Best Backwoods Gun

[NJgunowner]

I'm partial to the 10mm. You can get loads just above the .40 in power, to much more powerful loads (Double tap is good, but there is better). You could also "do your own thing" and reload for what you need (within reason of course).

If I was going to buy a gun for the woods right now, I'd pickup a glock chambered for 10mm. I HATE glocks, don't like the way they shoot or feel, but they go bang every time and can take some abuse.

Besides, I'm way too fond of my Colt Delta Elite to risk banging it up in the woods.

[Carry_24/7]

Jmr40; it's always good to learn something new, and what you wrote is news to me. I read a lot of such history and am not familiar with the tests you mention. Where do I find that info?

[skoro]

What caliber should I get?

My recommendation would be a 357magnum.

Which type of gun would I be better suited with, a revolver or semi-auto?

Revolver - you won't need more than 6 shots.


My own backwoods gun is a S&W Model 13.

[Mrgunsngear]

I'd go 10mm as well. Lots of power in a controllable package. I think the Glock 20SF is the perfect choice.

[Flakbait]

My vote goes for the 10MM. I never seriously considered the 10MM until I saw Ted Nugent dispatch several wounded hogs and Axis deer on TV with a 1911 style 10 MM gun. Those Hogs can take several rounds to finish off...I can't imagine what a much bigger black bear can endure.

I think nearly everyone can learn to shoot a 1911 well. 10 MM works really well against most North American four legged critters as well as dangerous 2 legged critters too

I would shy away from a 44 Magnum simply because they are usually packaged in large N frame S&W or Ruger Redhawk/Blackhawk revolvers which you don't really want to tote on your hip if there was a better alternative. I would choose those only if I were dedicated to handgun hunting and wanted a shoulder harness carry.

Whatever you choose, use hardcast nonexpanding bullets for maximum penetration against tough hardy creatures rather than self-defense oriented expanding ammunition suitable for use on thin skin two legged ones.

Unlike rifle bullets fired at high velocity, handgun bullets don't fly fast enough to cause significant tissue damage outside of the wound channel caused by the bullet itself. Bullets from calibers that start with a 4 make holes that start at .4 inches in diameter. Thus, there is an inherent advantage over bullets from calibers that start in the .355 range (i.e. 357 Magnum).

[Alaska444]

the 10 mm is an excellent choice in the lower 48 unless you are in Montana, WY or Idaho with grizzly. I prefer the reliability of a revolver and truly love my great big huge Ruger SRH in .44 magnum. Yup, it is big and heavy, but that is part of why I like it, recoil ain't much more than my Ruger SP101 in .357. For hiking which I don't do a whole lot of anymore, the 10 mm is a great option and I have considered getting one myself. It has more rounds available and ballistics similar to the .357 magnum. I believe it is the minimum round you would want with hardcast bullets for bears should you encounter them.

[Maxem0815]

[color=#FF0000]█[/color][color=#FF0000]█[/color][color=#FF0000]█[/color][color=#FF0000]█[/color][color=#FF0000]█[/color][color=#FF0000]█[/color] I was born in the back woods of the Ozarks ain't met anything can't be killed with a .45 LC or acp. Now that said a guy from Alaska told me he carries a .460 S&W but thats ALASKA ya know the last fronter, and they have BIG BEARS
Mace

[tailchain]

Get yourself a good accurate .22 revolver or auto and have some fun in the woods. Nothin is gonna get ya.

[Clifford L. Hughes]

Mercenary:

When I was hunting for bear with my rifle I also carried a 6.5 inch Smith & Wesson model 29 .44 magnum just in case that a bear followed the frying bacon smell into my camp site. The N frame Smith rode at my side just in front of my hip and it wasn't uncomfortable. If I were you, I would get a four inch Smith & Wesson model 25 in 45 Colt. I once killed a boar with my Smith & Wesson model 625 in .45 ACP.

Semper Fi.

Gunnery sergeant
Clifford L. Hughes
USMC Retired

[aarondhgraham]

So it's a bit amusing when I read about carrying semi-auto pistols in the woods.

Not that they aren't perfectly suitable mind you,,,
And the high capacity is enough justification,,,
But I always think more of a .357 Mag.

