Hey all,

I have a M65-3 with a 3 inch barrel that I have for just such activities. It's the only one I have carried when I go into the woods hunting or just nosing around.
Since moving here to Texas I haven't been out in the woods with it yet. That's going to change this week coming up. I am going to check out a place that is supposed to have some hogs to hunt. It's public land that doesn't have any deer hunting so I might get lucky and find a place that has some hogs to hunt.

I'll have my 65 on my hip with a speedloader full of spares in my side pack at the ready. The only things we have here to fear are hogs.....and maybe SASQUATCH!

I'd like to know what kind of load you all would suggest for me to use in this pistol? We do have a lot of snakes here too. So, I need to protect myself from hogs, snakes and people....oh and Sasquatch. Don't know what kinda load to pack for him.

I'll post a pic tomorrow of my 65. In the meantime, suggest a load for me to get that's a good all purpose round to have in this type of situation.

Lets hear what weapon you all have with you in the woods and what load do you have in it? Post Pics please.

Nalajr

In case you can't read the box label, it is a 250 grain RNFP (even though it says SWC) by Laser Cast over 8.5 grains of Unique. Measured at 945fps out of this gun.

Keith

Guess this could range from 22's to hand-cannons. I just stick a 38 J-Frame in my pocket. The first two holes are loaded with home-brewed snake loads, the next two with a very mild 105-grain LSWC over 2-grains of BE for the small critters and the final round would be a commercial JHP just in case I do see Sasquatch. I can switch this arrangement around to suit my needs depending whether-or-not I'm in the swamp or in hill-country. Here on my place...the first thing you'll likely encounter will be a water moccasin. The last thing (and hopefully so) would be a Sasquatch. He'd have to outrun me to catch me.

One of them is this M 58 (actually the "ranch gun").
It has Melonite finish and shoots to POA with 210 gr. XTPs @ 1200 FPS.





My "woods bumming" handguns are "Mountain Guns" in calibers .4X.
Fiber optic FS's are my preference in timber/low light; I can't find a black, or colored ramp very fast in shadows.
Here's a pair of 629-4 MG's.
255 gr. GCKTSWC's at close to 1100 FPS shoot pretty well and put deer/hogs down about as quick as a .30-06 with proper shot placement.

I typically have a 3" Model 60 .357 with 158-gr JSPs, or a .22 cal Model 34 with 2 rds of CCI snakeshot and 4 Mini-mags behind it.
The .22 tags along if I think there'll be any "plinking" opportunities.

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Because of the metric system?

These two. The 66 likes 158gr SWC's with some 2400 or AA#5 pushing it through the barrel. The 617 usually is loaded with CCI hp's.

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PC 627 8-shot in a Galco Combat Master holster moon clip loaded with .357 Magnum Speer Gold Dot SB JHP. If we had wild hogs I'd use a hotter .357 load than the Speer SB.

Use a Galco Speed Loader pouch for an extra moon clip. Warmer months some CCI rat shot may come along.

At night/low-light it's a 586 L-Comp 7-Shot w/XS night sights, Galco Silhouette High Ride Holster

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I live in SW Ohio. Any easily carried revolver of centerfire persuasion will get the job done. One of my favorites for local use is my 631 (.32 H&R Mag with a 100 gr Keith) for edible small game, feral dogs, or two legged varmints:



If I am in snake country, then I prefer to carry a larger centerfire with Speer shot capsules up for the first one or two chambers. The is my 60-4 "J" frame target sighted .38 Special. The last few chambers will have a fully charged wadcutter in them:



On the other hand, hiking in hog or black bear country calls for a bigger bullet (starting with a "4"). My favorite (with a snake load first up) is my Smith Model 624 with 4" barrel .44 Special. This can be loaded with the Skeeter load (250 gr Keith at 950 fps) or the Keith load (250 Keith at 1100+ fps) depending on the job at hand:



I might even take one of my favorite single actions, like this Ruger SS .44 Special Talo Flattop:



On the other hand, when I was seriously hunting big game (deer) it would be one of my "full size" hunting handguns like this Model 29 Smith:



Dale53

Various 357 magnums (M66, SP101, blackhawk) can't beat the versatility of rounds from 38spl up to heavy 357 magnum. Go to round is 158 JHP.

