roaddog28
Member
In California I would say the model 19/66. I have a 66-4 4 inch. I would load it with 180gr cast. Short of a brown bear I don't think I would have a problem.
Take care,
roaddog28
Take care,
roaddog28
Which is the better woods gun?
- Thread starter aterry33
- Start date
TwoPoundPull
Member
For more than 30 years, I did not "carry" out of season here in the northeast....But....After the second time stumbling across a pair of black bear cubs I thought my luck might be running a little thin. I do own a number of S&W's, including the models you listed, but for walking, berry picking, pre-season scouting, and such, I've got a comfortable shoulder holster, an old short barrel Vaquero in 45 Colt, 5 out of 6 chambers filled with 30 gn's of FFF Goex compressed in the case under a 250gn Montana cast RNFP. I hope it doesn't ever happen, but if push comes to shoot, and I miss momma bear, I'm thinking the flash will blind her, the report will deafen her, the sparks will set her fur to burning, and I can run like hell behind a big cloud of white smoke..........2#
tom turner
US Veteran
Whatever floats your boat. All will do well in non-Grizzly areas.
As for me, in the Georgia woods in areas lacking hogs . . .
- Model 37 Airweight snubbie if I'm just hiking around our hunting lease, OR a lightweight officer's sized .45ACP (Kimber Ultra CDP)
- If it is small game season . . . my Holosight-topped Ruger MkII Target model pistol.
- If there are lots of wild dogs in the area, or possible 2-legged predators . . . my full sized Para-Ordinance P45.14 LDA Limited.
OR . . .
either a 2 1/2" Model 19 or a 3" Model 65 (both are .357 Magnums) . . . or my favorite revolver, a chopped to 3 1/4" barreled S&W 25-2 in .45ACP.
- During deer season, or while hog hunting, my trusty, Holosight-topped 6" Model 29-5 .44 Magnum revolver. It has taken scores of deer through the years!
Again, all your choices are good ones . . . as good as any.
T.
As for me, in the Georgia woods in areas lacking hogs . . .
- Model 37 Airweight snubbie if I'm just hiking around our hunting lease, OR a lightweight officer's sized .45ACP (Kimber Ultra CDP)
- If it is small game season . . . my Holosight-topped Ruger MkII Target model pistol.
- If there are lots of wild dogs in the area, or possible 2-legged predators . . . my full sized Para-Ordinance P45.14 LDA Limited.
OR . . .
either a 2 1/2" Model 19 or a 3" Model 65 (both are .357 Magnums) . . . or my favorite revolver, a chopped to 3 1/4" barreled S&W 25-2 in .45ACP.
- During deer season, or while hog hunting, my trusty, Holosight-topped 6" Model 29-5 .44 Magnum revolver. It has taken scores of deer through the years!
Again, all your choices are good ones . . . as good as any.
T.
I would agree with others that the model 19 would do you well if you do not need to worry about bears.
I do have to disagree with those that say that woods are safe. They may have been safe 40 years ago but not today. In the Mid West meth labs are now in wooded areas. The South East has problems with illegal alcohol production and pot fields. South West faces issues with drug runners, pot field and illegal aliens. The Pacific North West has pot fields and meth labs.
Best-case scenario is that you run into a lab or field and get out without running into someone.
I do have to disagree with those that say that woods are safe. They may have been safe 40 years ago but not today. In the Mid West meth labs are now in wooded areas. The South East has problems with illegal alcohol production and pot fields. South West faces issues with drug runners, pot field and illegal aliens. The Pacific North West has pot fields and meth labs.
Best-case scenario is that you run into a lab or field and get out without running into someone.
WPWarhawk
US Veteran
I'd go with a .44, a 629 Mountain Gun to be specific. Might run into a hog or other exotic critter down here and I'd want something that would anchor it on the spot.
WPWarhawk
US Veteran
I'd venture a guess that the guy who said animals are little danger hasn't spent much time in the woods. Though he's right that bad humans are probably more trouble than bad animals. Feral dogs are certainly a problem, and are getting worse around here. I've dealt with that before. A feral or sick coyote once, too. Pot growers and tweakers are definitely an issue, as well. Almost had to handle a gator once, too. We don't have California cougars in Florida, that's for sure, so I guess he's right about them.
