Woods Revolver

[HamHands]

These are my primary Wood-Gun(s) OP... I carry the M29, the wifey the M629. Both are loaded with Buffalo Bores 255grain Keith Hard Cast .44Specials rated at 1,000 fps. I'm seeing about 940-950fps velocity with both of these which is more than plenty enough punch for anything in the Continental States. They are pretty easy to carry with DeSantis OWB holster and either a Beltman Bullhide belt or the new military style cinch belt types. It's all about the holster/belt combo that makes carrying a Woods Gun or any gun comfortable and practical. I like the 3" barrel the best for concealability and just as important the way it balances so well for me! I can shoot .44Special all day out of either of these. I carry Underwood hard cast .44Mags as on speed strips in case I need a reload. I trust both these loads to take any kind of threat in the woods. For the nightly dog walks I'll carry the M29, same holster, same belt, but loaded with .44Special Gold Dots.

 

[shooter1911]

Thx for the replies. I guess I should have mentioned that I live in the east. Black bear and critters of the two legged variety would be the worst I would encounter. Willing to spend $500-$1000 to get one good woods gun.

Now that I know where you live I have a better understanding of your needs. I live in Texas, and while stomping in the field I carry a Mod 60-10 which is a 3" .357 with no lock if I want a really light carry. It's good with snake shot, light 38s, and any .357 you're comfortable shooting, and very concealable. Being that I reload, this is a very versatile side arm for anything from two to four legged Texas varmints.

When I go fly fishing in Colorado I carry a 629-5 Mountain gun which is a 44 magnum. My only worry up there would be a rare black bear intervention or a mad moose. Once again I'm covered for anything from two to four legged encounters.

When I'm down south near the Mexican border, it's time for my 1911s, and AR. The reasons are obvious these days.

I think if I were making a recommendation based on what you have said, I would go for any quality 4" or longer barreled .357 that you are comfortable shooting. The key is to load heavy and practice. practice, practice. Get really proficient at drawing quickly ,and shooting with one or two hands standing up or shooting from your back on the ground. Sounds crazy, but where bears are around you never know what's coming.

 

[HawgBonz]

Picked my 4.25" 69 up a coupla years ago as a sidearm for be-boppin around the woods, tracking shot critters at the hunt club and just GP's. First thing ordered was a Guide's Choice chest rig. That has been an excellent holster for making the l'il 44 blend in to the rest of me.
And as some have said, it's "perky" with grown up loads. But very comfy with something mebbe a bit mo' practical right around supersonic. That combo is a keeper.

PS- Well worn Guide's Choice. It's been in the woods, on the tractor and 4 wheeler a-plenty! d;^)

I carry a 4.2" Model 69.

 

[Fish4bass101]

Update: Okay guys, I now have 2 revolvers that I can say are my "woods gun". I bought a 6" 686-4 for hunting season and a 3" 65-3 for my full time carry in the woods and trail riding. I planned to get a model 60 but I picked up the 65 at a local gun show for a deal and man it is a good shooter.
I will keep my eyes open for a Mountain Gun, but they are hard to come by...and pricey.

 

[Birdgun]

Here's mine for woods, plains, mountains, desert.

S&W Model 625-9 "Mountain Gun" in .45 Colt

Thanks for looking at my Mountain Gun.

God bless,
Birdgun

 

[3S16]

I've never felt undergunned with my model 57.

 

[eb07]

I carry my model 19

 

[Green Frog]

As you can see from the variety of responses, the answer to your question is intensely personal, and the answer you settle on must be personal to you.. That said, my personal solution to your question would be to pull out my Model 60-4 (3" barrel with underlug, adjustable sights, and 38 Spl chambering) and load it with 38 +P hollow points. Anywhere here in Central VA that I should be going, this would be sufficient. If I were expecting a woods apocalypse, I'd carry a heavy rifle, a 12 ga pump shotgun, and my 44 mag... or better yet, stay safe at home with lots of guns and ammo!

Froggie

 

[CH4]

I am very fond of a mountain gun in 45 colt.You can load it heavy or light and if you worry about snakes,shotshells in 45 colt work well.

I second the Mountain Gun in .45 Colt or .44 mag. The 329 is also a good option, but I worry about longevity with regular use.

 

[jpage]

As you can see from the variety of responses, the answer to your question is intensely personal, and the answer you settle on must be personal to you.. That said, my personal solution to your question would be to pull out my Model 60-4 (3" barrel with underlug, adjustable sights, and 38 Spl chambering) and load it with 38 +P hollow points. Anywhere here in Central VA that I should be going, this would be sufficient. If I were expecting a woods apocalypse, I'd carry a heavy rifle, a 12 ga pump shotgun, and my 44 mag... or better yet, stay safe at home with lots of guns and ammo!

