Most often my woods (and AZ desert) is a 4" 686 loaded with warm 158 grain Hornady XTP hand loads. We have both black bears and mountain lions around here, plus we have a rabies outbreak going on down here right now. A bobcat attacked a man in Bisbee last week. It is believed that USDA and AZ Game and Fish killed the cat, but I have not heard if it was found to be rabid, but it was sick. Other animals with rabies have been found.

I do carry a 6 1/2" model 29-2 at times when I am scouting or hiking in serious bear country.