Best Backwoods Gun

[Mercenary]

I live in western NC. Here we have bobcats, coyotes, mountain lion, and black bear. I am looking for a good gun to carry with me in the woods just in case I come across one of these critters that's having a bad day. I don't want a cannon such as a 460 or 500 Magnum, but I am open to other suggestions as to what a good caliber that could easily down any of the above listed animals in case I find my self in the wrong place at the wrong time.

• What caliber should I get?
  
• Which type of gun would I be better suited with, a revolver or semi-auto?

I know that the caliber could dictate what type of gun that I get. But a lot of semi-auto cartridges can also be had in a revolver. I would like to keep the cost under $600. Thanks!

[Bernie Lomax]

.357 magnum. Since cost is an issue, take a look at Ruger's output. They make good quality stuff at affordable prices. Also, consider the Ruger Alaskan. It's one of those "cannons" you said you're not interested in, but remember, you don't have to load it with those brutal magnum loads--you can use .45 LC or .44 Special, depending on the chambering--and it's always good to have the option to fire magnum loads even though you may not do so often.

[L_Killkenny]

A couple things first:
1)You realize that you are about a thousand times of more risk driving to get anywhere than from any critter in the woods right?
2) You realize this subject has been covered about a billion times.

Now that I got that outta my system....Good for you, you came up with a reason to buy new gun. Now what to get. There are about a 1000 different ammo/gun combo's that will feel your needs. I'd feel fine with a .22, a .44M. or anything in between. But the general consensus for a good, eastern U.S. woods bummin gun starts and ends with a 4" .357. Some may prefer a .327, .41M, 44M or .45 Colt and it's hard to argue with those choices. Others may opt for a semi auto in 9mm, 10mm, .40 or .45acp for it's ease in cleaning and more rounds. Can't argue with the ease of cleaning but you don't need 17+1 for woods bummin.

But it's just plain hard to go wrong with the 4" .357. But I would like a good SA .45 Colt.

LK

[Dwight55]

If it were me, . . . I'd be torn between a good quality .357 revolver, . . . and an equally good .45 ACP, . . . just remembering to load the auto with the top line loadings of the .45 AC, . . . no Winchester White Box stuff.

Even with a .500, . . . a determined mountain lion or black bear can get at you, . . . and the beauty of both of these rounds is that the follow up shots can be had much quicker than a full house .500, .454, or even .44 mag.

And either of these can put you within your $$ budget. Just an old codger's opinion.

May God bless,
Dwight

[Stevie-Ray]

I use a Glock 29 for that purpose. Packable for a Glock, easily controllable for me, and at least 10 rounds of hard-hitting 10mm. I generally use Double-Tap 200 gr XTPs.

[Nico Testosteros]

.357 magnum in a 3" or 4" revolver or I could see 10mm in a Glock. Me, I went for a 3" SP101.

[MadHatter1]

Bobcats and coyotes are easy to kill. Mountain lions are a bit tougher, but not overly aggressive in NC-yet. The mountain black bears are typicaly pretty small, in the 200# range. Either a .357 or 10mm should do nicely, depending on weather you prefer an auto or revolver. If you venture into the coastal plains and swamps in Eastern NC, I'd up it to a 44 magnum. The largest North American black bear recorded was taken in SE NC; 880#s.

[BIG P]

Its the two legged critters Ithink about in NC.MTS.45acp Glock 21 is a good hicking buddy lots of different loads available.

[chadstrickland]

Since you are walking around in the middle of the woods the first rifle I would think to carry would be a ak47 underfolder perhaps and if that's to much a glock 17. Now saying that I don't think glock is a perfect pistol but its pretty cheap and dam good and so is a ak47. They both work when you need them to .


Oh and if you are serious about defending yourself against a mountain lion or bear, you would be wise to bring somthing other than a pistol to the fight even and smith and wesson 500

[EdInk]

Get a 5.5" Ruger Redhawk in .44magnum. You will be grateful when you have to put down one of the aforementioned animals at close range.

[PA Reb]

Best all around "woods gun" in my opinion is a S&W, 4", model 629, .44 magnum carried in a good shoulder holster. If you don't mind the kick and want it a little lighter, then I would say a S&W, .44 magnum, Mountain Gun. Nothing better and it will put a real hurtin' on any of the animals you mentioned.

