You have many choices for the best backcountry handgun on the rare chance you run into four and two-legged predators.
You can go into the wilderness hundreds of times and not have a negative encounter with a big predator but all it takes is that one incident to change everything. In that light this tutorial may help you choose the best backcountry handgun.
When considering handguns for wilderness adventures I think this is where revolvers make a lot of sense, and especially in magnum calibers. A revolver is very reliable and as you are likely accounting for every bit of weight when hiking in you may not want to pack in a lot of spare magazines and ammo.
A revolver in .357 or .44 magnum is going to let you deal with most of the bigger predators found in North America in an emergency situation. But, like any other gun, if you choose a gun just for backcountry hunting, fishing and hiking, make sure you train with it. A stressful incident is not the time to be figuring out the best draw, hold stance and follow-through with that particular firearm.
There are a ton of good American-made gun choices for your backcountry use; see an expert at your local outfitter or consult a knowledgeable buddy at you local range for advice.
NEXT: IS IT OKAY TO LOOK DOWN AT YOUR HOLSTER WHEN RE-HOLSTERING YOUR PISTOL?
