Pistol for the woods

kym · January 25, 2009, 08:30 PM

Which is a better all around outdoors pistol, 22/22mag convertible or a .357mag?

Tommy Vercetti · January 25, 2009, 08:32 PM

well a .357 magnum is rarely too small for defense against most predators

Creeper · January 25, 2009, 08:35 PM

Quite a jump from .22/.22 mag to .357.

If those are my choices, and I assume this is revolvers only, then the .357 would be my choice.
There's a broad spread of capabilities starting with .38 special up to full house .357 hunting loads.

C

bswiv · January 25, 2009, 09:27 PM

You can load way down with the .357, some light loads being not much more than a .22 LR and not near as powerful as a .22 MAG. On the other hand it's not possible to get a .22 to do what a full bore .357 mag load will do, as in be adequit for deer and hogs at close range.

Keep you options open.....................

HAMMER1DOWN · January 25, 2009, 09:38 PM

Whevever i go outdoors i never leave without my hertitage arms .22/.22mag revlover on my hip. it has saved me a couple of times from badgers and to finish off some animals that were still alive, it has also bagged a couple of blue grouse in the mountains. And ammo is light and easy to find for cheap. My choice is the .22 all around.
That is unless i am bear hunting then my .44 mag with 300 grain hollws for self defence

JTMcC · January 25, 2009, 10:05 PM

How can you go wrong with a .357 mag?
It's a long shot, but if you run into someones weed patch, or a meth lab, or just bad people, you are well armed with a .357, pretty iffy with a .22.
I've spent enough time in the sticks to encounter beligerant humans on several occasions, having a .357 on hand solved the problem for me.

JTMcC

fisherman66 · January 25, 2009, 10:06 PM

If you are already carrying a rifle then the 22lr is nice and light with low recoil. If no rifle then the .357 is better for the extremely rare dangerous encounter. Pack a couple snake shot rounds if you go with the .357.

jhgreasemonkey · January 25, 2009, 10:14 PM

I'm wondering where you live and what kind of critters there are there. Unless you live where the biggest predetor is a two legged angry pigmy goat then I say go with the .357 (or other) depending on where you live.

Daryl · January 25, 2009, 10:48 PM

What's the purpose of the handgun?

If you're hunting small game and/or plinking, then the .22/.22 mag would be my choice.

For most other things, including self defense against two or four legged beasts, I'd go with the .357 mag.

Daryl

bufordtjustice · January 26, 2009, 02:35 PM

I'd have to say .357 of the two.

nightwolf1974 · January 26, 2009, 02:46 PM

i'd go with a Ruger 357 mag. Blackhawk.

kraigwy · January 26, 2009, 03:00 PM

I do a lot of running around the woods, hunting, fishing, horseback riding or just land crusing. The only pistol I have needed is my little 642 38 in my pocket. I dispatch snakes, I keep my pot filled and its always in my pocket, not trowned on the pack or tac while setting up camp or tending horses.

No big bears here, if there was I'd carry a rifle.

Never ran into anything yet that couldnt be handled with my pocket pistol in 38 using 150 grn SWC.

But again I practice with it.

Kreyzhorse · January 26, 2009, 04:41 PM

If this is a kind of sort of SD wood gun, a .357 is the way to go. If this is just a shooting plinking gun for fun, I'd go .22lr

SwampYankee · January 26, 2009, 05:42 PM

You can always pop .38 specials into a .357 magnum, if you are really looking for light loads, in addition to the light .357 loads. There is a lot more versatility to the .357.

publius · January 26, 2009, 05:46 PM

either is fine. my choices are a blackhawk in 45 colt during hunting season and a ruger MKII 22 during the off season.

orchidhunter · January 26, 2009, 07:54 PM

In some states to hunt big game the caliber has to start with a 4. A 44mag will serve you better, as it's the best all around woods handgun. orchidhunter

MeekAndMild · January 26, 2009, 08:04 PM

Forget bigger critters. The most important use for a pistol in the woods is to keep rattlesnakes at arms length. For this purpose a .357 shotshell carries a lot more clout than a .22.

kym · January 26, 2009, 11:49 PM

Thanks for the advice. The reason for the choice is what I already have. Mostly roam in the southeast and Smoky Mountain area. For the most part I think I would have to deal with 2 legged critters before I would have to shoot something for the pot.

Sarge · January 27, 2009, 12:06 AM

That helps. Take my friend, the 357.

Huntergirl · January 27, 2009, 06:44 AM

Oh, absolutely, the .357. Speaks with authority.

shortwave · January 27, 2009, 05:23 PM

Between the two-357 for the two and four legged predators. If in big bear country, IMO thats on the lightest side.

cornbush · January 29, 2009, 10:47 PM

for the 2 legged or the 4, the 357 will be far better

Firepower! · February 4, 2009, 05:34 AM

I dont understand how you are comparing 22mag to 357.