Depends on the type of critters I expect are in the area, but my 629-4 loaded with Buffalo Bore Heavy .44 Special 255 gr kieth at 1000 fps works for me.

I seldom get to go woods bumming anymore but for over 30 years, it was my 4" 24-3 using the Skeeter Skelton load.

I later switched to the LBT 230-grain ogival wadcutter. Makes a bigger hole.



Carried in El Paso Saddlery rig.

It's killed countless stumps, rocks, and never failed to stop a prickly pear in its tracks:-)

I usually carry a first year blued Model 58.

It is loaded with Rem 210 JSP or my home brew 210 gr LSWC.

I have several OWB holsters that make all day carry a breeze.

I have a Marlin 1894FG in 41 Mag for brush country work and they share ammo. But if I am hunting in open country I carry a 30-06 for the long gun instead of the 41 Marlin.

I will usually tote along a NAA 22 revolver with snake shot or some days it will be a J frame with CCI shot shells.

And yes, those S&W finger groove combat grips are priced through the stratosphere, but they are a great fit for my hands and I just can't see taking them off just because of their value on GB.

Also shown are some of the items that live in my ditty bag - Schrade USA Buzzsaw trapper, an Old Hickory that has been passed down from my grandfather, Schrade USA sharp finger, an ammo wallet that my dad gave me for Christmas one year, and dental floss (handy for tying the TX deer tag to the downed white-tailed deer.

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On the Oak Savannah

I live in the hill country of SE Ohio. There is nothing here that
requires more than 22. While engaged in other than hunting
I always pack my K22.

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Ruger speed 6 snub 357 with 1-2 snake shot & the rest 162 gr hard cast rnfp's over 6gr's unique, or a stainless Sig p220 45acp with 1- cci snake shot (they have cycled fine so far) & the rest 200gr swc hard cast over 6gr's unique.

My 629 converted to a dual 45 is my favorite to carry around the outdoors. Heavy loaded 45 colts for what ever. Light 45 acps for fun.

Don't normally carry the big recurve I made but it is a beast for cutting chopping

If I'm going to carry a handgun in the woods, which I sometimes do, I figure I might as well be ready for most anything I might encounter here in south-central Pennsylvania. Accordingly, my usual handgun of choice is my 5" 629-3 Classic DX.



In warmer months, I load it with three shot loads for any creepy crawlers I might come across and three 240-grain XTPs for the rest. During deer season, it's one snake load and five deer rounds.

Speaking of deer, here's a shot taken four days ago a little after noon of one I hope to bag tomorrow. My ladder stand is 20 yards on the other side of him.



I don't bother setting up a loader for hunting rounds for the few I shoot each year. That box of Hornady factory loads has exactly two rounds out of it and the box of CCI shot loads is missing one. Both boxes are five years old.

Ed

One of these

or a 22

My woods bumming gun is normally this 625-7 Mountain Gun in .45 Colt.


I like a load of a 270 grain LSWC over about 16 grains of 2400.

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No good deed goes unpunished.

The 357 will work for most anything, BUT. If I was in a hog prone area I would have something 44 spl or above with a substancial load in it. A bug for snakes. I prefere the 44 Mag.

Had a friend that shot a hog, with 6 rounds of hot 357 mag and had 6 well placed hits. He had to climb a nearby tree and reload and shoot the animal between the eyes 3 times as it was trying to climb the tree to get at him.

This may be an exception to the rule, but it happened to him. He now carries a 44 magnum. By the way reloads are useless when a nasty wild boar is after you. Most likely you will not have time to reload if 6 don't stop the hog. My friend did his reloading while hanging on to a tree with a speed loader. Hogs can be, and often times are hard to down.

On my land at my camp it's the ruger police service six 357 snubbie with my Speer 140gr JHP reloads behind 2400 powder. Daytime in the summertime.

Trips to the outhouse at night it's the 1911/45acp. The yotes have been circling the camp at night.

