What's a good handgun caliber/brand for outdoor use

Down east I feel comfortable with a 357 mag with a fairly heavy load. I'm not sure what the wildlife is like in your area (you're in SD, right?), but based on that you may want to step up from there. 10mm will certainly get the job done, the biggest drawback to that pistol being scarce ammo. Personal preference would be a wheel gun here, which affords you choices such as 44mag 454 casull, and 45LC: All good choices. While I am not a Glock fan, they have the repuation of reliability even when gunked up, submerged in water, not cleaned when they should be, all situations you may likely face out in the woods. Weight is an issue to consider, as is caliber. I would not worry about recoil in a pack gun though (considering that if you HAVE to use it to protect yourself against wildlife, then you will not hesitate to pull that trigger), but if you desire a woods gun that you can enjoy at the range as well, then you may want to think about your choices a little differently. I am happy with my Smith 686 (357mag). I can carry it in the woods, and enjoy both 357 and 38 rounds if I am just farting around at the range. If I wanted to step it up from that point, I would go for a Ruger Alaskan 44mag. 2.5 inch barrel would make it easy enough to carry, and I am sure it would rock my wrist, but if you have a bear up on you with nowhere to run, that would be the least of my concerns. Once again, not knocking the 10mm Glock fans, I would feel safe as can be with one of those on my hip, but considering the way ammo is going, you may be searching for training loads and hollowpoints alike.
 
II keep reading, like i always do with these threads....

There are specific exceptions, but the idea that you need to suddenly shoot the king kodiak... I guess it's a personal choice in planning. I've had bobcat, cougar, and bear encouters in my life and never had to fire a shot. (I'm a bit more conservative now that I have kids, though)

My favorite woods bumming gun is a .22LR revolver. Moving up from there to something I'd be comfortable with in my region for extended periods I'd pick a long barrelled .32S&W Long revolver.

Moving up from there, I'd go .357, and again a wheelgun. With a good quality revolver and options in loads, you can take most anything in NA with one. Most of the .44 magnums I've fired haven't had the ergonomics for decent shooting with hot loads, and if you aren't using hot loads, then a hot loaded .357 is going to do fine.

I don't really have anything negative to say about Glocks, or Sigs, I just think that if you are dead set on an autopistol and want more oomph than a 9mm, the .45 is the way to go. the options in 1911 variants, customizing, and loads for the pistol are better than anything else out there.
 
I like a wheel gun for the backwoods because I can load the first two chambers with .38 caliber rat shot (#9 pellets) and the other four with 158 gr. hollow point .357 rounds.
We have quite a few poisonous snakes down here in Florida. I also have a .45acp Colt Government automatic that I rarely carry anymore because the revolver is lighter and more user friendly.
 
I know you said your looking for larger than 9 mm, but a .22 is cheap and good for procuring small game. If I had to pick one I would get a .38 revolver that could chamber a .357 round. Its pretty versitle and fairly good defense against everything aside from maybe a bear. Facing up against a bear, I would really want a shotgun or rifle.
 
Buy and carry the gun and load that you shoot best. But in the largest caliber you feel comfortable with.

Some very important rules to remember about the outdoors.

1. It may seem safe and peaceful in wilderness areas but the drug trade has changed the rules in the last ten years. Meth cooks like to try to get as far away from people as possible due to odor issues when they cook.In the Southwest you can easily bump into armed drug mules smuggling drugs North. Pot growers and moonshiners love public wilderness areas to do their dirty deeds.

2. While the chances of dangerous encounters with people are lower in wilderness areas, they are much more deadly because any help via emergency services can be hours or even days away.Multiple assailants can make a revolver a not so good choice.

3. It is better to have a Glock 10mm loaded with 16 rounds and a couple spare mags than a 22.You can even carry both if you choose,your life is worth an extra pound or two.

4. Every trip into the backcountry could be your last. Why spend hundreds of dollars in quality equipment and carry a pea shooter? Deadly situations don't happen very often but they DO happen on a daily basis around the globe. It CAN HAPPEN TO YOU!!!

Just my two cents worth...
 
If you are set on an auto and get a 1911, www.brownells.com offers a 460 Rowland conversion kit that will get close to 44 mag ballistics (and the gun can be converted back to 45 ACP pretty easily).

DancesWithKnives
 
I have a very nice colt .45 six shooter that is very accurate and not nearly as bulky as my colt.45 Ruger Vaquero.

Like Dannyboy Leather I like the old and traditional stuff. When I was much younger and poorer I carried an 1858 New Army Remington repo. for years I used this. Never had to kill anything with it but I knew that I could hit anything in range, much like the Colt .45 clone I carry now, but I live in South Florida, where the worst predators have drivers licenses.
 
my vote is still for the .40 snw glock, however after reading all the suggestions here a .357 wheel gun with a couple speed loaders should be plenty powerful too.

you may want to consider the taurus "judge" model if you think you're going to get up close and personal with the nasties.