Froggie

Quite possibly the perfect "Woods Gun". With a recent GB auction hammered at $1499, they're out of my price range .

 

[mm93]

I like a .38 or .357 for a woods carry gun.
But be sure to check your local laws before carrying a loaded firearm on an ATV or vehicle of any kind. Many states have regulations against carrying loaded firearms on vehicles unless the operator has a carry permit. Even if the firearm isn't concealed.

 

[dla]

You don't want a revolver. You want a Glock model 23. The ballistics of the 40S&W equal the 357mag in a lighter, higher capacity, more reliable, less maintenance package.

Then if you decide you need a power upgrade, I would suggest looking at the S&WM329pd.

Hmmm, I think I just resurrected my first corpse thread

 

[joe44va]

Here's mine. An M69 in a Mernickle holster with a Vortex red dot because it stays on for 14 hours.

 

[SquarePizza]

cgt4570, that is a lovely custom revolver. I love it when guys tweek guns to work for their needs, I don't much care for leaving things stock just because its worth more original.

As for a woods gun, someone mentioned on here that only city folk suggest a 9mm. Well, most city folk are afraid of my neck of the woods, they say its too close to deliverance for them. And my primary carry guns are a Glock 26 or a S&W 649 (day-to-day), but I also mix in a 657PC when I feel more like I need more wheel gun time. For nighttime hikes I switch to open carrying a glock 17L with mounted light, because I live in the center of three active coyote packs. They leave me alone, but I'm always worried they will want to tussle with my dog.

Thing is, in the woods, camping, my daily hikes, or even special hikes deep into the adirondacks, I feel perfectly fine with my glock. Its easy to hide from the large amount of city-folk that clutter the main trails, and its durable enough to take a dunk or mud bath if the weather turns crummy. At the same time, its light enough not to make me suffer too badly, though I have summited a few of the high peaks and even a polymer 9mm can feel like a boat anchor by the time you are done.

I've had two run-ins with bear in my life, both were in the campsite and both times they were just passing through. Maybe if I had a trail encounter I would feel differently, but I really don't feel undergunned with a 9mm in the woods.

 

[WCCPHD]

Woods carry depends on time of the year.

Warm weather: One on the bottom: Model 60-4


Cold weather, not hunting: Model 696


Cold weather, during hunting season: Model 29-3


Don't have to worry about bears on my farm. We occasionally see one but they have always run away. Last one that was seen, a fellow hunting with me said that it would have taken two to see him, "one to say here he come and one to say there he goes" at the same time.

 

[Old Corp]

In my perpetual habit of inventing a 'need niche' for handguns, I've admittedly beat the 'woods gun' thing to death.
Bears in my area are rarely, if ever an issue. Most will be gone from any area you walk into.

But growing up with the illustrated covers of Sports Afield and such as well as "This Happened to Me!" columns indelibly etched into my brain - I've accumulated much hardware under the guise of 'woods gun'.
I also actually handgun hunt primarily, so the two sorta integrate some.

Starting in the small calibers -
S&W M63 4" .22 - an actual 'Kit Gun'. Extreme in practicality, in a high-ride Lobo thumbreak.

H&R M999 Sportsman .22 6". Classic ol' budget break-top in an older Hunter field holster.

S&W M15 .38 4". Loaded with a couple of shotshells, followed by warm hardcast LSWC's. A much-worn old M15 with most finish gone. In an old Bianchi 5B thumbreak. Lotta miles on this one.

S&W M66 .357 4". My old service revolver. Lived with it every day from ~1980 - 1990. Some sentimental value. Shotshells and some sort of .357 loads, depending on area and time of year.

S&W M65 4" Used as M66 above but obtained to reduce wear or risks on the M66 above (yes, ridiculous, I know)

Ruger Security Six SS .357 4" Used as M66 and M65 above, but obtained to reduce wear and risks on the S&W's. (yes, ridiculous, I know)

Colt Delta Elite SS 10mm Usually loaded with very warm Hornady 180 gr XTP's. Field holster is usually the Bianchi 'UM84?' flap holster.

S&W M58 .41 Mag. 4". Actually do hunt with this one and have taken a few deer. Sometimes carried just as hiking or woods bumming gun also.

Ruger Blackhawk Bisley .44 Spl. 5.5" Growing up and devouring all the printed Elmer Keith I could, this is the closest I'll get to his '#5 Revolver'.
Again shotshells and hardcast LSWC's using the 'Skeeter load'.
Have hunted with this one, but it's currently jinxed.