[mavracer]

I sgree with LK about anything 22 to 44 will work. I'm about as likely to carry my Smith 34 as I am my Redhawk. A 3-4" 357 is hard to beat. A couple of my favorite off the beatin path guns for getting off the beatin path are aa 6" K38 masterpeice or 4 5/8" flat top 357 Blackhawk loaded with a soft swaged lead 158gr SWCHP @850 fps. I also love my 44 specials loaded with a 215 cast SWC @ 900fps. The Smith 696 is prolly out of your price range but the Charter Bulldog and Rugers are in. Any good shootin service size auto would work too. I even took my old Goldcup for a walk once.

[40caljustice]

Anything in 10mm. Make sure its reliable and durable. A 10mm can handle anything in the woods besides maybe a grizzly and that's still plausible. The only problem would be followup shots in a quick manner. The ability to fire one handed. Just general scared like hell shooting with an animal on your behind. Do your job and so will the gun.

[jmr40]

I use a Glock 20 in 10mm for that exact role. A 4" or longer 357 mag would be my 2nd choice. Nothing wrong with a 44 revolver if you can handle it.

I prefer the Glock because of seveal reasons. They are lighter, more compact and in dirty outdoors conditions will be more reliable than a revolver. A good 357 revolver with a barrel of 6" or more will have an advantage in long range accuracy and velocity, but the shorter barrels that folks use for carry lose an awful lot of velocity. You often end up with no more power than a 9mm from a 2-3" 357 mag.

[Mercenary]

Thanks so far for the input everyone. Seems like the top picks thus far are the 357 Mag, 10mm, and 44 Mag.

I have read about people hunting mountain lions with the 45 ACP, but would it have enough penetration against a black bear?

Keep the posts coming!

[mellow_c]

4" .357 Magnum...

[IDAHO83501]

In revolvers a .44 mag. would be my choice. 240 grain bullet of course. .357 mag. is ok but not as powerful as a .44, and a .44 does not give your ears that damn " crack " that a .357 does. In a semi-auto a .45 would be my #1,,,10mm would be second and a .357 sig would be third. Springfield xd or xdm, Glock, and a few others make good quality semi's in these calibers.

[Hammerhead]

My choice would be a .44 special with a good solid cast SWC load, but .357, .45 Colt or 10mm would be some others I might choose.

[Edward429451]

I have read about people hunting mountain lions with the 45 ACP, but would it have enough penetration against a black bear?

Good question. Lions are thin skinned and you can use almost anything on them, but for black bears, maybe maybe not. 45 acp isn't exactly known for an excess of penetration, but Black Bears aren't known to be especially tenacious either. Personally, I think it's kind of light, and would much rather have a 245 gr 44 Mag @ 1250 fps to be sure.

If all you have is a 45 acp then I would choose the load very carefully.

[Buzzcook]

My favorite backwoods gun is a Ruger Mk. II .22lr.

If I wanted a handgun to kill critters from black bear on down I'd take my .45 Colt. Probably anything from .45acp up would do fine.

[Carry_24/7]

.45 ACP not known for excess penetration? Really? That's news to me. The 230 grain .45 ACP round was engineered for penetration.

It does not take a magnum loading to kill the three animals the OP listed, I'd feel just fine with .45 ACP against them.

Now, if i was in Alaska, different story. I'd want the largest magnum my hip could stand! I'd 100% be looking at a S&W 500 magnum.

[dajowi]

My absolute pick would be a Ruger Redhawk in .44 magnum.

[jmr40]

.45 ACP not known for excess penetration? Really? That's news to me. The 230 grain .45 ACP round was engineered for penetration.

45 ACP is among the worst rounds available if you need penetration, espeially against tough hide, heavy clothing, or any barrier. When shot into unprotected flesh it works well enough.

This was a BIG reason why the military wanted to upgrade to 9mm right after WW-2. Their testing found that 9mm rounds performed much better at defeating barriers, heavy winter clothes, etc. During one test the 45's were bouncing off a GI helmet at 30 yards while the 9mm rounds were still giving complete penetration beyond 100 yards.

The 45 is a good round that serves a role, this ain't one of them. Use something else if there is any remote possibility of bear. The 357 and 10mm are good choices.

[iblong]

In the area and for the purpose your talking,Id feel just fine with my Smith 4"
357 or one of my 1911's loaded with a warm hard cast.

[JACK308]

a 308 and ruger redhawk 44 mag handgun.