I favor my 5 inch Model 27 most of the time, even over the .44. A handload of a Keith SWC at 1150 fps will deal with anything I come across, from a snake (which I'm not likely to shoot unless I have to) all the way up to our black bears. A 19 would shoot the same round equally well, but I have no interest in K frames.
I have the .44, and sometimes it is my companion, but I love the balance of my 27, and I can shoot all of them well enough to do the job.
That is one gorgeous revolver!
bwsmith2850
Member
It depends on how much weight you're willing to carry around. I carry a 4" M19 in the woods at my in-laws or in the state forest land over my M28 simply because it's lighter to lug around. A .357 works well on thin skinned troublemakers on 2 or 4 legs.
A .44 packs more punch than the .357 so there is a benefit to the extra weight of a 29 that the 27 doesn't have. You don't have bear where you are so it's debatable if you will need the extra punch. There are black bear (and the occasional lost Minnesota cougar) where I wander and I still haven't rushed out to buy a .44 so I guess you know where I stand. If you feel you need the extra insurance, I won't tell you to leave the .44 at home but you would not be under-armed with the .357.
On a side note...
It wasn't any picnic target shooting with a 6" either. On the other hand, when fighting for your life (from people or critters) hearing loss is the least of your worries. Surviving with hearing loss beats the other alternative cold.
You may not even hear the shots!
A .44 packs more punch than the .357 so there is a benefit to the extra weight of a 29 that the 27 doesn't have. You don't have bear where you are so it's debatable if you will need the extra punch. There are black bear (and the occasional lost Minnesota cougar) where I wander and I still haven't rushed out to buy a .44 so I guess you know where I stand. If you feel you need the extra insurance, I won't tell you to leave the .44 at home but you would not be under-armed with the .357.
On a side note...
It wasn't any picnic target shooting with a 6" either. On the other hand, when fighting for your life (from people or critters) hearing loss is the least of your worries. Surviving with hearing loss beats the other alternative cold.
You may not even hear the shots!
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Sportsterguy
Member
I'd venture a guess that the guy who said animals are little danger hasn't spent much time in the woods. Though he's right that bad humans are probably more trouble than bad animals. Feral dogs are certainly a problem, and are getting worse around here. I've dealt with that before. A feral or sick coyote once, too. Pot growers and tweakers are definitely an issue, as well. Almost had to handle a gator once, too. We don't have California cougars in Florida, that's for sure, so I guess he's right about them.
I favor my 5 inch Model 27 most of the time, even over the .44. A handload of a Keith SWC at 1150 fps will deal with anything I come across, from a snake (which I'm not likely to shoot unless I have to) all the way up to our black bears. A 19 would shoot the same round equally well, but I have no interest in K frames.
I have the .44, and sometimes it is my companion, but I love the balance of my 27, and I can shoot all of them well enough to do the job.
That is one sweet S&W!!!! Absolutely beautifully grained and colored grips. Gotta say they are some of the nicest I've ever seen.
Congrats!
semperfi71
US Veteran
Ruger Vaquero .44 Magnum loaded with the Hornady 240 grain FMJ loaded to about 980 FPS.
Did somebody say bear? Oh, no bears - I must be in the wrong thread. I have shorter bbl'd versions of those .357s (2.5, 3, & 3.5") and 3 and 4" .44 mags. I honestly can't tell that much difference in toting a 2 1/2" M19 in a crappy holster vs. a 4" M29 in a decent one - it all depends on the leather and season (clothing). The difference is only half a pound. I carried a 4" M29 from Sept. through Dec. (for hunting season) this year (we DO have blacks, griz, cougars, and wolf, as well as moose, coyotes and tweakers). I feel fine with a .44 Spl loaded like the other posters mentioned (240 @ 950-1000).
