Woods gun recommendation

I reckon you need one of these:

http://www.gunsamerica.com/blog/ross-seyfried-lipseys-ruger-flattop-44-special-bisley-revolvers/

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Problem with bear spray is wind, rain, tents, and not 100% effective. Also, woods gun has other survival applications aside from critter duty, such as hunting, signaling, etc. I'll carry bear spray from now on, though.
 
If you are not comfortable with only bear spray, I would take a handgun. I would pick up a 10mm or .357 if it was to be an autoloader. If I was going to use a revolver, I'd pick .357 or 44mag. Some of the large pistols being suggested weigh more than a rifle. Personally, I'd avoid those because they are too cumbersome and heavy. I used to do a LOT of hog hunting with a Ruger Super Redhawk in .454. It was a great killer, but it's a big, heavy gun. I'm assuming that you want something that isn't going to weigh you down, flop around, and get in the way of stalking with your bow.
 
I went from a 6" barreled Ruger GP100 in 357 to this Ruger LCR in 357 for woods wandering.
I seldom carried the GP100 because of the weight, but the LCR is a pleasure to carry and fits in the rear or front pocket of my jeans for summer time carry and will carry in a coat pocket just fine in cooler weather.
It is light weight and packs a decent punch up close and personal like a cat attack would be.
It is marginal for black bear, but I keep it loaded with the heaviest loads I have been able to find locally (180 grainers) while in the woods to help mitigate the loss in velocity/energy from the short barrel.
Around town it's loaded with 125 grn. 38+Ps.
The recoil with full power loads takes getting used to in such a light weight package, but the smooth, solid G10 grips from Hogue helped considerably.(Hogue makes the stock rubber grips also, but they have ribs right where the web of the shooting hand rests and they tend to grab during recoil and it hurts with full power loads dang it! :o)
A plus for the shrouded revolver is it can be fired from a coat pocket in an emergency unlike a pistol with a slide that has to travel to the rear to grab another round from the mag.
Of course, if carrying in a holster it's a moot point, but I like having the option to fire from a pocket and not having to draw it if being mauled by a critter intent on having me for lunch or dinner.;)

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Kingofwylietx said:
Some of the large pistols being suggested weigh more than a rifle. Personally, I'd avoid those because they are too cumbersome and heavy.
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When it comes down to me possibly getting mauled and or ate by something, there's no such thing as overkill.

I like the weight of a 5" 460 S&W, I always thought that it was just about right for big bore. Weights 3.8lbs, the Ruger Alaskan 454 weighs 2.75lbs. If that little amount is too heavy, then some of the excess gear needs ditched, you need a better/more comfortable holster, or you need to work out.
 
M67 said:
When it comes down to me possibly getting mauled and or ate by something, there's no such thing as overkill.

I like the weight of a 5" 460 S&W, I always thought that it was just about right for big bore. Weights 3.8lbs, the Ruger Alaskan 454 weighs 2.75lbs. If that little amount is too heavy, then some of the excess gear needs ditched, you need a better/more comfortable holster, or you need to work out.
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Weight isn't a big deal. I'm used to lugging a 40lb tool bag around at work.
 
I consider a woods gun to be either a rifle or shotgun. A handgun should be on you regardless, no matter what.

I'd sill say a .44mag level action or always can go with a 12g shotgun and slugs. Some real nice shotguns out there that hold 8-9 shells and have nice ghost ring sights.
 
Converge that's cheating op said handgun lol. A 12 Guage will do it, 480 handgun probably. A 44 isn't going to cut your just going to lodge a bullet in a bears fat layer, or intramuscular tissue and upset him before he runs you down and bites off your head. I really love Ruger mini's 14s but a . 223 ain't going to cut it either. A bear has a really sensitive nose though and that's where bear spray comes in handy.
 
rbmcmjr said:
To be brutally frank, a pistol is a poor choice for a woods gun. All it takes is one lucky stick/branch/rock to hit the mag release and you might never know until you reach to use it that you now have a single shot (or none if there is a mag safety).
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I like wheel guns myself but I gotta say, if this is an issue you should grab a better holster. This type of thing shouldn't happen.
 
I have a smith 629 with a 4'' and a ruger alaskian 44. the alaskian feels like a lot less recoil, damn accurate too.
 
I don't feel undergunned anywhere with this gun/ammo combo:

 
I finally found my de facto woods gun. Not my first choice but it kinda fell in my lap. A Glock 21. I'm going to convert it to 10mm before bow season but it will do as-is until then. Thanks for all the suggestions.
 
Nothing wrong with that. Just get some real 10mm loads, way too much of the 10mm out there is barely loaded hotter then 40 cal. There is some real 10mm factory loads out there though, just not much. Lots of people reload their own with 10mm.
 
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