Help me pick a woods gun, please

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Triggernosis

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I'm trying to find something that's lightweight and has good sights to carry with me on the farm. I thought I'd settled on a S&W Model 37 airweight revolver, but I can't hit schit with the fixed sights past just a few yards. Considering that the M37 is truly a close-quarters combat revolver, I can't really fault it.
I'm looking for something that I can dispatch wounded game, bag a rabbit, etc, and use for protection that doesn't weigh a damned ton! Bears are not a concern. I know I'd best be suited with at least a 4" barrel heavier revolver, but most of them push 25 oz. minimum. I want something that's always on my hip, but that I don't even notice it's there.
The only thing that has felt really good in my hands lately has been a Sig P232 in .380, but I'm having a hard time convincing myself that it would be suitable as a woods/trail gun.
Either a revolver or semi-auto will be acceptable - I just need to be able to hit what I'm aiming at.
Any suggestions or opinions?
 
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I always thought a four inch Model 12 .38 Special would be a great trail gun - it's light, it has nice big sights, holds six rounds, and you could load the first two with shot loads if you want.

Might be a little hard to find, but worth the hunt.
 
A Beretta 70 or 71 .22 pistol would be light, accurate, and carry well. A nice one costs big money around here. Another expensive option would be a S&W 650 .22 magnum. Finally, a 3" barrel S&W 30/31 .32 Long revolver would carry easily, have reasonable power, and give good accuracy. I own three of these and am very pleased with them.
 
S&W M-60-4. Stainless and heavy enough to handle recoil with Plus P loads, which you shouldn't use in light alloy frames. And it has adjustable sights. I think it weighs about 24 oz.

If you have the right holster and belt, you won't notice the weight much. That's where a lot of people go wrong.

With a choice of standard or Plus P ammo, you have considerable versatility. And stainless construction is important in a real life carry gun.
 
I have a Model 60-10, 3", .357 mag. 22oz, compact, adj sights.

Depending on your local critter population, you can start with 1 or 2 shoot shells,, then .38 wad-cutters or something a little hotter....
 

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Another vote for the 3" adjustable sight model 60. Mine's a 38 Special.
DSCN2841.jpg
 
JJ_BPK said:
I have a Model 60-10, 3", .357 mag. 22oz, compact, adj sights.

Depending on your local critter population, you can start with 1 or 2 shoot shells,, then .38 wad-cutters or something a little hotter....
Click to expand...

Add my "+1" here. My woods gun is not dissimilar. I carry a plastic ammo box of 50 spare rounds that range from shotshells....38 Special RNL or SWC...cast 158 gr solid .357 magnum loads, and 158 gr JHP .357 magnum loads. In my hiking area, this will cover just about everything.

If you are in bear country..well, that's different...and that means a rifle.
 
Klondike Mike said:
Another vote for the 3" adjustable sight model 60. Mine's a 38 Special.
DSCN2841.jpg
Click to expand...

Oh, yeah! Your M-60-4 even has the same Pachmayr grips that mine does. How do you like the Cold Steel knife?

I have a couple of El Paso holsters and one from Bianchi that are similar to your black one. They hold the gun well and with a good belt, minimize weight.
 
A plastic 9 or 40 caliber I am not a Glock fan but the 19 would be good. I prefer the XD 9, You get more rounds than a revolver they don't care about getting dirty or wet, will function even if you drop it in the mud or dirt, cheaper than a nice revolver. Light weight etc, etc.
 
I have two that I carry often in recent years.

One is S&W M60 with 5 inch barrel -- weighs a bit less than 30 oz loaded. In a S&W holster with S&W gun belt, I almost totally forget it is there. Ammo actually carried on a given hike varies, from 148 grain HBWC in 38 Spl cases at about 800 fps (mostly for grouse sitting on tree branch) to 158 grain bullets at 1200-1300 fps in 357 cases (should I be expecting something bigger -- turkey or some 4-legged critter, including deer). Have nice Pachmayr Gripper or Uncle Mikes rubber combat grips for this shooting.

Other one is a Ruger Single 6 with 22 Mag cylinder -- in suitable holster and gun belt it too is hardly noticed. With care, this gun puts federal 50 grain bullets into nice small groups (3-4 shots out of 6 (all 6 chambers) in 1-1,5 inches at woods ranges--up to maybe 50 yards)). Kills about like a 22 rifle.

Niklas
 
Thanks for the recommendations so far,

FWIW, I used to have a 60-4 but sold it to a fellow S&W forum member....it was just too heavy for my liking.
As for the 317 that I had - I sold it to a gun dealer at a substantial loss because I had too many (unresolved by S&W) issues with it. Piece of **** from day one.

I'll have to look into the Model 12 and the .32 caliber models.
 
Hummm, maybe one of those little NAA mini-revolvers would be a good choice.

Niklas
 
I like the Wather P22 for a light .22LR that is accurate and I have extra mags. For more punch but still accurate, the Kahr CW9 is a good choice.
 
If you are feeling the weight, I agree with the point made about a good, solid gunbelt. Makes a world of difference.

Still not enough relief? Add some Perry suspenders to the gunbelt. Perry Suspenders

If that doesn't do the trick, maybe better stay home! ;)
 
I'm leery of relying on a .22. A nasty dog, porcupine, or pig might make you regret the small caliber. And I'd really feel better about shooting some snakes with a heavier load, not to mention alligators.

I particularly have the large resident population of Burmese pythons in Florida in mind, but even a big rattler makes my blood run cold.

Didn't look to see where the OP lives, but some members have those considerations in mind, or should.
 
How bouts a SA revolver in 45LC with cowboy loads? It just feels right. Buy a Stetson and you will look good while milking them cows.:D
 
Kel-Tec P11 9mm

Might look at these - 20oz fully loaded - 12 in the mag, 1 in the pipe - +P is OK - new under $300 OTD - used with a Galco belly band you will forget your wearing it. Takes out small varmints post haste. Makes a good truck gun as well, since it's already ugly. About the same size as a P232 (I have it as well) about the same weight, but less cost up front, holds more rounds and is 9mm instead of .380 - more bang for the buck.

Pete99004

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Were it not for the weight issue, the easiest thing to do would be to simply get any 4" K frame in .38 special and take it along. But that would be heavier than you want. The Model 12s are of course nice guns, but can have the same problems as other airweight .38s in terms of user friendliness.

A Walther PP Super in 9x18mm Ultra would probably work well for you want, but they are not exactly commonly found...

I don't know the weights off the top of my head, but it might be worth taking a look at the single stack alloy frame 9mm autos, classic examples being the 3900 series and the Sig P225.
 
You might consider the model 30 or 31 in 32 S&W long. They both are listed as being around 18 oz with the 4". Quite a bit lighter than the 631 4". It is possible that the weights listed in the book are incorrect, it's happened before. I see them around often in the $300-400 range. The main drawback may be the fixed sights.
Personally, for a nice adjustable sight woods revolver, I like carrying my pre-model 34 4" kit gun. The .22 caliber J-frame variants are great. The model 63 stainless version would be hard to beat. 22 shot loads are worthless though if that is a requirement.
I don't know if the 32 long or magnum cartridges are available in shot shells loads. It would be great if they did as I think they are both underutilized rounds with great general use potential.
John
 
A Glock 23 , a Smith M&P in 40 cal or a Springfield XD in 40 cal should handle any of your needs. If you prefer a revolver there are a series of lightweight revolvers such as the Night Guard, that are lightweight and yet still pack a punch.
 
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