Security in the timber

swami_p said:
I hasve a 12 guage that I use for backcountry use. For two and four legged critters. I have been looking at a revolver for some monthes know and I am not sure would a good caliber would be for people, grizz, blackbear, mtnlion, etc. So I was wonderiong if you folks had any experince.
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.44mag with hardcast will work.
Smith & Wesson has a 29 classic out in 4 and 6 1/2 barrel in blue or nickle that are sweet.


www.gunbroker.com
 
Here ya go... S&W model 29 'mountain gun' (with GB mini-hatchet).

One advantage of this one is that you can also shoot .44 special out of the pistol. The .44 special round is much lower recoil and and good defensive rounds are available; Corbon makes some good rounds. Shot-shells are also available for snakes if that is a consideration in your area.

The 44 mag would be the minimum I'd be comfortable with against bears.

IMG_1706.jpg
 
swami_p said:
I hasve a 12 guage that I use for backcountry use. For two and four legged critters. I have been looking at a revolver for some monthes know and I am not sure would a good caliber would be for people, grizz, blackbear, mtnlion, etc. So I was wonderiong if you folks had any experince.
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First and foremost, Swami P, is how much experience do you have shooting a hangun ACCURATELY, and what caliber(s) have you shot ACCURATELY??

That makes all the difference in the world when it comes to handguns for self defense, whether against four legged predators, or two.

Starting out on a .44 magnum, or other heavy caliber handguns for the inexperienced is sheer folly. :thumbdn:

L.W.
 
This pair is my deer hunting duo. It is a great setup for me. Not much it won't take care of in the woods of Maine. Man or beast.
Ruger .44 Redhawk and HI YCS.

If I am only thinking about the 2 legged varmints, My springer and Busse come along for the field.
 
David E said:
With all due respect, you're not really armed, especially for the situation that you describe.

If you carried for signaling, it would make more sense, but not for deep trail defense.

.
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Thanks for your concern, but I'm armed enough. I'd prefer to not carry anything, but as is, I do from time to time and so I make it as small as possible. Around here, even the rough looking characters are just trying to have fun most of the time, so I dont feel the need to have a .44 dragging me down while I'm trying to relax and enjoy myself. But, you can carry whatever you want while out, and I'll do the same. Odds are, we'll both be alright in the end. :)
 
Leanwolf said:
First and foremost, Swami P, is how much experience do you have shooting a hangun ACCURATELY, and what caliber(s) have you shot ACCURATELY??

That makes all the difference in the world when it comes to handguns for self defense, whether against four legged predators, or two.

Starting out on a .44 magnum, or other heavy caliber handguns for the inexperienced is sheer folly. :thumbdn:

L.W.
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Folly? A little wimping guy, yes, but a physically fit man can shoot a 44 right off the bat. 44mag ain't that much. Some extra heavy loads are. An 18" pistol grip shotgun with 3 mag slugs kicks and will flip out of your hand, but average 44's don't. Everybody needs practice. Why buy 2 or 3 guns, when you know what you want. Go for it. Don't expect a bear or man to lay down after you shot them though. Physics and physiology often produce unexpected results.
 
My hat is off to the man that is an inexperienced shooter that can pick up a 44 mag and shoot well with it.
 
One caliber that never got the recognition it should have was the 41 magnum. My Ruger Bisley is one of the most accurate revolvers I own.
Scott
 
Gah. okay, on topic, not on whine&cheese, i can post :D

I'd take any of the decently made 5 shot .357 lightweights and add a 6 inch barrel. Adjustbale sights and done. Seriously, there's no ONE TRUE gun for ALL situations, and if you need more than a 5 shot .357 you need to carry a longarm appropriate to the situation.
 
K-Dog said:
Folly? A little wimping guy, yes, but a physically fit man can shoot a 44 right off the bat. 44mag ain't that much. Some extra heavy loads are. An 18" pistol grip shotgun with 3 mag slugs kicks and will flip out of your hand, but average 44's don't. Everybody needs practice. Why buy 2 or 3 guns, when you know what you want. Go for it. Don't expect a bear or man to lay down after you shot them though. Physics and physiology often produce unexpected results.
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Ummmm, okay. not. 1: I've been trained and then did train other naval personnel with shotguns. Even the tiniest little girl in any class could handle a 590 with military loads. First time. Accurate? well.....

2: I've seen people lose control of a .44 first time shooting it, too.
 
K-DOG - "Folly? A little wimping guy, yes, but a physically fit man can shoot a 44 right off the bat. 44mag ain't that much."
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Well, K-Dog, I didn't say a .44 Magnum would "kick out of the new shooter's hand," wimp or not. Those are your words.

