Handgun for peace of mind.

[Whopper Stopper]

I have a question and I hope you people can get me pointed in the right direction. I am in the market for a handgun. I have various specialty handguns but I am looking for something to carry while I am either out walking in the woods or bowhunting. I spend a lot of time in some pretty wild wooded areas and the last couple of years I have encountered Bears, wolves, coyotes, skunks, porcupines, fishers, coons, and on a couple of occasions some pretty aggressive dogs. I figure it is time to get a side arm just for piece of mind especially for some of the mile plus hikes out in the dark. Twice I have bumped into a sow with cubs and that tooth popping makes my skin crawl. Anyway I am looking for something strictly for protection. I want a handgun that is comfortable to carry and I don't care for the big magnums. I was wondering about an automatic like a Glock, just not sure of caliber. Basically a caliber that would have good whack at 25 yards and less. It by no means has to be a Glock and if you have comments about Autos, pro or con, let's hear them. My handguns are all custom made for long rang hunting, as a result they are big and heavy. Anyway if you have it in your heart to take a moment and make a suggestion, I would certainly appreciate it!


                         WS

[TommyD]

Hi WS,

Out in the country, the revolver I pack is a Ruger Blackhawk in .45 Colt with a short (4 5/8") barrel and a second cylinder for 45 acp. Loaded with a 300 grain flat point bullet the 45 Colt will handle almost any wildlife trouble you might get into in the lower 48 with proper shot placement. Of course, I don't live in Grizzly country. I have no personal experience with bears, but from my reading I am not sure that any handgun is really adequate for a big bear, "magnum" or not.

You wrote you don't like the big magnums. The .45 Colt fills the niche very well, especially if you are a handloader. Moderate loads with 255 grain cast bullets handle most situations, and if you need heavy penetration the 300 to 320 grain solids at 1100+ fps will deliver for you. For light recoil plinking, the extra 45 ACP cylinder rounds out the package nicely. Fun and practical.

If you are not a handloader, Cor Bon makes a nice 300 grain jacketed soft point for the 45 Colt when you need the power. On the lower end of the spectrum, there is a large variety of factory ammo available in 45 acp as well.

I find it quite packable and convenient to carry. Some like the Ruger Bisley configuration and say that the grip design handles recoil better than the Blackhawk. I have never tried one myself. I am not sure if the Bisley comes as a "convertible" with the extra 45 ACP cylinder either.

Hope this is of some help.

Tom

Tom

[Redhawk1]

I would also go with a 45 Colt in a 4 5/8 inch barrel if you are looking for something lighter, or the new Ruger Alaskan in 44 Mag.  Or look at the new 2 3/4 inch 460 or 500 Mag, packs a heck of a punch.

[corbanzo]

If you are looking for an auto, and dont mind spending the money, I would recommend a 1911 with a .460 rowland conversion.  I wouldnt ever want to go up against a sow with cubs with anything smaller.  Especially if you are in areas where you spot quite a few female bears, they wont stop until they are dead.  That is if you are looking for an automatic.  Otherwise I would stick with short barreled revolvers in .44mag or above.

[timothy]

I'd try a Vaquero or Glock 20. Good luck

[ought6]

+1 on the Glock 20.  If you're in the market for an auto, the Glock 20 carries 1 in the chamber and 15 in the mag for 16 rounds of 10mm.  If you get you ammo, I assume you're not reloading, from manufacturers like Corbon, or better yet, DoubleTap, you'll get close to 41 mag ballistics in a high capacity auto.

My G20 also happens to be my most accurate auto, even more than my Kimber 1911 (and that's saying something).

[Whopper Stopper]

Thanks everyone for the time you took to give me ideas and advice I very much appreciate it. I will have to get to a couple of bigger shops and feel on a few. Again, thanks!


                       WS

[Gregory]

Don't overlook the 44 Special.  Either in a gun chambered for the Special or if you find a 4" S&W or Ruger 4 5/8" single action in 44 Mag for a good price you can always load it with Specials.

A 44 Special firing a 250 SWC at 1000 fps should give you peace of mind.

[Mikey]

WS:  revolver or auto - Single action revolvers are nice and most are available in 44 Spl, 44Mag (can shoot 44 Spls), 45 Colt.  Either of these cailbers should satisfy your needs for self defense in the woods.  Revolvers like the Ruger Blackhawk or Vaquero in 45 Colt are good choices for single actions and they can handle heavy loads, although you mentioned you don't care for the big magnums.  If you want something a bit lighter, one of the 1873 clones would make a nice light and powerful carry package in 45 Colt. 

Double actions are preferred by many.  The Smith and Wesson line of Mountain Guns are designed to be lightweight with a tapered barrel and are offered in 44Mag/Spl and 45 Colt. 

