Author Topic: single action for woods defense (Read 4919 times)

Lloyd Smale · « **Reply #30 on:** April 13, 2006, 12:14:13 PM »

I guess i did in a way want it to sound sarcastic. I appologize but ive been in he middle of a couple heated post lately and i guess im loosing patients. I didnt in anyway mean to be sarcastic toward the poster just the idea of another bear post. I wish a few more gentlemen had your attitude on here. I can be a bullheaded sob when it comes to stating an idea that i know works for me. But theres surely nothing wrong with disagreeing with anyone. If we were all the same there wouldnt be a need for so many gun makers and calibers.

mikedb · « **Reply #31 on:** April 13, 2006, 02:27:07 PM »

My post was not only about bears. Where I currently live I am more concerned about two legged problems, cougars, wolves, coyote, feral dogs in addition to bears. On trips out west my concerns change. I know the limitations of cartidge and my abilities with a handgun. I shoot on average once a week and I have the experience that one gets when in a life or death situation. My main concern was using a single action. Quite frankly I would rather have my 45/70 guide gun, but that is hard to carry on a stream. What I did gather is like a thought a single action is not much of a liability if one practices. Thanks for all your input. To those who got upset, I did not mean to start a heated debate. This place is to have fun. If you are in a bad mood go cool off. No one is forcing you to read this forum. Have a great Easter and rejoice in the risen Christ.

Win 73 · « **Reply #32 on:** April 13, 2006, 06:41:56 PM »

I don't feel a bit handicapped when I carry my .45 Blackhawk instead of my .45 P97. In fact lately I have been carrying the Blackhawk with the .45 Colt cylinder in it more often than the P97. It has been two years since I was anywhere that I could possibly see a bear. And 99 percent of the time, the only varmint that is likely to give me trouble is two legged.

My Blackhawk has the 4 5/8 inch barrel. It just feels right in my hand. I feel the Blackhawk probably has a greater intimidation factor than the P97, especially when you see those fat .45 slugs staring at you out of the cylinder.

Lloyd Smale · « **Reply #33 on:** April 14, 2006, 12:13:38 AM »

hard to beat a single action 44 or 45 for just about 99percent of all handgun applications. There not the best at everything but will work on anything if loaded properly. I too am sorry for any conflict i caused. Your welcome anytime to take a trip to the UP and try out any gun in my safe.

Quote from: mikedb

My post was not only about bears. Where I currently live I am more concerned about two legged problems, cougars, wolves, coyote, feral dogs in addition to bears. On trips out west my concerns change. I know the limitations of cartidge and my abilities with a handgun. I shoot on average once a week and I have the experience that one gets when in a life or death situation. My main concern was using a single action. Quite frankly I would rather have my 45/70 guide gun, but that is hard to carry on a stream. What I did gather is like a thought a single action is not much of a liability if one practices. Thanks for all your input. To those who got upset, I did not mean to start a heated debate. This place is to have fun. If you are in a bad mood go cool off. No one is forcing you to read this forum. Have a great Easter and rejoice in the risen Christ.

Redhawk1 · « **Reply #34 on:** April 14, 2006, 01:12:42 AM »

Lloyd Smale, can I come up there and shoot any of your guns.

:-D

Lloyd Smale · « **Reply #35 on:** April 14, 2006, 03:14:44 AM »

just bring the beer!

ed1921 · « **Reply #36 on:** April 14, 2006, 05:13:56 AM »

The only thing I can add is a single action sure beats using a stick or rock to defend yourself against any 2 or 4 legged animal.

BobYoung · « **Reply #37 on:** April 14, 2006, 07:03:34 AM »

From todays news: Bear attacks kids in Tenn.; kills one and injures their Mom. This in an area where bear problems have been ongoing but downplayed by the officials. (from Instapundit.com)
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060414/ap_on_re_us/bear_attack

No word about anyone being armed, other than the ranger called in after the fact. Note the good ranger faithfully mouthing the party line after this tragedy.

Thanks to the environmental fetishists, there's going to be alot more of this. We'll pay a high price for their refined sensibilities.

That 5-1/2" Redhawk I've been thinking about looks better all the time.
Bob

Larry Gibson · « **Reply #38 on:** April 14, 2006, 08:45:25 AM »

Quote from: BobYoung

From todays news: Bear attacks kids in Tenn.; kills one and injures their Mom. This in an area where bear problems have been ongoing but downplayed by the officials. (from Instapundit.com)
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060414/ap_on_re_us/bear_attack

No word about anyone being armed, other than the ranger called in after the fact. Note the good ranger faithfully mouthing the party line after this tragedy.

