Do you all have a favorite side arm you carry in the woods/camping/hiking?

sunnyd

sunnyd

Joined
Jul 17, 2004
Messages
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Hello guys & gals,

The rifle thread got me thinking that perhaps I should see if y'all have a favorite side arm you carry and tote with you in the woods when you are bushin it, hiking, camping or hunting and why exactly?

I will try to get pictures of the one I always carry, but it is my very favorite Colt .357 Mag. I love this old 1970's Colt Python. She is blue steel and has a 3inch barrel and of coarse shoots .38 specials and .357 Mags but she never misfires and is true all the way no matter what loads I am firing.

Please tell us about your favorite side arm that you take into the woods and why?:)
 
Depends.
If I'm carrying a rifle, I'll carry a Ruger Single Six .22 mag as my sidearm.

If I'm not carrying a rifle, then I have a very nice P&Red S&W M29-2.
 
Usually, a small .25 Beretta 950 BS. I own MANY firearms and am a 1911 owner but unless I feel the need to have a real firearm in the boonies, the Beretta is light and with me (unlike the heaver sidearms that stay home or are worn for self-defense). If I do want a larger firearm, I'd prefer a rifle, probably in .22 as the only real reason to carry one (for me) is small game hunting.

I used to pack a Star PD .45 many years ago and later, a Glock 36 .45. Just too heavy IMO unless you have a likely need for one or just want to carry something more substantial than a little pocket pistol.
 
Usually pack my G21 seen here in a Galco holster...

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...and seen here in IPDS Action at PWYP this year in North Carolina.

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Sometimes, I carry this S&W Model 66 ccustomized by my boys at JoJo's Gunworks.

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Wow! That's like a dad with a big family picking out his favorite kid. :D

Depending on circumstances, it could be a S&W 4" Kit Gun .22 LR or a Ruger 4" Bearcat .22 LR, or an old, old, old Ruger 6.5" Single-Six .22 Magnum, or a Ruger 4" or 6" Security-Six double action .357 Magnum, or a Uberti (Colt clone) 5.5" single action .45 LC, or...
 
Depends on the outing....

I might carry a .25 Beretta Jetfire, a Ruger 22/45 (.22LR), a Glock model 22 (.40 S&W), a S&W Model 66 (.357 Mag), or an East German Makarov (9x18).

Handguns are like knives... you can't have just one!

Stay sharp,
desmobob
 
What purpose do they serve for you in the woods? Game hunting? I'd be curious to see if your choices change depending on the need to be filled.
 
almost imp[ossible for me to get a pistol permit in my neck of the woods, took me over a year to get a rifle/shotgun permit....been spending alot of time on my friends property lately just woodswalking and usually bring my martin recurve bow and some judopoint arrows for stumpshooting..or my henry levergun in .22 neither is a sidearm but all I can legally use here untill I move.
 
My .45 is more for personal protection from dirtbags than 4 legged critters. My .357 is very versatile for snakes (with cci snakeshot) up to black bear with bonded ammo. I have a S&W 629 5" .44mag but I only carry that in Maine in moose country. When possible, I'll carry a small 317 airlite kit gun with a 3" barrel for plinking or small game.
 
My S&W Model 43 Airweight Kit Gun is a great little tag a long. Light and very handy.

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I have many firearms, but I find I carry a 1911 the most. Right now I like my Colt Defender and have for the last 5 years, but I'm considering trading it in for a Colt New Agent. Basically I carry it for the 2 legged threats - I'm partial to the venerable .45.
 
Ruger SP101 3" .357 because it's about my lower weight limit (27oz) for comfortable practice and carry. A G23 is nearly as comfy though I slightly prefer a revolver. Both are natural pointers for me. The first 2 rounds are always snake shot (actually rattlesnake shot): out of many encounters I've needed it only twice but that was two too many. By the way, the G23 cycles snake shot just fine but the G19 becomes a manual repeater with it.

I've found the right holster makes a world of difference in whether carry is natural and comfortable. The Bianchi Black Widow is my favorite for both guns and for several others as well. Expensive but a good value to me. :) Regards, ss.
 
For woods use I usually carry a glock 20. There isn't much you cant do with 10mm, and having 16 rounds of it gives me the warm fuzzies.

If I'm way off the beaten path its a marlin guide gun in 45-70.
 
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