion is therapeutic and charming to the cowboy inside each of us.

Arming oneself with a revolver can prove helpful on hikes, especially where animals are present. (Photo: Jeff Wood/Guns.com)

Many of us live and frequent wild areas where help is far away. Having a revolver or gun at the ready when you need it is, at times, the difference between life and death. A casual hike through the foothills can turn deadly with predators. A lightweight .357, like the Ruger LCR, tucked into a belt might change the outcome of such an encounter. (Not mention, the composite frame, and hammerless design make it easy to tuck into a pocket and carry comfortably.)

If you are in Big Country, like Alaska or the mountains of Western Montana, then you may want something bigger than .22lr. With large predators like bears nearby, it’s a good idea to have something a little more robust in your arsenal. For a situation like this a 44 mag or 454 casull would be a solid option.

Smaller, compact revolvers handle light hunting with ease. (Photo: Jeff Wood/Guns.com)

Rural life isn’t just about lurking predators; sometimes, it comes down to fun. A pleasant stroll through the alpine forests might transition into a squirrel or rabbit hunt if you’re in the right place. A simple pistol like the old Ruger single six comes in handy on such a stroll. Using inexpensive 22lr or 22 mag, hikers may enjoy a hike and a hunt without spending much.

Final Thoughts

Whether it be for personal protection or recreation, a good a revolver makes a solid hiking companion. An excellent hunting tool with a broad spectrum of cartridges, revolvers are often less cumbersome than a long gun while still carrying the apropos energy required to take down predators and prey on the trail.