Thanks to the environmental fetishists, there's going to be alot more of this. We'll pay a high price for their refined sensibilities.

That 5-1/2" Redhawk I've been thinking about looks better all the time.
Bob

What can you do but shake your head at the stupidity.....I put my remarks concerning this latest incident on the Handgun hunting forum. You are right on Bob!

Larry Gibson

oldandslow · « **Reply #39 on:** April 15, 2006, 10:54:10 AM »

J am one of those who mostly reads and hardly ever posts. Get some good information that way and also some good laughs. My two cents worth is in any dangerous situation, two or four legged, is a pistol is much better than two empty hands. I really have no experience with dangerous game. My one encounter with the four legged type was was stopped by the mere sight of a little .22 pistol. All four ran away.

Black Jaque Janaviac · « **Reply #40 on:** April 18, 2006, 05:06:56 AM »

I can speak with experience! I've been attacked numerous times by empty pop cans, old refridgerators, and once a case of full beer cans. Realize that I'm 35 years old, but when I step out of the truck and strap on a leather holster I travel back in time to when I was 8 years old and pretend that I'm one of my favorite western heroes. Nothing can kill such an innocent experience than running into a murderous band of aluminum cans. To defend myself against these assaults on my immagination I usually pretend they are bandits and fill them full of holes.

For this my Ruger Blackhawk works fine. .38spl +P reloads with cast SWC is hell on wayward pop cans and will do the job on a charging Maytag. Although for the larger Maytags I'll opt for a 200 grain RN loaded to full .357 mag potential.

You must be aware that when it comes to safety sometimes you can be your own worst enemy. For that reason I would NEVER EVER carry a semi-auto in the woods. That would be suicide! My imagination can handle the bumps and bruises caused by the Central Wisconsin landscap and the target sights on the Blackhawk. But a semi-auto? That would lay my imagination in its grave. I might as well be walking in Central Park.

For those who live in my area and feel a bit nervous having some guy pretending he's 8 years old carrying a weapon in the woods do not worry. Just don't dress like a pop can and you'll be all right. :wink:

Lloyd Smale · « **Reply #41 on:** April 18, 2006, 11:00:01 PM »

I love an honest man!!!!!!

Quote from: Black Jaque Janaviac

I can speak with experience! I've been attacked numerous times by empty pop cans, old refridgerators, and once a case of full beer cans. Realize that I'm 35 years old, but when I step out of the truck and strap on a leather holster I travel back in time to when I was 8 years old and pretend that I'm one of my favorite western heroes. Nothing can kill such an innocent experience than running into a murderous band of aluminum cans. To defend myself against these assaults on my immagination I usually pretend they are bandits and fill them full of holes.

For this my Ruger Blackhawk works fine. .38spl +P reloads with cast SWC is hell on wayward pop cans and will do the job on a charging Maytag. Although for the larger Maytags I'll opt for a 200 grain RN loaded to full .357 mag potential.

You must be aware that when it comes to safety sometimes you can be your own worst enemy. For that reason I would NEVER EVER carry a semi-auto in the woods. That would be suicide! My imagination can handle the bumps and bruises caused by the Central Wisconsin landscap and the target sights on the Blackhawk. But a semi-auto? That would lay my imagination in its grave. I might as well be walking in Central Park.

For those who live in my area and feel a bit nervous having some guy pretending he's 8 years old carrying a weapon in the woods do not worry. Just don't dress like a pop can and you'll be all right. :wink:

K.K · « **Reply #42 on:** April 19, 2006, 03:01:53 PM »

Hi guys. I just shot some PMC 300 grain JFP +P+ ammo out of my Ruger Vaquero today. It was accurate, and would definitely get the immediate attention of any critter with two or four legs around here. And we get some sizable blackies up here in the Adirondacks. This is what I'm carrying from now on.

mikedb · « **Reply #43 on:** April 23, 2006, 10:59:40 AM »

Thanks for all the insight. I went out Saturday and bought a Blackhawk 45 colt with 4 5/8 bbl. I got the one with the extra cylinder to use for 45 acp. I was not looking for that one but that is all I could locate. I reload so saving money using 45acp vs 45 Colt was not a big deal. But then I got thinking I have a lot of 45 acp brass and I could shoot Wolf 45 acp in it also if I ran low on 45 Coltd reloads. Think I will go out and send a few rounds downrange yet today.

