20 Guns I Would Take Into the Woods if I Could Only Bring What I Could Carry

Photo credit: BigMountainMike/GunBroker

If I could only bring what I could physically carry, I would stop thinking like a collector and start thinking like somebody who actually has to live with the weight. Every extra pound would need a reason to be there. That means rifles that are handy, shotguns that cover more than one job, handguns that do not drag the belt down, and cartridges that offer enough capability without requiring an entire pack full of specialized gear.

The best woods gun is not always the most powerful gun. It is the one that gives you the most useful performance for the least burden. Some of these are better for hunting, some are better for protection, and some earn a place because they can handle multiple jobs with very little fuss. If I had to carry everything myself and there was no truck parked 50 yards away, these are the firearms I would start looking at.

Marlin 1894 .44 Magnum

A .44 Magnum lever rifle is one of the best examples of useful power without excessive weight. The rifle stays short, carries easily through brush, and gives the cartridge a real performance boost compared with a handgun. It is enough gun for deer and hogs at sensible woods distances, and it can also share ammunition with a .44 revolver if I wanted to simplify what I was carrying. That kind of commonality starts to matter a lot when every box of ammunition has to ride on your back.

The 1894 also avoids the bulk of a full-size bolt gun while still hitting much harder than a rimfire or pistol-caliber carbine. In thick country where shots are likely to be close, I would rather have this than a heavy long-range rifle I never get to use at long range.

Henry Big Boy Carbine .357 Magnum

The .357 Big Boy Carbine makes even more sense if keeping weight and recoil down is the priority. It is handy, quick to shoulder, and easy to feed with .357 Magnum or .38 Special depending on the exact load and rifle. That gives you flexibility for practice, small game, and closer-range hunting without carrying a heavy rifle and heavy ammunition.

The real appeal is how much use you get out of a relatively small package. If I were spending days moving through woods and wanted something I could actually keep in my hands instead of constantly slinging, this is the kind of rifle I would trust.

Savage 99 .300 Savage

The Savage 99 gives you a full-power hunting cartridge in a lever-action package that carries beautifully. The rotary magazine allows pointed bullets, which helps it perform more like a traditional bolt rifle while still giving you the fast handling of a lever gun. The rifle is slim, balances well, and does not feel like it is carrying extra material where it does not need to.

For someone moving through timber and still wanting enough rifle for deer or larger game, this is a very strong compromise. It is not the lightest rifle on the list, but it earns the weight because it can do serious hunting without feeling cumbersome.

Winchester Model 94 .30-30

The Model 94 remains one of the most sensible woods rifles ever made because almost everything about it was shaped around carrying. It is narrow through the receiver, easy to grab one-handed, and short enough to move through brush without constantly catching on limbs. The .30-30 is also perfectly at home at the kind of distances most timber shots actually happen.

There are more powerful rifles and flatter-shooting cartridges, but most of them make you pay in weight, recoil, or overall length. If I had to walk all day with the rifle in my hands, the old Model 94 would start looking better with every mile.

Remington Model Seven .308

The Model Seven gives me most of what I want from a full-power bolt rifle without making me carry a long, heavy action and stock. The short action keeps the gun compact, the .308 chambering gives it plenty of authority, and the rifle is easy to maneuver from awkward positions. That matters when the woods are tight and I am not always shooting from a perfect rest.

This is the kind of rifle I would choose when I wanted more reach and power than a traditional lever gun but still cared about every pound. It is compact enough to carry and serious enough that I would not feel undergunned for most North American hunting.

Kimber 84M .308

The 84M was built around the idea of making a trim short-action rifle rather than simply shrinking a larger action. That matters in the woods because the rifle feels light and lively without becoming awkward. In .308, it gives you a cartridge that does not need a long barrel to remain useful and is capable of handling a wide range of game.

If I were going to hike long distances with one centerfire bolt gun, this is the kind of package I would want. It carries like a much smaller rifle than its capability suggests. That is exactly the kind of tradeoff I am looking for when I cannot bring everything.

Ruger M77 Compact .308

The compact M77 gives you the ruggedness of Ruger’s older bolt-action platform in a package that is easier to carry through real woods. The shorter stock and barrel make it especially handy in blinds, thick brush, and steep terrain where a long rifle becomes an annoyance. The controlled-round-feed design also has the kind of mechanical confidence I appreciate when the rifle may be carried in rain, mud, and rough conditions.

I would not pick it for someone obsessed with maximum muzzle velocity. I would pick it because it is compact, dependable, and powerful enough to matter without becoming a burden.

Browning BLR Lightweight .308

The BLR gives you a lot of capability in a rifle that still handles like a traditional lever action. The box magazine allows modern pointed bullets, while the .308 chambering gives you more reach and power than most classic lever cartridges. The lightweight versions are especially appealing if you are actually carrying the rifle all day instead of sitting in one stand.

This is one of the better choices for someone who wants one rifle to bridge thick woods and more open shots. It is not as light as the smallest bolt guns, but the fast handling and cartridge flexibility make the weight easy to justify.

Ruger No. 1 International

A single-shot rifle sounds like a strange choice when you can only bring a limited amount of gear, but the No. 1 International has one major advantage: compactness. The falling-block action allows a full-length barrel without the extra receiver length of a bolt gun, and the full-stocked configuration carries beautifully. If I am disciplined enough to make the first shot count, magazine capacity matters a lot less.