Semi-autos - one good choice is the Glock 20 mentioned above, in 10mm with a whole bunch of ammo or, a nice 1911 in 10mm.  HTH.  Mikey.

[Lloyd Smale]

youll get alot of peoples personal opinions or favorite gun answers here. Some practical and some not. Bottom line is there is alot of guns that will do the job. Im a single action fan but im not going to recomend one this time. I think that if its your first handgun it will end up doing double duty not only to be a trail gun but to be a personal defense gun against 2 legged animals too as they are sometimes incountered in the woods too and it will also serve as a bedstand gun. What id tell you to buy is a semi auto or a double action revolver in 45acp or 357. Both are about the limit as to what an inexperienced handgunner can handle in recoil and well not ideal for bear will do the job with a properly placed shot. Aint to many people I know that have been attacked by bears anyway and i would say animals like wolves wild dogs and cayotes are your biggest conserns when bumbing the woods. For an all around protection gun a 45acp with night sights would be the ticket for home and trail protection. Brand doesnt matter. I prefer 1911s but am the first to admit a glock sig or any of the tupperware guns are good guns. Just make sure you dont scrimp and buy a cheap one. If its going to reamain a one gun house and you definately willl be using it for home protection a light rail is a nice feature with a quick detactable flashight. There nice in the bedstand and nice if you get caught in the woods at night and nice if you have to shoot a critter in the back yard some night. If your not at all conserned with protection against 2 legged animals and dont forsee yourself every shooting in the dark id say something like a smith and wesson double action 357 with a 4 inch barrel loaded with the factory ammo with the heaviest bullet you can find would be about ideal for the trail and loaded with a light hollow point would do good in the bedstand.

[TommyD]

Lloyd gives very sound advice.
Should you choose a good double action .357 you would have the added advantage of being able to practice with inexpensive factory reloads in .38 Special. Low noise, low recoil, and tons of FUN.

Miyamoto Musashi advised in his "Book of Five Rings" to TRAIN CONSTANTLY. This applies not only to Samurai swordsmanship, but also to defensive pistolcraft.

Tom

[myronman3]

for the purpose you listed,  double duty as a house gun and sidearm for woods walking,  i recommend the glock 20.   it has capacity,  reliablity,  and power.   fact is that my brother bought one a few years back,  and all i will say is that it has proven to be very effective against everything it has gone up against.   i am currently shopping for one right now for myself. 

[blhof]

If you hunt public land, be sure of your state laws, Kentucky doesn't allow any pistol during bow season, even with concealed carry permit.

[Del]

.357 magnum / .38 special
Double action revolver
4" barrel
Good, quick into action holster (open top or thumb break)

Have it on your hip or in your hand, at all times when out & about in the woods!!  I've known people carry it in their backpack when out hiking, or leave it in the tent / cabin 'because I'm just going out to........."  Some critters aren't scared of your scent, your campfire, the sound of your 4 wheeler, or the report of large caliber guns......they keep on coming, and that is a fact!  I've experienced it on a number of occasions!!

180 grn bullets for woods carry (hard cast LBT or SWC, Nosler Partitions, Hornady XTP)

Have lots of fun shooting / practice with .38 special's

GREAT ALL AROUND HANDGUN, PERIOD!!

[Ak.Hiker]

You have a lot of good advice to think about. You did say you did not want a heavy magnum so in my mind it would be between a Glock 29 in 10mm loaded with a  200 grain FMJ like the CorBon Penetrator or their Bonded 180 grain soft point, Double Tap 200 grain FMJ or their 200 grain XTP or the  Buffalo Bore 200 grain FMJ. Another good choice but with a little more weight would be a 4 inch double action 357 magnum loaded with a hardcast 180 or 200 grain load. If you really want something thin and light check out the Glock 36. It only weighs 22.5 ounces and is pretty easy to shoot with hot +P type 45ACP loads. Buffalo Bore and Double Tap load the 230 Hornady Flat Point FMJ and Double Tap loads a hot 230 TMJ load as well.

[myronman3]

i dont know that a glock 29 would be the ticket here.  you lose alot of capacity when moving from the 20 to the 29; (and some barrel length)  and capacity is one of the big draws to the glock 20.  i also like the 4 inch 357 (have one myself which is currently what i use for woods protection), but it i is to be replaced with the glock 20 here shortly.  you get an extra 10 rounds over the 357,  and power is more than (standard loads) the 357.    yeah, yeah,  i know that some 357 loads top out the 10mm,  but lets compare apples to apples here.   

i can promise you one thing...  whatever you decide to get,  it will beat your fingernails...lol.   

[jro45]

My hunting handgun is the S&W 500 or my New Model 45 Long colt.

[JKump]

For what you need, get a good double action 357 mag.  Some good choices: Ruger GP100 , Smith 686, or the Taurus Tracker.  All of these come in 3" and 4" barrels which should be ideal for carry and protection.