handgun choice

[TWBryan]

Not knowing where you are I can't tell what animals you may encounter. I'd advise you to seek competent instruction before proceeding further,then go to a gunstore where you can rent different handguns to see what you like best.

 

[Brian Jones]

Dude.

No way.

.22's are deadly.

I know, I was just forkin' with ya!

 

[lmalterna]

Specific to the OP's question of which:
My .02 is the .357 everytime. I love .38 and for CCW in urban setting or slef defense in home it would be my choice- ranges are very short, well within the lethality of the .38 without undo stress to shooter or over penetration.
Rural/outdoor setting ranges could be longer- tweaker with a "G-9" (O.K. I carry a Glock 17 but you know where I am going) blasting from behind a tree at 25-40 yards. Here a calm hand with a .357 has a distinct advantage. I have seen 4" .357 revolvers roll steel groundhog silhouettes at 100 yards. Add in feral/rabid dogs- I want a little oomph to anchor them at more than spitting distance but OP will not lose ability to load snake shot, et. al.

2Door

 

[CC U]

I prefer the HK USP 45 with Black Hills 230 grain +p hollow points. The spring system really reduces recoil, it is easy to control, providing quick accurate follow up shots. With the increase of mountain lions and meth labs out in the hills along the Missouri River, I feel that my bases are covered either way. I used to carry a Browning Buckmark, however, it only took one time of stumbling into a area with evidence of a meth lab to make me rethink my situation, and what my best choice was. I typically have my kids along, and I want the ability to end any confrontation in the quickest, cleanest way possible. This is where training and practice become a definate necessity.

 

[m. wohlwend]

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.

Good choice Brian!!! I am not a Glock fan, but the only Glock that I used and liked was the 23! Lot of firepower, compact package, tough design, What's not to love??!!! :thumbup:

 

[VTguy]

I carry my kimber PRO TLE w/ crimson trace grips pretty much all the time, it's nice and light and I believe has plenty of power to make anything I encounter in the woods of Vermont to think twice about attacking me. When I am actually hunting or if I was to be hiking where there is significant bear risk I carry my S&W 460 w/ a 5" barrel. The 460 has quite abit more knockdown power then a .45acp I have never had a deer take more then 2 steps after being hit with it! The only thing is that I wear electronic earplugs when I hunt with my 460 because it is so loud, I have never fired it w/out hearing protection. I don't really wear hearing protection when I hike and would hate to have to fire the 460, maybe several times, w/out plugs in. Other then the volume though I love that 460, it is a very accurate gun, shoots basicly level from 25' to 75 yards and still has plenty of knockdown power for deer and black bear at 100 yards!!!

 

[sodak]

I have to echo what others have said - find a range, and shoot several different ones. See what you like, and what you can handle. Lots of ranges have guns to rent. Shoot at least 50 or 100 rounds of several, after you get used to some rounds, they aren't that bad.

I usually carry a 357 or 45. Living in Colorado, I can either carry openly in the woods, no problem, or concealed with a CCW.

 

[pict]

I don't mean to start a caliber war here...

I carry .38 special, 9mm, .45 ACP and .357 magnum regularly when in the US. Here I'm stuck with .38 special.

In a woods gun it is one thing to strap on you're favorite and go for a dayhike and another to hike for a week and carry reserve ammo (lets say 50 rounds).

IMO the Glock 19 (or similar polymer framed auto in 9mm) is the most efficient in terms of weight to firepower. The Glock 23 isn't far behind. While the gun weighs about the same the .40 ammo is heavier. Most of the weight is in the bullet not the brass but bigger brass is heavier too.

9mm - 115 to 124 grains

.38/.357 - 125 to 158 grains

.40 - 155 to 180 grain

.45 ACP - 180 to 230 grains

.44 special/.44 Magnum - 200 to 300 grains

I often carry an all steel 1911A1 .45 in the woods and it is alot heavier than my Glock 19. Each round of .45 weighs a little over twice as much as 2 rounds of 9mm. The Glock is far lighter than the 1911. On a short dayhike I really do prefer my .45 but if I'm going in deep, and off trail where if I run into a problem it might not be resolved right there with one exchange of shots then I take my Glock 19, both for the weight factor and the extra ammo factor.