To answer your question: 357 magnum.

Byron Quick · February 4, 2009, 06:57 AM

Even in the southeastern woods, you can run into feral dogs that aren't friendly and to whom .22 mag would be undergunned. .357 magnum is preferrable and personally I'd probably go with .44 magnum.

surfersami · February 4, 2009, 08:17 AM

.357 for sure. Most of the black bear he may find in the SE can be handled with the 357, and the recoil isn't bad. A lot of people like the 125 gr loads for two legged critters, but you wouldn't go wrong with a 158 gr solid lead with gas check. The most important things are:
1. You practice, practice practice.
2. Practice some more.
3. Be mentally prepared that if you have to bust a cap on some two legged critter that deserves it you are ready. Hesitation will get you killed, same goes for big four legged critters.
4. Practice some more.

January 25, 2009, 08:30 PM	#1
kym Member Join Date: October 12, 2005 Posts: 47	Pistol for the woods Which is a better all around outdoors pistol, 22/22mag convertible or a .357mag?

January 25, 2009, 08:32 PM	#2
Tommy Vercetti Senior Member Join Date: June 26, 2004 Location: Fairhope, Alabama Posts: 1,119	well a .357 magnum is rarely too small for defense against most predators __________________ "When fascism comes to America, it will be wrapped in the flag and carrying the cross." Sinclair Lewis, (It Can't Happen Here, 1935) "Orators are most vehement when their cause is weak" Marcus Tullius Cicero

January 25, 2009, 08:35 PM	#3
Creeper Senior Member Join Date: September 9, 2008 Location: Woooooshington Posts: 1,797	Quite a jump from .22/.22 mag to .357. If those are my choices, and I assume this is revolvers only, then the .357 would be my choice. There's a broad spread of capabilities starting with .38 special up to full house .357 hunting loads. C __________________ Shoulder Drive Nicholson Club

January 25, 2009, 10:06 PM	#7
fisherman66 Senior Member Join Date: August 22, 2005 Location: The Woodlands TX Posts: 4,679	If you are already carrying a rifle then the 22lr is nice and light with low recoil. If no rifle then the .357 is better for the extremely rare dangerous encounter. Pack a couple snake shot rounds if you go with the .357. __________________ la plus belle des ruses du diable est de vous persuader qu'il n'existe pas!

January 26, 2009, 02:46 PM	#11
nightwolf1974 Senior Member Join Date: January 26, 2009 Location: Unity, Nh Posts: 143	i'd go with a Ruger 357 mag. Blackhawk. __________________ live free or die!

January 25, 2009, 09:27 PM	#4
bswiv Senior Member Join Date: June 4, 2006 Location: NE FL....... Posts: 1,081	You can load way down with the .357, some light loads being not much more than a .22 LR and not near as powerful as a .22 MAG. On the other hand it's not possible to get a .22 to do what a full bore .357 mag load will do, as in be adequit for deer and hogs at close range. Keep you options open.....................

January 25, 2009, 09:38 PM	#5
HAMMER1DOWN Senior Member Join Date: September 26, 2008 Location: Close Enough to Canada to say "EH!!"... MT Posts: 418	Whevever i go outdoors i never leave without my hertitage arms .22/.22mag revlover on my hip. it has saved me a couple of times from badgers and to finish off some animals that were still alive, it has also bagged a couple of blue grouse in the mountains. And ammo is light and easy to find for cheap. My choice is the .22 all around. That is unless i am bear hunting then my .44 mag with 300 grain hollws for self defence

January 25, 2009, 10:05 PM	#6
JTMcC Member Join Date: October 23, 2005 Posts: 64	How can you go wrong with a .357 mag? It's a long shot, but if you run into someones weed patch, or a meth lab, or just bad people, you are well armed with a .357, pretty iffy with a .22. I've spent enough time in the sticks to encounter beligerant humans on several occasions, having a .357 on hand solved the problem for me. JTMcC

January 25, 2009, 10:14 PM	#8
jhgreasemonkey Senior Member Join Date: February 7, 2006 Location: Pacific Northwest Posts: 2,238	I'm wondering where you live and what kind of critters there are there. Unless you live where the biggest predetor is a two legged angry pigmy goat then I say go with the .357 (or other) depending on where you live.

January 25, 2009, 10:48 PM	#9
Daryl Senior Member Join Date: July 11, 2008 Posts: 2,350	What's the purpose of the handgun? If you're hunting small game and/or plinking, then the .22/.22 mag would be my choice. For most other things, including self defense against two or four legged beasts, I'd go with the .357 mag. Daryl

January 26, 2009, 02:35 PM	#10
bufordtjustice Senior Member Join Date: February 14, 2008 Posts: 279	I'd have to say .357 of the two.