The rifle also forces me to carry fewer rounds and think harder about each one. That is not necessarily a disadvantage when everything I bring has to be carried on my back.

Mossberg 500 20 Gauge

A 20-gauge pump shotgun deserves a place because it can cover more jobs than almost any other long gun without the weight and recoil of a 12 gauge. With appropriate ammunition, it can handle birds, small game, and larger game at closer ranges. The pump action is straightforward and does not require much maintenance, which is useful when I am far from a workbench.

The 20 gauge is also easier to carry ammunition for than heavier 12-gauge loads. If I wanted one shotgun that could still do a little bit of everything while keeping the pack light, this would be one of my first choices.

Benelli Montefeltro 20 Gauge

The Montefeltro 20 is exactly the kind of shotgun that makes sense when you know you are going to carry it far more than you shoot it. The inertia system keeps the gun light, the balance is excellent, and the 20-gauge chambering cuts recoil and ammunition weight compared with a heavy 12. For upland hunting or small game, it is the kind of gun you can carry for hours without constantly switching shoulders.

It does not have the rough-use appeal of a pump, but if the job is primarily hunting and distance on foot matters, the light weight becomes difficult to ignore.

Franchi Affinity 3 20 Gauge

The Affinity 3 in 20 gauge is another very strong carry-first shotgun. It is light, fast, and easy to mount, which makes it useful when birds flush suddenly or when you have spent several hours walking rough country. The inertia-driven system also keeps the action fairly clean, which helps when you are away from normal cleaning equipment.

I would choose it over a heavier gas gun if I knew the shotgun was going to spend most of the day in my hands. When you are carrying everything, ounces become more important than features you may never use.

CZ 457 Scout

A compact .22 bolt rifle earns a place because not every woods problem requires a centerfire. The 457 Scout is light, accurate, and easy to carry, which makes it excellent for small game and deliberate shooting. The shorter stock also keeps the rifle compact without turning it into something flimsy.

If food gathering were part of the reason I was in the woods, a good .22 would be difficult to leave behind. Ammunition is light, recoil is nonexistent, and a few hundred rounds weigh less than a modest supply of centerfire cartridges.

Browning BL-22

The BL-22 is one of the best rimfires for someone who cares about fast handling and low weight. The short lever throw makes follow-up shots quick, while the rifle remains slim enough to carry easily through brush. It is also accurate enough for small game without feeling like a bench gun.

A .22 lever rifle may not look like the most serious woods gun in the group, but if the task is gathering small game without burning through heavy ammunition, it suddenly becomes one of the most practical firearms I could bring.

Ruger American Rimfire Compact

The compact American Rimfire gives me a light bolt-action .22 that is easy to carry and easy to maintain. It has enough accuracy for small game and enough familiarity that someone accustomed to centerfire bolt rifles will feel right at home. The rifle is also inexpensive enough that I would not worry about scratches or bad weather.

In a scenario where I need to carry my own supplies, rimfire ammunition becomes a major advantage. A compact .22 like this gives me a lot of shooting capability for very little weight.

Smith & Wesson Model 69 4.25-Inch

The Model 69 gives you .44 Magnum capability in a smaller frame than the traditional N-frame revolver. That matters when the handgun is going to stay on your belt all day. Five rounds keeps the cylinder manageable, and the revolver can also run .44 Special for lighter practice or less demanding situations.

I would rather carry this than a massive hunting revolver if the handgun is supposed to be backup rather than the primary gun. It gives me serious power without making every mile remind me that I strapped a giant piece of steel to my side.

Ruger SP101 3-Inch .357 Magnum

The 3-inch SP101 is one of the better compromises between durability, power, and carry weight. It is heavier than the ultralight snubnose revolvers, but that extra steel makes .357 Magnum much easier to control. The 3-inch barrel also gives you better sight radius and velocity without turning the gun into a large belt revolver.

For woods carry, I like this size because it is small enough to forget until I need it. It can also shoot .38 Special, which gives me a lighter option without changing guns.

Glock 29

The Glock 29 gives you 10mm power in a much smaller package than the full-size Glock 20. That makes it a strong choice if I want a semiautomatic woods pistol but do not want the size and weight of a full-size frame on my belt. It is still thick and not especially light, but the capability-to-size ratio is impressive.

The shorter grip takes more practice, and full-power 10mm is not mild in a compact gun. If I shoot it well, though, it gives me serious field capability without committing to a much larger handgun.

S&W Model 60 3-Inch

The 3-inch Model 60 is one of the better lightweight field revolvers because it gives you a full-length ejector rod, better sight radius than a 2-inch snub, and .357 Magnum capability in a relatively compact stainless package. I would probably spend most of my time with .38 Special or moderate .357 loads, but having the option matters.

This is the kind of handgun I could carry every day without reorganizing the rest of my gear around it. That alone earns it a place when the whole point is keeping the load manageable.

Ruger Single-Six Convertible

The Single-Six Convertible is one of the most useful handguns to carry if small game and ammunition flexibility matter more than defensive speed. With the appropriate cylinders, you can use .22 LR and .22 Magnum, giving you cheap practice and a little more rimfire performance when you want it. The single-action design is also straightforward, accurate, and durable.

The biggest advantage is ammunition weight. I can carry an enormous amount of .22 compared with centerfire handgun ammunition. If I were already bringing a larger rifle for bigger jobs, the Single-Six would make an excellent lightweight companion for everything smaller.