handgun choice

jlubas

jlubas

Joined
Jan 22, 2008
Messages
301
I hope this shouldn't fall into practical tactical but i was just reading the "what would you do for protection" thread and it got me thinking. I have never carried in the woods but that might change now. The only handguns i own are a .38 colt detective special and a .357 colt python. Theoretically if i was to carry into the woods would you guys think a .38 snub nose would suffice or would all of you opt for the added weight to get that extra bang. Again sorry if this is redundant or in the wrong forum but that thread sent chills up my spine since I'm planning a trip for next month.
 
You'd have to hear from the professionals, but:

Keep in mind that jackknife diverted two potential problems with a 22. It seems like the woods creep type are cowards, not desperate criminals.
It seems that in the woods, there are more loners than teams or gangs. I'd expect a smaller caliber to be OK, so long as you are aware of what's going on and can have it out before you need it. Without multiple attackers you can just fill up one guy with lead.

I'm looking forward to the LEOs opinions :)
 
A 3" or 4" 357 is probably the most versatile gun and caliber as it offers sufficient penetration for most situations against animals. Hard Cast 180 gr's for bear country or carry something larger if you are in big bear country. My preference would be either a 4" 41 mag (S&W Mountain Gun) or if I decide to buy one, the 480 Ruger Alaskan. I consider the Alaskan essentially a useless handgun except for self protection. But I shoot the caliber in a Super Redhawk, so I already have ammo around.

Honestly speaking, I carry a 4" 22 revolver more often than anything else. I have never had any really close encounters in the woods with people or animals. But I have been charged by a large black bear. He didn't seem to like me taking pictures of him as he moved closer to me... then stood up and charged to about 12 feet and stopped. I was close enough for full head shots with a camera. I was NOT taking pictures when he was within spittin' distance however. I think every hair on my head was standing up at that moment. He wandered off then.
 
There is something wrong wit me.
I typically carry a full size something while in the woods

either my Glock 22 duty gun with 165 Grain Gold dots

My Springfield PRO 1911 with 200 grain +p's or 230 grain standard velocity

or my smith 629 with a 4 inch tube and 300 Grain hornadays.

I just feel better with a fullsize.

I have hiked with just my J frame with 135 Grain speer +p's and if that all you have and can afford then it is better than nothing and will stop most two leggers in their tracks and send them walking to find easier pickings.
 
I'm glad this was asked, I have been thinking the same thing. I don't own any handguns but I have been thinking of buying one soon. I was thinking of a .22 (from my VERY limited experience a Ruger MK? was the most accurate handgun I have handled) but people keep telling me it is too wimpy for protection. A buddy suggested a .357 and use .38 Special rounds for target practice (is that right?) I think I would prefer something in between. I also want something somewhat easily concealable and I like the ruggedness and simplicity of a revolver. I guess choosing a handgun is like anything else, have to make compromises. And with my history once I buy one I will end up with a dozen before I know it.
 
For two legged foes, there are lots of good options, most have been mentioned.

1911
Glocks (19, 22, 32, etc)
most any 3-4" .357 mag revolver
Springfield XD

The list is a little bit more thinned if you are starting to worry about safety from animals, and then you have to really tailor your load to the beast. An example being that hard cast .44 magnums may be more than you'd need for a big cat, but right at the 'entry level' power level for bears.

Most concerns for protection in the wild are about people though, not animals, so I'd recommend anything at the top of this list. Any basic, common combat caliber is a wise choice, mainly .45 ACP, .357 mag, 9mm, .40.
 