You can go round and round about big and slow verses light and fast, but velocity in a handgun round doesn't weigh anything. If dangerous people are a concern, and I have to hike that gun and extra ammo all over creation light and hot gets the nod from me. The .40 S&W is a good compromise of the two, and polymer frames are the bomb. Mac

 

[Terrill]

For what it is worth...
For years my choice has been a Ruger .357 revolver.

I recently switched it out to a 686 S&W. I like the idea of the stainless steel for a woods gun and my wife carries a little 3" Mod. 60 so she would be comfortable picking it up.

 

[blgoode]

man what a gun Terrill:thumbup:

I carry a 1911 IWB for 2 legged threats but in the woods my go to gun right now is a Ruger Super Blackhawk in .41 magnum. Should handle anything in the NC area and doesnt kick as bad as the .44 mag.

 

[Dr. Mudd]

Jlubas, either of those Colts you own will make a fine outdoors gun for you, but the lighter, more compact .38 Detective Special will be much more convenient to carry, and is more than adequate for anything short of bears, panthers, and large wild boars. It is versatile since it safely uses a variety of ammunition from light target loads, to shot shells, to +P self defense ammo. If you were buying a revolver I might suggest the .357 caliber for its increased versatility and power if you need it, but a simple .22 will do the job in the vast majority of cases if you know how to shoot it, so a .38 will do the same job even more surely. If you don't want to buy another gun right now, just carry that nice Colt DS .38 in a good quality holster that will hold it securely. Both your Colts have increased in value over the years because they've been out of production for a long time now. The Python has achieved an almost cult-like following and is worth big bucks if it's in nice shape.

 

[longbow50]

I've been carrying a full sized .45acp, which is right at or an oz or two over 3# with 2 full mags and one up the pipe. Decided to try something a bit less in weight. I found a neat little .380acp and I can carry 2 full mags, as well as a box of 20 and still be under 3#. Lots less firepower, but at SD ranges out to 20+ yards, the hot Buffalo Bore FMJ flat nose, Buffalo Bore JHC and Cor-bon, all do a great job.

 

[soccergod04]

I know, I was just forkin' with ya!

Hey, Brian! I resemble that statement!

 

[Brian Jones]

Hey, Brian! I resemble that statement!

I thought that remark by Rob in Prac Tac was a classic. I had to fork with him here, too. Okay, hijack over...back to our regularly-scheduled handgun talk.

 

[Brian Jones]

Good choice Brian!!! I am not a Glock fan, but the only Glock that I used and liked was the 23! Lot of firepower, compact package, tough design, What's not to love??!!! :thumbup:

Mark, I love it. I now want a Kimber SIS .45ACP like my good friend Brett ("Bears Breath" on the forum here) owns. It shoots accurately on its own in spite of the shortcomings of the person holding it. Here's a pic I took of it:

 

[blazink]

So I have decided to get the MKI or MKII, I REALLY need the handgun practice and it will match my 10/22 nicely.
The hard part will be convincing my wife that I need it, she HATES handguns. I guess I would too if I had accidently shot my step father in the head the first (and still only) time I ever touched one.
He wasn't injured very bad and we were following all proper safety procedures, the bullet ricocheted straigh back out of a range berm from 10 yards.

 

[TWBryan]

Ruger MKII with a bull barrel is a good gun.:thumbup:

 

[JB in SC]

A .22 S&W Kit Gun has been my choice as a woodsman's revolver for 35 years. Handy, light (mine's a Model 43 Airweight), and accurate.

 

[noss4]

I always carry my Glock 23 .40 but I'm switching to my FN 5/7 5.7x28mm.The pistol and sixty rounds of ammo is much lighter weight compared to my Glock and 30 rounds of ammo. I always Carry my Glock in a tactical hip holster. I finally found one for my FN made by Safariland and they make one that also accommodates a weapon light. :thumbup: I'm left handed so it's not always easy to find a holster for my needs especially for a weapon such as the FN.

Since I go out usually by myself. I carry a little more gear then I normally would if I was with a group of friends. Also since I video tape field tests I have the added weight of camera gear. Video camera, tripod, digital SLR and 2 lens. I try to cut weight where I can so I'm switching weapons for when I go out in the woods as soon as I get the holster

 

[m. wohlwend]

KIMBER TIME!!!!
Kimber TLE (Tactical Law Enforcement)

'Nuff said!!!