Old school attitudes are pervasive aren't they.

I could never picture myself hunting with an AR style rifle,,,
Nor could I see myself with a semi-auto on my hip.

Believe me, I'm not ragging on modern hunters,,,
Just waxing philosophical on the differences twixt then and now.

Aarond

[Stevie-Ray]

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

Personally, I wouldn't and don't trust it against blackies. I regularly carry .45 ACP, unless I'm at my northern place in the Huron National Forest. If Cougars were the biggest thing I had to worry about, I'd still carry the .45 ACP. But with the possibility of black bears, I want a bit more.

[peacefulgary]

Its the two legged critters Ithink about in NC.MTS.

With the mountain folk of NC, you're more in danger of gettng your ears talked off than being physically attacked.

You'll see alot more crime in the Charlotte region of NC than the mountains.

[BarryLee]

But I always think more of a .357 Mag.

Old school attitudes are pervasive aren't they.

Excellent point my initial thought was .357/.44Mag. but after reading the thread it sounds like the consensus might be 10mm. The reality is it would probably be sufficient for the various critters we encounter in the South East.

[Buzzcook]

http://thefiringline.com/forums/show...ight=1911+bear

Here's a thread about a guy that killed a black bear with a .45acp

A lesson to be learned is that the man didn't just shoot once and wait to see what happened.

[MidwestRookie]

obviously nothing smaller than this should be taken into the backwoods...

[Carry_24/7]

Of all of the 10mm votes, how many of you have one?

It's not an everyday cartridge. I don't know anyone with one, nor have a I met anyone with one. I've only read about it.

Is it gaining popularity?

[C Philip]

My woods gun is a 10mm, Glock 29. I carry it with 200gr XTP's. Black bear and mountain lion are the main concerns in my area. 11 rounds available and I don't mind when it gets dirty, wet, and scratched from hiking and climbing over rocks.

Depending on the platform you want, semi auto or revolver, 10mm or .357 mag is what I would go with unless you're in moose/grizzly country.

[Alaska444]

Actually, no, I don't own a 10 mm, but I have considered it as a possible buy at some point. My woods guns are my Ruger SRH in .44 magnum and my Marlin .444 if I am truly in grizzly country and away from town.

The 10 mm does have some good attributes with ballistics similar to .357 magnum, but I like the reliability of a revolver more so than the SA but it is just a personal choice.

[C0untZer0]

What about a carbine?

They may be heavier but you can sling them... I would think a carbine like the Ruger Deerstalker / .44 Carbine could be used anywhere from the Ozarks to Alaska to take down anything on the continent. Of course I don't know if it'll get you arrested for poaching.

Uhhh... the pistol I always think of in 10mm is the EAA Witness Hunter. A lot heavier than a Glock but also more controlability....

[Lost Sheep]

When picking a firearm, start with the bullet first. Once you determine the bullet you want to deliver on target and the velocity, find cartridges that deliver. Then make a list of all the firearms that chamber that cartridge loaded to that performance level. Then pick from that list.

High energy bullets shred flesh. High momentum bullets break bone. Bears only get angry when you hurt them. To stop one fast, you have to break bone.

However, those were (originally) my concluding paragraphs. Here is my advice.

Know your threat. This advice applies equally well in the wilds of Africa, the woods of North Carolina or the streets of Washington D.C. (or their smoke-filled rooms, too).

Predators of the feline variety rarely attack from the front. Stealth hunters, you are unlikely to have enough time to draw a gun.

Bears, are defensive of their offspring and will attack (or run) without regard to your circumstances, but according to theirs. You might get warning. Around here, Brown/Grizzly bears, the conventional wisdom is to play dead. With our Black Bears, that tactic will get you eaten. Brownies don't favor humans for food and they are the top predator. Picky eaters. Black Bears, if they have not run from you, are just as likely to want to make a meal of you.

If you want to instantly stop any large predator no handgun is really adequate, though the 500 Smith comes darned close. Even a medium black bear can absorb a tremendous amount of energy and still eat your lunch (before dying itself). A mortally wounded bear can live for quite a long time before expiring. Unless you take out the central nervous system (hard shot to make) or break a major bone (enough to slow a bear down so you can take a more leisurely kill shot).