For almost thirty years this nickel 1958 Colt SAA .45 was my favorite camp/hiking around/woods loafing gun. Load was usually pretty typical. 8 grains Unique behind a pre cast Keith style 250 grain bullet. Sometimes 255, I think. But now my all time favorite almost all purpose gun is my S&W 13-3. But I just traded a Redhawk for a Model 19 and if someone owned only one handgun, this just might be a perfect choice. Loads for the 13? Various store bought ammo for this one.

Using JHP Bullets in the 357? Jhp bullets stop in there thick skin/fat. Jsp bullets have more penetration.

This one goes everywhere. The only .44 load I use these days in M29s is the 429421 and 23 gr of 4227.

Until recently this was my "farm" gun.

Model 696, no dash. I carry 200 gr Gold Dot Hollow Point ammo in this gun. I am also a reserve LEO and have qualified with it for off-duty carry.





Althougth I have not photographed it yet, now I carry a Model 629-3 "Lew Horton Carry Comp," with a three inch, integrally compensated, barrel and fixed sights. I am also qualified with this gun. I carry the same 200 grain GDHPs off duty, but change out the ammo to 240 gr JHPs when on the farm or hunting.

When I'm out in the woods, this one is always with me. I shoot a Speer 200 gr. GDHP with enough Blue Dot for about 900 fps.

I carry it in a Simply Rugged Sourdough Pancake. I don't have a photo of that, but it looks like it's been carried in the woods. And it is rugged!

My work actually takes me into the woods, and I've carried this gun/holster combo about once a week for two and a half years now.

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Normally this 29-2...
Lots of hogs in my area.
I have some Buffalo Bore but..man
it is stout.

I'm a basic follower of the Nessmuk tradition of Woodcraft and Camping. I add my 586 to my woods bumming trio.

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Regards,
Guy-Harold Smith II

Holy cow...er...hogs.

You need a mini-gun right about now.

I like your blades, especially the skinner and hawk but also the modded stocks on that 586.

I have carried a lot of guns in the woods, including several pictured in this
thread. Lately, I have been lazy and just gone with a S&W M38 in a
pocket holster.

A 4" model 28 set up with a tyler T and smooth Pc magnas.
General load is 158 JSP

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Paul
S&WCA #2726

Food around the corner, food around the corner for me, it's fresh ribs, fresh bacon, fresh pork roast for me. I wish we had wild boar.

I usually carry a 329 loaded with an RCBS 250K at 950 or so, in a rig from el passo


But in the warmer months, I'm just as likely to have this 317 kitgun also in an el passo.

My 629-1 original Mountain Revolver with 300 grain "Alaska Ammo Co." 300 grain solids. I only carry a revolver when I am bow hunting. All other times when I am in the woods hiking or fishing it is an 870 with alternating rounds of sliugs and 00 buckshot. The fur babies in these parts don't always play nice.

My trail gun was most often my 3" M66-2 with Winchester Silvertip duty ammo.

My hand made holster, patterned mostly after a Bianchi 5BHL.

On one occasion, I was alone on my horse far afield as the shaddows were getting long. It had been rougher going than I expected, so was later than intended. A large pack of coy-dogs were obiviously all around us moving through the brush at the limits of visibility. I tucked my vest behind the holster in case I needed access. They trailed us 2-3 miles until we broke out into the open. Once I hit the gravel road, I gave my horse his head & let him run... It was fully dark by the time we were home. HE earned a sponge BATH & extra grain...

My other trail gun, is a 16" youth model Marlin single shot... a light rifle to carry afield.

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NRA LIFE
Reserve Officer 9yrs

I have carried my 629 Mountain Gun on many trips to the woods... This one was always on my belt when in the bush while stationed in Alaska.

However, now that I live in the lower 48 and I'm back at the top of the food chain I have gravitated away from the big heavy revolvers. If I want something lighter I will carry my Ruger LCRx 3" in 38 Special +P. At just under a pound it is lighter and easier on the belt for all day carry. Out of the 3" barrel 38 Special +P gives good velocity for defensive rounds and a good sight radius for aimed shots at small game.

Another favorite is my 6" 686-3 which I bought new on 4 October 1989 for $329 plus tax (Yup, still have the blue box with the original sales receipt). It has the best factory trigger of any of my revolvers.