Charles Daly M1911 .45 5". Usually loaded with a 230 gr Gold Dot's, my old duty round. Have lots of it. Bought as a 'stand-in beater' for woods carry to reduce wear and risk to my Colt Series 70. Shoots and handles better than a cheap beater even should. (yes, ridiculous, I know)

S&W M1937 Brazilian .45 ACP revolver, parkerized. Great woods gun, can't hardly hurt it. (I own a near pristine M1917......the Brazilian was bought to, well, you already know,,,,) (PIC)

Latest possible woods gun is a RIA M1911 .38 Super 5". Just got dies and have brass coming for it. Got a good deal on it, and there's not much you can hurt on a RIA, so it holds promise.

Too bad we don't have Grizzlies and Moose here....I'd have even more hardware devoted to 'woods guns'.

 

[labworm]

Mine is a 60-15 for here in Penn's Wood, for the reasons mentioned above.

Easy to carry,accurate, and Stainless.Usually hardcast 38s but can switch to 357s . Works for me

Agree, if I could only have one, this is it.

60-15

 

[WCCPHD]

In my perpetual habit of inventing a 'need niche' for handguns, I've admittedly beat the 'woods gun' thing to death.
Bears in my area are rarely, if ever an issue. Most will be gone from any area you walk into.

But growing up with the illustrated covers of Sports Afield and such as well as "This Happened to Me!" columns indelibly etched into my brain - I've accumulated much hardware under the guise of 'woods gun'.
I also actually handgun hunt primarily, so the two sorta integrate some.

Starting in the small calibers -
S&W M63 4" .22 - an actual 'Kit Gun'. Extreme in practicality, in a high-ride Lobo thumbreak.

H&R M999 Sportsman .22 6". Classic ol' budget break-top in an older Hunter field holster.

S&W M15 .38 4". Loaded with a couple of shotshells, followed by warm hardcast LSWC's. A much-worn old M15 with most finish gone. In an old Bianchi 5B thumbreak. Lotta miles on this one.

S&W M66 .357 4". My old service revolver. Lived with it every day from ~1980 - 1990. Some sentimental value. Shotshells and some sort of .357 loads, depending on area and time of year.

S&W M65 4" Used as M66 above but obtained to reduce wear or risks on the M66 above (yes, ridiculous, I know)

Ruger Security Six SS .357 4" Used as M66 and M65 above, but obtained to reduce wear and risks on the S&W's. (yes, ridiculous, I know)

Colt Delta Elite SS 10mm Usually loaded with very warm Hornady 180 gr XTP's. Field holster is usually the Bianchi 'UM84?' flap holster.

S&W M58 .41 Mag. 4". Actually do hunt with this one and have taken a few deer. Sometimes carried just as hiking or woods bumming gun also.

Ruger Blackhawk Bisley .44 Spl. 5.5" Growing up and devouring all the printed Elmer Keith I could, this is the closest I'll get to his '#5 Revolver'.
Again shotshells and hardcast LSWC's using the 'Skeeter load'.
Have hunted with this one, but it's currently jinxed.

Charles Daly M1911 .45 5". Usually loaded with a 230 gr Gold Dot's, my old duty round. Have lots of it. Bought as a 'stand-in beater' for woods carry to reduce wear and risk to my Colt Series 70. Shoots and handles better than a cheap beater even should. (yes, ridiculous, I know)

S&W M1937 Brazilian .45 ACP revolver, parkerized. Great woods gun, can't hardly hurt it. (I own a near pristine M1917......the Brazilian was bought to, well, you already know,,,,) (PIC)

Latest possible woods gun is a RIA M1911 .38 Super 5". Just got dies and have brass coming for it. Got a good deal on it, and there's not much you can hurt on a RIA, so it holds promise.

Too bad we don't have Grizzlies and Moose here....I'd have even more hardware devoted to 'woods guns'.

Len,

There are grizzlies and moose at the NC Zoo and you never know when one will escape and make it into the woods near your place.

Might need to start looking for a new woods gun.

 

[Mike SC Hunter]

Mine vary by day and season. All get toted to and in the woods. None are speciall for that endevor only.

 

[BoCash]

To share, a 317, 63, or 34 are my first choices for the National Forests in western NC. They are small enough and light enough (esp. the 317) that they add no appreciable weight when hiking up and down hills. The first 2 or 3 chambers are always loaded with CCI shot shells if during snake season.

IF I should be in the woods and anticipate a threat by something bigger, a Smith 66, 15, or even a cute little (somewhat rare) 60-4 w/ 3" full lug barrel may be employed.

Where I live, I have never felt threatened enough to carry one of my N framed cannons. ..........too heavy and bulky.