What's YOUR Pick for a Woods Gun?? Play Along Please...

[Catshooter]

Probably my FN P in 45. Fifteen rounds of 255 Keith at over 800 fps will do the job. Pistol weighs one ounce more than a 1911.

Or even my Smith Shorty 45. That one'll do too.


Cat

 

[Calliope]

Bisley Blackhawk in .45 Colt with some good stiff SWC loads.

 

[CAJUNLAWYER]

Down here in Louisiana? My newly acquired 317-1 3".
Sorry.......

 

[s&wj]

629 6 inch barrel, chest holster

 

[Xfuzz]

This 45 Colt............S&W model 25-5...Idaho Leather.

 

[lebomm]

Here in the Northwest we have blacks, browns and cats. I'd carry my 4" 29-2 with Elmer's bullets over 20gr. 2400.

Larry

 

[Shamrock]

I'd carry a magum research .50 with a 10" barrel with me. I know it'd be cumbersome, but it's about as close to a rifle as I can, get cause that is what it will take to stop some of the critters on your list. In that scenario I would find the weight of the weapon somewhat compforting rather than overly heavy.

 

[J D Allen]

woods gun

I would say the S&W 460 which is down loadable to 45 colt. Or my S&W 57 in 41 magnum. Also the 629 would do the job.

 

[Snapping Twig]

In Northern California here, so we have cougar, black bear and hogs... and growers.

I'll start with the revolver I have been using for this purpose for the last 20 years, a custom made 629-2 44 magnum. I load a 265g cast GCSWC (Lyman 429244) over 22g W296. Nothing that load can't take care of in sunny NorCal.

Now, I have a couple other options. I might carry this, a 4" 624 loaded with Skeeters 250g cast SWC (Lyman 429421) over 7.5g Unique. Not much a 250g SWC at 900fps can't handle. This is the most natural shooting revover I have.

Not to make it confusing, I have even another option, a 3" 624. It likes Skeeters too.

If it weren't such a long tube, I might consider this, but then again, the .44Spl Skeeter is identical in weight, speed and damn close in caliber and should penetrate BETTER than the 45Colt.

25-7

 

[batmann]

I'll play. My choice is one that I make every time I go into the woods, it's my 629 Mountain Gun. I have put the Hogue's that the X frames have and that helps keeps the recoil under control.

 

[swDC]

I am going to play and choose my 6" 686+ with some powerful .357 loads. I have a shoulder rig for it and it is surprisingly comfortable to wear for extended periods of time for being on the heavy side.

 

[andyo5]

Considering the possibility of encounters with large, dangerous animals; from the list you gave I'd pick the Glock 10mm. This would also serve you well against two-legged predators. My next choice would be the 500 magnum, then the 44 Magnum.

 

[Poohgyrr]

No big bears, probably a 3 1/2" or 4" eight shot S&W 357.

Big bears charging me and all I have is a handgun, no friend toback me up? The same 357 might end my suffering quickly.....

 

[LOBO]

No bears,

625 loaded with .45 auto-rim using 230 gr lead hardcast full wadcutters @ 1000 fps.

Bears around,

29 with Garretts 310 gr hardcast loads.

 

[GoHogs]

Mag-Na-Port Tomahawk Ruger SBH .44 Mag.

 

[CH47gunner]

Given the OP's original scenario -

This one - 629-6 Classic 5", with the Galco holster.
The full lug & bit of extra weight make this a very "comfortable" handgun to shoot.
More realistically, here in California, I just usually pack a M19.

Bruce

 

[Messer]

Here is my "Walking in the woods" gun...

S&W 657 3" 41 Magnum, with Ahrends Retro grips.

Have fun,
Bob S.

 

[BearBio]

So, you're basically asking what gun I would carry at work IF I COULD CARRY?

First Choice: Bear Spray

Gotta go with a 45 Blackhawk, heavy cast, 4 5/8".

No grizzlies: probably the same (I have a 3" Vaquero that I carry when not working). Otherwise a 44 sp Blackhawk, or a 44 mag Anaconda.

Up here in Washington, the grizzlie populations are growing slowly and the pigs not so slowly!

 

[walnutred]

I'd choose a 6" 686. Easier to carry, I shoot better with a 6" barrel, probably as effective as 44 at stopping a charging Griz.

 

[DCWilson]

A general answer from me: .357 to .454, with the shortest barrel and largest frame I could get; I'm defending, not hunting. Shoulder holster or chest carry will keep the gun from becoming burdensome. And then because I didn't hear that we were restricted to one gun, I'd also carry a small .22 or .32 for the occasional snake or rabid squirrel. If we are restricted to one gun, I'd still carry the pocket gun and just not talk about it at inspection.

Semiautos? Not for me.

Anyway, your best strategy is avoidance. If you can't tell that a bear is there before you turn a corner and find one 10 feet away, you don't belong in a wilderness service.

Now back to the humdrum reality of my day...