flintman · « **Reply #44 on:** April 23, 2006, 02:05:22 PM »

Didn't Elmer Keith write of one of two brothers meeting up with 3 grizzlies and sussefully defending himself with a Colt SAA in .45 Long Colt-cooler heads prevailing.
If you read African hunting stories of some hunters using what we think of as even below borderline calibers going up against bigger animals and coming out the survivor,then you can see that as long as you are not just throwing rocks then you MAY-or SHOULD be okay...
Whatever the budget allows as to single or double action,a S&W N-25 is avalible in .45LC.
Just my 2 cents on the question,
Jeff,who is no expert,but will chime in anyways...

Connecticut Yankee · « **Reply #45 on:** May 03, 2006, 02:48:35 PM »

The only time I've used a firearm in self defence was against a rabid racoon, took him out with my Ruger .22 auto.

John M. A Connecticut Yankee

Mannlicher · « **Reply #46 on:** May 22, 2006, 01:03:05 PM »

this question comes up from time to time. I guess I am a 'fence sitter' on this one though. I have, and carry, both SA and DA revolvers in .45 Colt (and .44 mag, and .357....) I don't feel undergunned when carrying any of these in the woods.

dogngun · « **Reply #47 on:** June 30, 2006, 01:10:51 AM »

I have had a gun drawn for defence once in my life, and the potential bad guy looked at it, said some stuff I didn't understand, and left quickly.
The gun was a DA revolver, a S&W HiWay Patrolman, 4" . 357 Mag, but it would not have made any difference what it was-the sight of a large handgun stopped the encounter right there.

I do sometimes carry a SA revolver in .357 or .44 mag, I have been shooting them off and on for 30 years and I like them, but I mainly carry a 9mm S&W auto or a S&W DA revolver.

Mark

Old Griz · « **Reply #48 on:** July 04, 2006, 10:18:19 PM »

Like most of you, I wouldn't go into the woods, state/national forest, or state/national park without a handgun. Of course it would be hidden very well in the park situation, but there is just too much going on these days to be without one. SA or DA, it doesn't matter, and it would be at least a .41. I'm more worried about the two-legged critters than the four. Several years ago a buddy and I stumbled into a $3 million marijuana crop. We were told by the agents that raided it the next day that we were lucky it wasn't booby-trapped. A handgun won't help you against Claymores, but with all the drugs, and illegal alien business going on in the great outdoors, you just can't be too careful.

Hope you really enjoy that new Blackhawk!

Chris B. · « **Reply #49 on:** July 19, 2006, 09:18:35 PM »

I would feel find with eather SA or DA. A 45-70 or bigger would be a better choice if you can carry a rifle.

flintman · « **Reply #50 on:** July 20, 2006, 05:43:25 AM »

Now i'm not too smart,but I figure this,your biggest danger in the woods is getting lost,then being attacked by humans,then being attacked by a bear!
Just my 2 cents guys!
Jeff.

Travis Shuck · « **Reply #51 on:** July 20, 2006, 07:34:30 AM »

So in other words a single action compass and a double astion map would be your best defense....

flintman · « **Reply #52 on:** July 20, 2006, 08:43:20 AM »

Travis,
They will help,but still do not leave a good revolver at home!

savageak · « **Reply #53 on:** July 24, 2006, 10:24:55 AM »

while most people need protection from other people in the woods more than from other animals there aresome places where wild life can present a valid consideration.when i leave my east anchorage home to walk my dog in the wood lot one block away i carry a 45colt sar in my jeans pocket. i have had the pleasure of encountering black bear and moose in my front yard and brown's in the wood lot as of yet i havent had to fire either to scare an animal away or in defense.if attacked i expect to only get two shots off f

at most before having the animal on top of me,following shot will be contact shots,muzzle agianst body.i am saving for a sw 50to carry when i am actually in the bush.it is not hard to find people here in alaska who have surived bear attacks becahse of thier hand guns,but also those who have dided when carring and useing large caliber rifles.knowledge is your best defense.by the way anyone have any suggestions how to keep the moose from eating ny apple trees,i have only one apple left this year.

Old Griz · « **Reply #54 on:** July 24, 2006, 10:24:26 PM »

How bout some "45-70" brand moose repellant?

Lloyd Smale · « **Reply #55 on:** July 24, 2006, 11:51:12 PM »

post doesnt have much to do with single actions at least any more so im going to lock it boys.