A .44 Magnum may be just like a .22 L.R handgun to a big, strapping, tough, muscle bound macho man who shoots it with full bore loads, but it is absolutely ridiculous to hand one to the average man or woman who's never shot handguns and say, "Here you go, dude, crank a few off from this here baby. Har har har!"

That is the way to institute flinch from the first shot on. The purpose of training to shoot handguns is accuracy, first, foremost, and final. A person, no matter his or her physical size and muscle strength, should learn the fundamentals of shooting handguns such as safety, familiarity, proper grip and trigger control, sight alignment, and accuracy by NOT flinching. The fundamentals come from practicing a lot. Very, very few new handgun shooters are going to go out and shoot -- over a period of time -- a couple thousand rounds of .44 Magnum, whether they are Hulk Hogan macho dudes, or just your average Joe or Jane who wants to learn handgun shooting and become proficient.

I've seen some would be handgunners put off by the Dirty Harry macho types handing them .44 Magnums, when they hadn't the faintest idea what shooting a heavy recoiling handgun was. Most did not continue with shooting. Start them off on a .22 LR handgun, then move them up to .38 Sp./9mm, and you have a shooter for life. Once a new shooter has learned the fundamentals of handgun shooting through diligent (and inexpensive) practice, then learn to handle the "big bores."

Many men and women who have a desire to learn to shoot handguns, have no familiarity with them, are somewhat frightened of them, or at least leary. Starting them with the "most powerful handgun in the world" is self defeating. Yeah, "folly" is the right word.

(BTW, I've killed two Black bears with handguns, one with my .41 Magnum, and the other with my Ruger Blackhawk .45 Colt. Both were with my own "stout" handloads, so I know what they'll do to a bear. ;) )

L.W.

P.S. So what's wrong with owning more than one handgun??????
 
Gossman Knives said:
One caliber that never got the recognition it should have was the 41 magnum. My Ruger Bisley is one of the most accurate revolvers I own.
Scott
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Back in my hometown, many moons ago, the PD carried Smith Model 58s in .41 Mag. They were the 4" M&P models, since discontinued. I have lusted after one, ever since.

Andy
 
koyote said:
I'd take any of the decently made 5 shot .357 lightweights and add a 6 inch barrel. Adjustbale sights and done. Seriously, there's no ONE TRUE gun for ALL situations, and if you need more than a 5 shot .357 you need to carry a longarm appropriate to the situation.
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I agree there is no "one true gun for all situations."

But some choices are clearly better than others. The ones that would and could handle "most" or "probable" situations would be better choices than those that can only handle an unlikely specific situation.

Five shots might be enough....but you don't mention carrying a reload, so I presume you wouldn't have one. Five shots can disappear in a hurry. Then what ? I'd suggest carrying at least a 12 or 18 round "Ammo Wallet" by MTM.

My take is, since there is no resupply in the woods, what I bring will be all I have.

.
 
kdstrick said:
Here ya go... S&W model 29 'mountain gun' (with GB mini-hatchet).

One advantage of this one is that you can also shoot .44 special out of the pistol. The .44 special round is much lower recoil and and good defensive rounds are available; Corbon makes some good rounds. Shot-shells are also available for snakes if that is a consideration in your area.

The 44 mag would be the minimum I'd be comfortable with against bears.

IMG_1706.jpg
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kdstrick, somthing about that combination of tools is just awsome.
maybe it is because the axe and the handgun are the same size?
but seriously, thats a cool set up.:thumbup:
 
Okay, two things- one, i apologize if i sounded aggressive, my experience with 12ga. and 44 is different.

two- i forgot to mention reloads. Since i grew up in the southwest, i still think of a revolver having the first chamber loaded with #10 shot.

my reload plan would be 15 rounds whatever i am shooting solid and 5 rounds shot.

if i were really trekking, i would add a .410 slug bore with a screw in choke. Probably an HR single shot.
 
Thanks man. That lil' GB is a sweet little axe. :thumbup:

I'll agree with those who have written that a .44 mag is not a beginner's caliber. It will give you a severe case of the 'flinches'! I've been shooting for over 30 years, and I've made it a policy of mine to end my .44 mag shooting with a bit of .22 shooting to tame the flinch reflex that invariably occurs after a box or so of .44 mag.

Scott is right about the 41 mag... probably the least popular of the magnums (for no good reason).... and Koyote also makes an excellent point that there is no "there's no ONE TRUE gun for ALL situations". Where were you when I was married man??? I really tried explaining that to my x-wife to justify my... um... habit ;)... I could have used the backup!!!:)
 
In the movie deliverance the bow and arrow were useful. You may also want to pack some lube and condoms just in case.
 
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