Satellite


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I've been married over 30 years. It would never occur to seek permission from her to buy a gun and I never have. Still married. ;)

As far as what to buy, I like a 1911 or variant. That model is field worthy as our military has demonstrated for almost 100 years. Like Hushnel, I also like the 1873 Army Colt and own a couple in .45 Colt. That's more of a fun gun than practical defensive weapon these days as you really shouldn't carry more than five rounds in the cylinder.

All that said, I also think a .22 is far more practical and useful overall in the field unless you get into a firefight with drug dealers...
 
skimmerhorn said:
i'm going to get bashed by the liberal members of this arena, but, oh' well.
first of all, any man that has to get the O.K. from his wife for anything is not a man!
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You seem rather anti-social.:rolleyes:
I'd get a revolver in .44 mag, or why not the cool new .500 magnum from S&W? Up to 3000 foot pounds of stopping power!:thumbup::eek:
 
Hey Mr skimmerhorn...dunno 'bout you brother, but I allus asks her first before I gets it on....you know what I mean? My old Lady doan like surprises..... :D

Now to keep this on topic....
Personally I find a woods/hiking/backpacking handgun has to be light in weight or it just gets left behind. Glocks and XD's are quite light and have plenty of power (40 or 45) and are also fun to shoot on the range. Compact 38's are too light in power to bother taking along. Those large frame, long barreled 357's & 44 mags are just way too heavy.

But then maybe you could get your Old Lady to carry the dang thing...:)
 
Lazydog summed up pretty much what I am thinking. Even though a 44 mag would be nice it probably would get left at home because of it being cumbersome and heavy. Well theres a gun show this weekend so I will take all of your guys advice to mind and well see what I come back with. Thanks for everyones help. I'll let ya know what I find.
 
Aquacopter said:
Even though a 44 mag would be nice it probably would get left at home because of it being cumbersome and heavy.
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If that is the only thing you're concerned about you need to look at the S&W 329PD. I hated paying the price for mine but have never regretted it. Recoil is not bad with 180-200 grain bullets and 44 special loads are no problem.
 
My first choice for a dedicated woods gun with protection in mind is a .357. If concealment is not an issue, I'd take a 6" barrel, otherwise a 4". My second choice would be a 4" .44. Believe it or not, with the gun being heavier, the recoil of even a 4" .44 is no worse than a small .357.

If it has to be an autoloader, the cartridge of choice would be 10mm with the full power loads available. Second choice would be .45 Super.
The guns would be a Glock 20 (10mm) or 21(.45 Super, with the required modifications to fire the round), or a 1911 in either chambering.

Aquacopter said:
Ok with so many people talking revolver I am wondering why you prefer it? I have read many an article of pros and cons but am wondering your reasons?
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Mainly because there aren't many autoloaders in magnum-class cartridges that are also portable. The ones listed above, however meet the criteria. Also, some feel revolvers are more reliable. However, a properly functioning autoloader is just as reliable.

I've had wheelguns and 1911s choke on me. Never had a Glock do so (but it does happen, nothing is foolproof).

ETA: properly carried, i.e. shoulder harness or a REAL gun belt, the weight isn't a problem. I find shoulder rigs better, but I'm also used to carrying 3.5+ pound blades on a baldric, so. . .
 
Comeon guys! In a sound marriage, you discuss ANY item you want to buy that costs several hundred bucks with the other party. Has nothing to do with manhood, ruling the roost, or anything along those lines, just plain good sense---and courtesy. I had a great wife for 43 plus years until I lost her to cancer and we always mutually discussed ANYTHING either of us wanted to buy that cost beyond chump change.
 
For outdoors use I prefer a revolver for several reasons:

1: generally, you can get a better barrel length and overall more accurate mid range firearm. There are exceptions to this, but a 6 inch bbl .357 (or even better, K frame 6 inch bbl .32SWL or an H&R mag) is going to be more accurate at range than an autopistol- especially in a similar price range.

2: reliability. Yes, there are some very reliable autopistols out there, but again, within the same budget if I'm outdoors I'd prefer a wheelgun.

3: ammo. Every autopistol i've ever owned has had types of ammo it just wouldn't shoot over 92-95% relibaility. Add to that that with handloads you can do things that don't work so well in autopistols - beyond the obvious .38special in a .357 magnum. And, everywhere I've been, snake shot is a Good Thing to have in the first chamber.

edit: I forgot- everywhere in the US that I've lived, snake shot has been a good idea- I've been to places where snakes weren't really an issue (Iceland is an example).

edit: I have to make an exception, I never ever had a jam or misfire in my PPK... now, why did I sell it?
 
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