All around pistol for the woods?
- Thread starter YoteSnuffer
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Dogwood Creek
New member
S&W 44mag and/or a Ruger 357 5 shot 3" work for me. I'm all about my G17 for urban carry though.
Quote:Just exactly what kind of "Woods" do you guys live in that require a high capacity, large caliber, semi auto.
Here in no Idaho where we only have Bear, Lion, and Wolves to contend with, a 22 revolver with a little snake shot in front of a few Mini Mags has served me for the 60+ years I've been around.
Hunting's another story, but for general woods bumming in most of the lower 48, or a coup d grass??? A 22's really all ya need.
20 years ago I agreed with your thoughts even here in Wyoming. But the increase in grizzly bears in this area I switched from a K22 for general purpose to a S&W Mountain Gun or my Colt 4inch Anaconda .44 mag. I want no problem with a grizzly and I carry pepper spray. If I knew if I was going to meet an aggressive bear I would bring my .338 RUM. They are big and tough and even a .44 is pretty minimum. But its light enough I don't mind packing it. Thats the key enough gun to meet your needs and not weigh you down to much. By the way I normally kill my rattlesnakes with a shovel or a rock. Why waste a bullet? Most of the time I let the snakes go if were not near buildings. Only use I have found for bird shot is convincing an angry bull to move on.
Here in no Idaho where we only have Bear, Lion, and Wolves to contend with, a 22 revolver with a little snake shot in front of a few Mini Mags has served me for the 60+ years I've been around.
Hunting's another story, but for general woods bumming in most of the lower 48, or a coup d grass??? A 22's really all ya need.
20 years ago I agreed with your thoughts even here in Wyoming. But the increase in grizzly bears in this area I switched from a K22 for general purpose to a S&W Mountain Gun or my Colt 4inch Anaconda .44 mag. I want no problem with a grizzly and I carry pepper spray. If I knew if I was going to meet an aggressive bear I would bring my .338 RUM. They are big and tough and even a .44 is pretty minimum. But its light enough I don't mind packing it. Thats the key enough gun to meet your needs and not weigh you down to much. By the way I normally kill my rattlesnakes with a shovel or a rock. Why waste a bullet? Most of the time I let the snakes go if were not near buildings. Only use I have found for bird shot is convincing an angry bull to move on.
Last edited:
PABob
New member
Well, I don't have any grizzly bears, Lions or wolves to worry about but we do have some rabid critters running around not to mention two legged snakes so I like to have something with a little more pop to it than a 22 lr.
I either carry my 2 1/2 inch or 4 inch S&W Mod 19, depending on what I'm doing. If I'm just taking a walk, I like the 2 1/2 inch with some light mag loads. It's light and most times I don't even know I have it with me. If I'm hunting small game,I like my 4 inch with some 38 wad cutter target loads. It's a lot of fun trying to head shoot rabbits and the like with them.
Plus there's a lot of bulk ammo out there to help lessen the cost.
38 target loads, 38 bulk ammo, 38+p or 357 mag ammo, all can be fired from them.
I either carry my 2 1/2 inch or 4 inch S&W Mod 19, depending on what I'm doing. If I'm just taking a walk, I like the 2 1/2 inch with some light mag loads. It's light and most times I don't even know I have it with me. If I'm hunting small game,I like my 4 inch with some 38 wad cutter target loads. It's a lot of fun trying to head shoot rabbits and the like with them.
Plus there's a lot of bulk ammo out there to help lessen the cost.
38 target loads, 38 bulk ammo, 38+p or 357 mag ammo, all can be fired from them.
oakster
New member
Originally Posted By: JCLQuote:Just exactly what kind of "Woods" do you guys live in that require a high capacity, large caliber, semi auto.
Here in no Idaho where we only have Bear, Lion, and Wolves to contend with, a 22 revolver with a little snake shot in front of a few Mini Mags has served me for the 60+ years I've been around.
Hunting's another story, but for general woods bumming in most of the lower 48, or a coup d grass??? A 22's really all ya need.
20 years ago I agreed with your thoughts even here in Wyoming. But the increase in grizzly bears in this area I switched from a K22 for general purpose to a S&W Mountain Gun or my Colt 4inch Anaconda .44 mag. I want no problem with a grizzly and I carry pepper spray. If I knew if I was going to meet an aggressive bear I would bring my .338 RUM. They are big and tough and even a .44 is pretty minimum. But its light enough I don't mind packing it. Thats the key enough gun to meet your needs and not weigh you down to much. By the way I normally kill my rattlesnakes with a shovel or a rock. Why waste a bullet? Most of the time I let the snakes go if were not near buildings. Only use I have found for bird shot is convincing an angry bull to move on.
I agree with this. A .41 or .44 is about minimum if you have a concern with bears. A semi-auto will work for most things, but it will just make the bear leak enough the rangers can find him later. Leaving the bears out of the equation, the .357 has a very good balance of weight vs power and is a good choice. I have a Springfield .45ACP that I carry but I dont really expect it to stop a bear if the need arose.
Here in no Idaho where we only have Bear, Lion, and Wolves to contend with, a 22 revolver with a little snake shot in front of a few Mini Mags has served me for the 60+ years I've been around.
Hunting's another story, but for general woods bumming in most of the lower 48, or a coup d grass??? A 22's really all ya need.
20 years ago I agreed with your thoughts even here in Wyoming. But the increase in grizzly bears in this area I switched from a K22 for general purpose to a S&W Mountain Gun or my Colt 4inch Anaconda .44 mag. I want no problem with a grizzly and I carry pepper spray. If I knew if I was going to meet an aggressive bear I would bring my .338 RUM. They are big and tough and even a .44 is pretty minimum. But its light enough I don't mind packing it. Thats the key enough gun to meet your needs and not weigh you down to much. By the way I normally kill my rattlesnakes with a shovel or a rock. Why waste a bullet? Most of the time I let the snakes go if were not near buildings. Only use I have found for bird shot is convincing an angry bull to move on.
I agree with this. A .41 or .44 is about minimum if you have a concern with bears. A semi-auto will work for most things, but it will just make the bear leak enough the rangers can find him later. Leaving the bears out of the equation, the .357 has a very good balance of weight vs power and is a good choice. I have a Springfield .45ACP that I carry but I dont really expect it to stop a bear if the need arose.
