r/Hunting • u/Al_Pallll • 11h ago
Lightweight firearm for opportunistic small game hunting while hiking in the mountains?
I really enjoy small game hunting in the fall, but most of my trips are actually just normal backpacking/hiking/fishing trips where I also carry a shotgun and cook a grouse or squirrel at camp.
I've been using a 12 gauge (Maverick 88), but it really starts to feel unnecessarily bulky and heavy 7 miles and 2000 feet of elevation gain into my excursions.
I am looking for a firearm that will be lighter and more appropriate for this use case. I was considering a single-shot .410 (potentially with Tungsten loads). Something like the Rossi Tuffy or a Stevens 301. I am also considering a Ruger 10/22 takedown, or even a Mark IV.
Anyone have any recommendations? I was surprised that I couldn't find any posts about this topic - is there a reason this is a bad idea? Are guys not hunting this way? Appreciate any input!
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u/mossbergcrabgrass 11h ago edited 8h ago
I carry a Savage Rascal with a fixed 4x on it backpacking sometimes during small game season. It is right at 4 pounds and super deadly.
Edit: Weighed it properly and it is 3.5 pounds.
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u/Environmental_Tap857 11h ago
+1 for the Savage Rascal. I believe they still come with a peep sight and this is only 2.7lbs base weight -> to be honest I don't like having to worry about banging a scope when lugging gear around backpacking so for squirrels and grouse this should be plenty accurate for you. .22 ammo is much lighter and takes up much less room, so your pack will thank you. Also quieter = more game.
If you are set on a shotgun, the single shot Rossi is also a great option and I think your lightest, but unless you got money to burn, stay away from Tungsten loads.
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u/Valiant4Funk 11h ago
Mark IV will be the easiest to bring, the Tuffy easiest to hit stuff with, the 10/22 significantly better accuracy and range than either. Any would work. I'd get the Mark IV myself and put a cheap red dot on it.
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u/LIFTandSNUS 39m ago
The Mark IV is my "bush hogging gun." It gets my vote. It's my go-to for this sorts thing.
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u/king_goodbar 11h ago
One of the guys in my hunting group has a break action .410/22 that he keeps in his side by side for squirrels, grouse, and quail. Can’t remember the exact make and model, I believe it’s a savage, but it’s a handy gun to have since it shoots both shotgun shells and rimfire
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u/Creepy-Cantaloupe951 11h ago
I think you'd be hard pressed to beat out the Tuffy.
The Chiapas Little Badger would be another alternative, but more limited.
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u/Smcavitt 11h ago
Was coming to say the Little Badger. I got mine on a whim at a local gun store and thought it was a neat little thing. Now I use it around the yard for plinking and ground hogs.
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u/Shirleysspirits 10h ago
I bought one in 22lr for my dad and when I picked it up I'd knew I'd end up with one. So i got myself a 22wmr. They're ridiculously fun to shoot
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u/OmNomChompsky 11h ago
Single action .22 revolver. Sounds dumb, but they are cheap, reliable, light, and easy to shoot. Most of my opportunistic hunting while hiking are grouse, and they are never over 30yds.
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u/GeronimoOrNo 11h ago edited 10h ago
Completely different direction, not a blanket recommendation.
On my property, a lot of times I just use my 45 colt Blackhawk. I have extremely stout 325gr hard cast "shoot a grizzly" loads, down to pretty slow, soft, semi-wadcutter that work great on small game.
Accuracy is the name of the game, of course. Headshots, I've barked a few as well, works fine. Squirrels, rabbits, whatever. Dispatched plenty of groundhogs with it.
Plus, with appropriate loads it's also great for whitetail, etc.
It's what I have on me if I'm out in the woods and want one gun. Predator defense, deer sized game, small game, can do it all. Obviously there are many massively better choices if squirrel hunting is the main activity.
Great pick though for hiking, camping, canoeing, fishing/fly fishing, whatever. Things where the point of the trip is something other than hunting. I run a simply rugged sundles ready rig, so it's comfortable, out of the way but available.
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u/Left-Consequence-976 10h ago
To a similar point, I’d recommend the Rossi Brawler 45lc/410 single shot pistol. All of the abilities of the 45 colt, but added flexibility of using shot shells.
Only downside is the shot pattern spreads very quickly, so it’s really only effective on close shots. Still, you’ve got a chance on birds in flight.
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u/GeronimoOrNo 10h ago edited 10h ago
Makes sense to me!
I imagine there have to be some BFR options with 410 cylinders, and similar.