Yet another wheel gun which goes to the woods with me is a model 19-5. I found this one gently used at a local gun shop a few years ago.

If I want an auto I will often go with my Sig Emperor Scorpion in 45 ACP. It just blends in with the woods so well... Just don't drop it because you might not find it!

Edmo

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TRUTH: Don't delete my posts!

Was this in RI, or elsewhere? As you are probably aware, coyotes are getting fairly common on Cape Cod, although my personal experience has been that while they are often visible, they are always shy, at least around adult humans. I do keep them in mind.

s-w-629-5.jpg


This one is useful up here in Northern Michigan.

I like that Russell-Grohmann No. 4 knife.

You may be interested to learn that it was featured in Robt. C. Ruark's last safari article in, "Playboy" in (I believe) the April, 1965 issue. There was a fine big photo of various safari gear, including the Russell's boots that he liked, guns, and that style of knife. I have one and like it. Grohmann is in Pictou, Nova Scotia and makes good, solid knives.

You probably know this, but someone else may not know about them.

At least once. And quite few rivers as well. My S&W model 329 PD in an El Paso Saddlery tanker rig with the optional ammo slide is just the ticket. And it can be carried comfortably all day long.

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You're wise to keep them in mind. Four of them killed a Canadian folk singer a few years ago. She was pretty talented and had a promising career. Went to a provincial or national park and they pulled her down and killed her.

My son was also attacked by a big coyote or coydog and had to knife it. He now carries a pistol if he goes out at night on his rural land.

Coyotes, foxes, raccoons, etc. can also be rabid.

I like a .357 suitably loaded as an all-round woods gun, but if bears are a factor, I think a M-629 with 240-250 grain bullets at about 1200 FPS or more is a good idea. I think a six-inch barrel is best, if a little less handy. It will limit muzzle blast and be easier to shoot than shorter .44 Magnums. And of course, it has higher velocity. I love Ruger's Super Blackhawk stainless .44, but a SA gun is slow ro reload, worth a thought. But it's easy to shoot well, a natural "pointer."

Ruger's SP-101 is the smallest .357 I'd own, and the three-inch barrel is best on it. Overall, the M-66-3 with four-inch barrel is my favorite, but a 9mm Beretta might be indicated if feral dogs are an issue. Has a big magazine capacity.

The S&W M-60-4 is a delightful little gun where a .38 will suffice.

Remember, you don't need a .357 or more to kill snakes, although it won't be out of place on those big pythons in FL. But you have to plan for the largest possible target, and if that's a bear or a Sasquatch, you need the power and the penetration. Also, if you miss the head, a powerful load smacking a coiled snake may break its back and cut you some slack while you finish it off.

The OP may wish to be aware that Sasquatch/Bigfoot has been reported in several Texas locales. They're not limited to the Pacific NW states and Canada. I think I'd try to shoot an attacking one in the nose, hoping that the bullet would reach the brain.

Don't forget alligators where they live, inc. Texas. They do attack both people and pets. Overall, I don't think they're generally as aggressive as caimans or crocs, but all do attack people. Worth thinking about and preparing for.

And, as with anywhere else, bad people are a threat in the woods, esp. if they're growing drugs there.

I like the Model 4 Randall knife. How old is it?

I carry my Cimarron (Uberti) Old Model P in 45 Colt 5 1/2 barrel

250 grn RNFP over 40 grains FFFG Olde Eynsford black powder

Ave. 1027 FPS

I like your M-66 three-incher, uncommon and good! I think that 145 grain ST load is a real killer, too.

And the holster is so well made that I thought it WAS a Bianchi. Nice work!

Good post.

WOW! Some great weapons.
I carry an M69 with SCM front sight, 500 grips, and an Action Package from S&W. The front sight is higher because I download to about 41 Mag.

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Foster Positivity.

My trail companion of 24 years...

Now sadly gone...

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NRA LIFE
Reserve Officer 9yrs

Fine looking horse!

I live here in NE Ohio and often carry one of two Colt 45 auto pistols while woods walking. A full size Government model or a Combat Commander model.
I don't feel under-gunned with either of these fine pistols.

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Regards
Paul

4lbs of Tannerite right there and a rifle will take care of those little piggy's.