BobK
Member
.357
I feel comfortable carrying a M-36 2" (.38 Spl. with 125 Gr.+P ammo) around the southern area of New England. Out in the "wilds" of the Berkshires, I move up to a M-66 2.5" with 158 gr. JSP ( Med Vel .357 mag.). If I had a M-629 2.5" .44 Mag., like the one pictured (nice one C&L), I would carry it (for sure!!!), instead of the M-66. I prefer lighter, smaller, snubby revolvers. For me, they shoot as good, if not better, at the closer ranges, required in self defense situations. From what I've heard.....you don't notice the recoil, or hear the blast, in an emergency situation. I have never been in that situation.
To answer your question.....bigger is better! There's no such thing as overkill!!! Bob
I feel comfortable carrying a M-36 2" (.38 Spl. with 125 Gr.+P ammo) around the southern area of New England. Out in the "wilds" of the Berkshires, I move up to a M-66 2.5" with 158 gr. JSP ( Med Vel .357 mag.). If I had a M-629 2.5" .44 Mag., like the one pictured (nice one C&L), I would carry it (for sure!!!), instead of the M-66. I prefer lighter, smaller, snubby revolvers. For me, they shoot as good, if not better, at the closer ranges, required in self defense situations. From what I've heard.....you don't notice the recoil, or hear the blast, in an emergency situation. I have never been in that situation.
To answer your question.....bigger is better! There's no such thing as overkill!!! Bob
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Of the three mentioned, I would go with the Model 19, since both the gun and ammunition are lighter. When I am out in the sticks, I like to be able to shoot. Lugging around a box or two of .44 ammo adds weight quickly.
I agree that the biggest concern in my area is aggressive bucks (and then probably humans). I have had an encounter or two with bucks who almost seemed to be daring me to continue along my chosen path. It is a little unnerving to find yourself with nothing more powerful than a .22 revolver. Forty years ago or so, when I first started woods roaming as a youngster, this sort of thing was unheard of, here in Indiana.
I agree that the biggest concern in my area is aggressive bucks (and then probably humans). I have had an encounter or two with bucks who almost seemed to be daring me to continue along my chosen path. It is a little unnerving to find yourself with nothing more powerful than a .22 revolver. Forty years ago or so, when I first started woods roaming as a youngster, this sort of thing was unheard of, here in Indiana.
do not beat me up guys , I love my S&W revolvers, but the best woods gun in my opinion is a glock 20 with a 15 rd magazine where legal of hot 230 grain hard cast bullet anmmo from doubletap ammo. Same ballistics as a 41 magnum. There was a 600 Lb. black bear taken near my house this year. I never feel undergunned when wearing my glock 10mm when I walk the woods.
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buckeyeshooter1
Member
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either of the N frames, I'm not a K fan.
Kent J
Member
For me I prefer the 29 4" loaded with .44 specials. With this combo you get a heavier bullet but you keep the velocity out of high ear damage range. You can always keep a handful of magnums in your pocket. I totally agree that bucks are becoming more of a problem. We live in a rural area and last year I had one challenge one of the dogs to the point of coming right up on the patio with me standing there yelling. You can run into ferrel dogs or sick / extremely hungry yotes almost anywhere.
Tweekers growing pot and / or cooking meth are everywhere now. In this case the bark of a .44 mag load carries alot of weight in discouraging conflict unless they have been sampling too much of thier own product. I also agree avoidance is always the best game plan. However don't rule out the importance of carrying GPS to note location of any "finds" so you can direct the proper authorities to them.
I also agree that finding the right carry rig is extremely important. This will help balance out the weight issue of carrying an N frame. As to the question of extra weight I used to regularly carry weapon, ammo and camera on my treks. My thoughts were always that if I wasn't in shape to handle the extra weight that maybe it would help with conditioning.
Tweekers growing pot and / or cooking meth are everywhere now. In this case the bark of a .44 mag load carries alot of weight in discouraging conflict unless they have been sampling too much of thier own product. I also agree avoidance is always the best game plan. However don't rule out the importance of carrying GPS to note location of any "finds" so you can direct the proper authorities to them.
I also agree that finding the right carry rig is extremely important. This will help balance out the weight issue of carrying an N frame. As to the question of extra weight I used to regularly carry weapon, ammo and camera on my treks. My thoughts were always that if I wasn't in shape to handle the extra weight that maybe it would help with conditioning.
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