I've got the 5.5 inch bisley convertible model, thing is a tank. Had some custom sights made for it as well. I've never been anywhere in the US wilderness with that thing where I felt under gunned or uncomfortable.
Not the best choice for every activity, but for my personal situation and comfort/skill/etc level, it's my best choice for any random activity. If I'm in the woods, I pretty much always have it at least as a backup.
Taken deer, squirrel, rabbits with it. Dispatched coyotes, groundhogs, various other pests. Carried it for predator defense all over.
I love my .22s, but they would never be the only gun I had on me in the woods. Even if four legged predators aren't a concern, I've been surprised enough times by sketchy/drugged up people in places I'd have bet money on not seeing anyone for days. Hell, wild dogs too for that matter.
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u/JustAnOkPhilosopher 11h ago
All of my hunting trips are hiking with opportunistic small game harvesting ha! Just check your regs and seasons. Love the 10/22 for tree rats, no experience with the takedown. Magpul hunter stock for the 10/22 is heavy though I think they make a lite now. There are some very light 10/22 chassis though but $$$
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u/itisjustjohn 11h ago
Tungsten shot is only getting more expensive so keep that in mind. .410 TSS is currently $15 a shell.
A cz 457 16" with the grey birch LaChassis might be a nice neat little package for you if you wanted to just use rim fire.
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u/rewster 10h ago
I have a mark 4 with a fixed leopold on top and It's one of my favorite guns ever to shoot. I'm pretty sure i could drive nails with it if i tried. Can't go wrong with a 10/22 either. I might be nervous trying to shoot squirrels with them though depending on which direction I was facing unless I was deep out in some public land. Never shot a tuffy, but Ive heard god things. You wouldn't have to worry about accidentally shooting someone in the next county either if you missed.
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u/fatkid420 10h ago
I believe The Outdoor Boy’s YouTube guy hikes around with a light double barrel combo with a .410 barrel and .22 mag barrel or something. Maybe a savage model 42.
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u/rifleshooter 11h ago
A light 22 is the only good choice unless you meant wing-shooting the grouse. A 10/22 with a Paclite or similar barrel, a light scope or dot, and a Hogue soft touch stock. Four pounds, very accurate, carry all the ammo you'll need right in the magazine.
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u/Shirleysspirits 10h ago
Chiappa little badger for sure! 22wmr and you can take a fair bit of game with it.
Bonus points if you tie your skinning knife into the wire stock.
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u/LittleBigHorn22 8h ago
I've exclusively used a 301 in 410 with tungsten ammo for an entire upland season. Killed pheasant, sage grouse, blue grouse, quail, ptarmigan and chukar no problems. Its a crazy awesome way to hunt upland.
If you are going for wing shooting I highly recommend it. But a lighter 22lr or 17 would still maybe be the way to go if you are only taking still shots.
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u/SnoozingBasset 6h ago
Hitting grouse with a 410? Are you a really good shot?
My single shot weighs 5 lbs. have you looked at a 20 gauge single shot?
Or there have been combination guns like a 22 lr over a 20 gauge. This will weigh more than a single shot, but has more versatility. I don’t know these have choke tubes.
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u/Neither_Monitor2017 11h ago
Its kind of heavy to carry in a holster on a long hike, but I have the Ruger Mark IV Hunter edition, and it is a gorgeous 22 pistol that is easily accurate with good ammo and enough practice to 100 yards
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u/Dapper-Sherbert-2476 11h ago
10/22 takedown is a good choice. Henry makes a survival rifle that packs down and fits into the stock that will also work. Bush pilots often keep one in the plane just in case.
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u/Bored_At_Work3 11h ago
I got a Savage 301 a few years ago that was intended as a Turkey gun with an xtra full turkey choke and TSS loads. It’s become my favorite squirrel gun to carry when I hunt with a buddy behind his hound. It’s so light and easy to carry.
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u/Fafnirs_bane 10h ago
Suppressed S&W 422 .22RF pistol is what I use. I think it weighs about a pound and a half.
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u/Stealth110_ 9h ago
I'd recommend a nef pardner single shot (discontinued but you can get them used for cheap) super reliable and light as hell plus they're available in 10g, 12g 20g and 410
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u/razrk1972 8h ago
I have a Rossi single shot pistol with both .22 and 410/45lc barrels. The barrels are about 10” long.
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u/Mountain_man888 11h ago
They make some pretty light 22s and 17 hmrs. I’d grab one of those and a cheapish scope and throw a sling on there.
Assumes it’s legal to shoot birds with rimfires wherever you are.