Instead of offerring the redundant opinion of what caliber and package, I would offer this advice. Shoot what you can handle. As a former range officer I have seen too many officers trying to shoot something they couldn't handle. It doesn't matter what caliber you are shooting if you are MISSING!!!
Several direct hits from a 9mm is more effective than a several misses from .44mag!
Find some friends that own handguns or visit a range. Shoot several different calibers and styles of weapons. Then make your choice.
Also a semi-auto is more "complicated" than a revolver. Shooting skills are a "deminishing skill" so you need to practice no matter the weapon choice.
I currently own a full sized tactical .45, but I am currently shopping for a mid-sized .357 mag. revolver to carry.
The .357 has been documented to kill grizzly bears at very close range. On people is the best "manstopper" period. Around a 95% one-shot stop on humans with a 125 grain magnum load.
As for the .22, there was a 15 year old who was shot at close range in the chest. This happened in my jurisdiction. The bullet struck his heart and he walked 15 ft before collapsing dead. In an officer survival classes I have seen raw video of a trooper who shot a suspect 6 times with a .38 +p, the suspect returned fire with a derringer .22 striking the trooper in the heart. The trooper died and the heavy-set suspect lived.
 
First, the .22 is not something I would want to rely on in a pinch. Granted, you probably don't run in to many drug-crazed persons in the woods, but the one you do won't really be fazed by small fire like that. Neither would most animals. Yes, the sharp report and sting may get a little response, but not nearly what you probably desire.

Second, as with any other firearm thread, it has to be something you are totally comfortable with. Carrying a .44 Mag or .454 Raging Bull is totally useless if you are afraid/unable to wield it effectively. Conversely, if you feel that you can effectively shoot the nuts off a horsefly at 50 paces with a .22, then by all means, carry one. You should be able to hit anything and make it dead.

Third, I would say that my .38 snub gets the job done. However, I would probably opt for a short-barreled .357. Then I would have the option of both .38 and .357 and the wide array of rounds for both. (+p, snake shot, etc) As far as carrying a semi-auto, I don't trust any of mine except the old Colt 1911to hold up to the elements as well as a wheelgun. It's pretty much accepted that good wheelie will give you less trouble in adverse conditions. Not as many moving parts to jam up.
 
I think that choice of gun and caliber has alot to do with your lifestyle, and what yur comfortable with.

My choice of a J frame .22 revolver may not appeal to many. But its what me and my wife shoot at least once, sometimes twice a week. At any one time, its only been a couple of days since our last range seeson. We both are avid target shooters and plinkers, and we can use up a heck of alot of .22's at a modest cost. Heck, I met Karen on a target range 38 years ago when she was shooting the Smith and Wesson K22 her father gave her for graduation. We love our .22 revolvers, shoot constantly, and have tought all three of our children and two grandchildren to shoot with them. Its what we're used to, so we just use what we have, and are comfortable with. We don't have alot of guns, we each have a K frame .22 and a J frame .22. They cover our uses. Others milage may vary.

Also the state of Maryland does not have any CCW. At all. So when we go for a walk in the woods, we have to have the guns concealed very well. The J frame .22 is a very trim little gun and conceals very well. We've been able to walk right by park rangers with no problem. We're just the nice 60 something older couple with the binoculars around our necks and the Audubon bird book in Karens hand. Being senior citizens makes role camoflage easier.

I have an old late 60's era model 60 .38 with a 2 inch barrel, but its not near as accurite as our .22's, and a heck of alot louder, and only 5 shots compared to our S&W 317's with 8 shots apiece. Also kicks a good degree and bothers Karens arthritus and mine a bit too. Not a fun gun to shoot.

I think the kind of gun does not matter as long as its something you love to shoot, and shoot it often, and are intimately familiar with it to the point that handling it is past comfortable, its part of you.

In our part of the country, large carnivores are not common, and if we go in bear country we'll carry bear spray. At our age we're not doing wilderness trips anymore.

jlubas, your .38 snubby should do just fine. :thumbup:
 
I firmly believe that unless you are already proficient in handgun shooting, you should buy a good .22 pistol/revolver, and learn the fundamentals and familiarity with that .22.

The most important thing is practice. A lot of it. A .22 is cheap, and it is so light in recoil that you can shoot many, many rounds in practice without it becoming a "chore" or a large drain on your wallet.

When I got married, my wife had never seen a real gun before, other than on the hip of a police officer walking by. But she wanted to learn.

We started on my S&W Masterpiece K22 in .22 LR.

Over a period of time, she shot 1,500 rounds and became very proficient with that .22, accurate, familiar with the revolver (and my Browning Challenger) and SAFE.