January 26, 2009, 03:00 PM	#12
kraigwy Senior Member Join Date: June 16, 2008 Location: Wyoming Posts: 11,061	I do a lot of running around the woods, hunting, fishing, horseback riding or just land crusing. The only pistol I have needed is my little 642 38 in my pocket. I dispatch snakes, I keep my pot filled and its always in my pocket, not trowned on the pack or tac while setting up camp or tending horses. No big bears here, if there was I'd carry a rifle. Never ran into anything yet that couldnt be handled with my pocket pistol in 38 using 150 grn SWC. But again I practice with it. __________________ Kraig Stuart CPT USAR Ret USAMU Sniper School Distinguished Rifle Badge 1071

January 26, 2009, 04:41 PM	#13
Kreyzhorse Senior Member Join Date: April 12, 2006 Location: NKY Posts: 12,463	If this is a kind of sort of SD wood gun, a .357 is the way to go. If this is just a shooting plinking gun for fun, I'd go .22lr __________________ "He who laughs last, laughs dead." Homer Simpson

January 26, 2009, 05:42 PM	#14
SwampYankee Registration in progress Join Date: November 1, 2008 Location: I can be found on a number of other forums. Posts: 1,333	You can always pop .38 specials into a .357 magnum, if you are really looking for light loads, in addition to the light .357 loads. There is a lot more versatility to the .357.

January 26, 2009, 05:46 PM	#15
publius Senior Member Join Date: January 25, 2005 Location: Mississippi/Texas Posts: 2,505	either is fine. my choices are a blackhawk in 45 colt during hunting season and a ruger MKII 22 during the off season. __________________ "Suppose you were an idiot, and suppose you were a member of Congress, but I repeat myself." Mark Twain

January 26, 2009, 07:54 PM	#16
orchidhunter Junior member Join Date: December 1, 2008 Posts: 320	In some states to hunt big game the caliber has to start with a 4. A 44mag will serve you better, as it's the best all around woods handgun. orchidhunter

January 26, 2009, 08:04 PM	#17
MeekAndMild Senior Member Join Date: August 2, 2001 Posts: 4,988	Forget bigger critters. The most important use for a pistol in the woods is to keep rattlesnakes at arms length. For this purpose a .357 shotshell carries a lot more clout than a .22. __________________ In a few years when the dust finally clears and people start counting their change there is a pretty good chance that President Obama may become known as The Great Absquatulator. You heard it first here on TFL.

January 26, 2009, 11:49 PM	#18
kym Member Join Date: October 12, 2005 Posts: 47	Thanks for the advice. The reason for the choice is what I already have. Mostly roam in the southeast and Smoky Mountain area. For the most part I think I would have to deal with 2 legged critters before I would have to shoot something for the pot.

January 27, 2009, 12:06 AM	#19
Sarge Senior Member Join Date: May 12, 2002 Location: MO Posts: 5,457	That helps. Take my friend, the 357. __________________ People were smarter before the Internet, or imbeciles were harder to notice.

January 27, 2009, 06:44 AM	#20
Huntergirl Senior Member Join Date: January 8, 2005 Location: Wyoming Posts: 907	Oh, absolutely, the .357. Speaks with authority.

January 27, 2009, 05:23 PM	#21
shortwave Senior Member Join Date: December 17, 2007 Location: SOUTHEAST, OHIO Posts: 5,970	Between the two-357 for the two and four legged predators. If in big bear country, IMO thats on the lightest side.

January 29, 2009, 10:47 PM	#22
cornbush Senior Member Join Date: September 29, 2008 Location: The retarded place below Idaho Posts: 1,408	for the 2 legged or the 4, the 357 will be far better

February 4, 2009, 05:34 AM	#23
Firepower! Senior Member Join Date: February 3, 2008 Posts: 2,109	I dont understand how you are comparing 22mag to 357. To answer your question: 357 magnum.

February 4, 2009, 06:57 AM	#24
Byron Quick Staff In Memoriam Join Date: November 13, 1998 Location: Waynesboro, Georgia, USA Posts: 2,361	Even in the southeastern woods, you can run into feral dogs that aren't friendly and to whom .22 mag would be undergunned. .357 magnum is preferrable and personally I'd probably go with .44 magnum.

February 4, 2009, 08:17 AM	#25
surfersami Member Join Date: January 22, 2009 Location: SC Posts: 60	.357 for sure. Most of the black bear he may find in the SE can be handled with the 357, and the recoil isn't bad. A lot of people like the 125 gr loads for two legged critters, but you wouldn't go wrong with a 158 gr solid lead with gas check. The most important things are: 1. You practice, practice practice. 2. Practice some more. 3. Be mentally prepared that if you have to bust a cap on some two legged critter that deserves it you are ready. Hesitation will get you killed, same goes for big four legged critters. 4. Practice some more.

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