Then, I moved her up to a .38 Special with target wadcutters. After about 300 of those, we went to full power Plus P .38s, then to .357 Mag.

Now, she shoots very well, is safe, and knows how to handle not only the revolvers, but owns two of her own. Also, she is very familiar with my Colt Govt. Mdl. .45 ACP and Beretta 92FS.

I would never start an unfamiliar person on anything but a .22 handgun.

As for going out in the boonies with a .38 Spec., just shoot well and you'll be okay.

If I were in Black bear country, I'd prefer the .357 Mag., so long as I already owned one.

Just my opinion.

L.W.
 
Can you give me a link to the thread are you referring to?

If you're going to go through the trouble of packing you might as well take the python, or you could always use the excuse to buy a Glock21 SF.
 
Here is what the late great Col. Cooper said " The first rule of gunfighting is, HAVE A GUN! " :D:D:D
Jackknife, if you pulled that .22 on me, you would get what ever you wanted!!! LOL
 
I would get a 2", 3" or 4" .357 revolver. That way you can shoot 38's in it for practice and move up to the .357 round all in one gun. My whole family has trained with the 38's and now all do well with the .357. Make sure to use hollowpoint ammo for your carry round. If you travel like me and stay in a lot of hotels then load up with a standard load 38 hollow point or Glasier safety slugs in 38cal. Less penetration through walls and that way you will not hit your neighbors.
 
For me it's the Glock 23 .40 cal. It's the only one I own right now, I can shoot it well even under stress, and with higher pressure rounds and good shot placement, it is enough to take care of any threats in the area where I live.

This is another way of repeating Mark/Charlieridge's advice: shoot what you can handle, or what you are most familiar with.
 
If you want a lightweight Glock try the Glock 27
AKA Baby Glock
I think Glocks are the best for camping/hiking because of the lightweight:thumbup:
 
I'd sure hate to get hit with a .22. For a survival gun it's outstanding. If a person is serious enough that you need to shoot them, they won't care what caliber it is.

Getting shot is getting shot. I highly doubt you'll met the terminator out there. I'd hate to get shot with a .22.

We kill terrorists with .22's all the time, simply goes a tad bit faster, the .223.

I carry a .38 J frame everywhere as a pocket gun, with 150 grain Buffalo Bore very hard cast wadcutters. It'll do the trick on a person or animal.

If not I'll re load.

Did I mention I'd hate to get shot by a .22?
 
Dude.

No way.

.22's are deadly. You take a hit out in the boonies with a .22, how long do you have to find where the damn thing went in your body?

My wife has a little 10 shot .22. She can empty it into a pie plate in about 2 seconds, like a little machine gun, from about 5 yards. It's impressive at night.

If I could have only ONE gun for survival in the lower 48 it'd be a .22, one of the neat lightweights MK II's from That outfit in Idaho. In fact I may still purchase one of the uppers they make.

I carry a little 22/45 Ruger in my rifle "survival" bag.

Best little gun on the market. You can kill about anything with it, as long as you can shoot. I put fiber optics on it, and it's always there.

maxpackcon.jpg
 
I have carried a .38 snub for SD in the bush. I loaded it up with +P 158 JHP and a few reloads. It is alot better than being unarmed, they are relatively light weigth and pack easily. You are limited in that they are hard to shoot well beyond 25 feet or so. The Detective Special is a great gun. With most snub revolvers, you only have five shots, and most have a short ejector rod that doesn't positively clear the cases. That is a training issue and can be worked around but they are less forgiving of bad technique. The Detective Special is a top of the line snub that mitigates these factors.

I would opt for the .357 if it has a 2 - 4 inch barrel. If it is it he +4 inch range then I'd stick with the Detective Special, just for the weight factor. When I carry my Model 19 (2.5 inch) in the bush I load it with .357 magnums and carry +P .38's in my speedloaders. I figure if I need to speed load then I'm in a gunfight and would prefer the control over the power. If six .357 magnums didn't solve the original problem I want to be able to shoot faster. Its a judgement call.

Most often, however, I carry a Glock 19, 17, or 1911A1 in the bush. The revolver gets carried mainly during hunting season. Mac
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top