Across the Northern Tier, (Alaska, Canada, Greenland, Polar regions) bear spray has a MUCH better track record of keeping humans uninjured than firearms.

Of firearms, 12 Gauge with Brenneke slugs is highly favored. 45-70 Carbine is very popular. The 500 S&W is the most effective handgun, but expensive and heavy. Handguns are very hard to hit well with. My usual advice is to go to an outdoor area with a good backstop and a long, sloped area heading toward the firing line. Take a soccer ball (about the size of a bear's vitals, right?) and prop it on the slope with a piece of wood. Turn away from the ball. Have a friend shoot the prop out from under the ball (or if (s)he is not such a good shot, use a string) and when the ball is ten meters from you and rolling/bouncing at least 20 mph, your friend tells you to turn. Draw and fire. How many times can you hit it with a handgun? a shotgun? bear spray? Extra points if you can hit only the black spots on the ball.

The best way I know of to ruin a good fishing trip or hike in the woods is to shoot any animal in defense of life or property. Alaska Troopers investigate every DLP shoot. You are responsible to report the incident and to preserve the skull and hide. The State becomes the owner of the cape. You get to keep nothing but a copy of the investigation report and any pictures you manage to take (and the story, of course).

Spray a bear and you are morally obligated to report it (to keep other hikers safe), but you have preserved wildlife, taught a bear that humans are more trouble than they are worth and kept yourself safe.

Drawbacks of spray are that they are not reloadable, and if you have a second encounter, you may be short of ammunition.

When I am in the woods, I carry spray and a 454 Casull, but, given the choice, will use the spray first. If carrying only one, the spray. But not the wimpy anti-personnel sprays. 8-10 oz, 10% oleoresin capsicum (or the newer UDAP).

On .357 Magnums and barrel length: When the .357 was invented, it was designed when 6" barrels were the norm and 4" was considered a "shorty". To me, the .357 IS a 6" cartridge (or longer). With more modern powders, you give up less power in the 4" barrel than you did with the powders available in 1934, but a 33% cut in barrel length seems significant to me. My 454 is 7.5"; worn in a cross-draw holster on my strong side, it is right under my hand and fairly fast in presentation.

Bullet selection: Heavier is better, solid, hard cast with a wide meplat. Penetration to vitals is delivered by the weight. Hard cast keeps the bullet together and the flat front provides disruption.

Good luck. Thanks for asking our advice.

Lost Sheep

[L_Killkenny]

but after reading the thread it sounds like the consensus might be 10mm.

While I'm definetly a revolver fan you'll note in my posts that I don't think that a semi is a bad choice for woods carry. But you have to look at the demographics of the site you're on to see the ONLY reason the 10mm is making such a strong showing. Not saying it is bad, just that making a desision on it's vality for a woods gun is not a great idea from an informal poll/discussion on a SD based site. Heck, the semi auto section see's more action than general handguns and revolvers combined here a TFL.

What about a carbine?

You want to carry around 7-8lbs of dead weight plus ammo go right ahead. But in 99.99% of the lower 48 it's just that, dead weight. (Unless one is hunting that is.) In other words, very mall ninja-esk.

LK

[JACK308]

get a TRENCH KNIFE AND HAVE SOME FUN WITH WILDLIFE!

[kraigwy]

To me, the .357 IS a 6" cartridge (or longer).

I don't know, I've killed several moose and a buffalo with my 4 in Model 28 Service Revolver, using 150 LSWC.

Both moose and buffalo are a bit bigger then mountain lions and 200 lb black bears.

I shot this guy when he was going after my patrol car. (see below)

Having said that, unless I'm hunting all I carry any more is my 642 in my pocket with the same bullet listed above only in 38 cases.

[Alaska444]

I have two .357's and one .44 magnum. The .44 magnum is my Idaho woods gun and it works just fine. The .357 is obviously a great weapon as well as the moose kill above demonstrates, but I would point out that is a CNS shot to drop a moose like that. If you don't have CNS shot, then the .44 magnum will get a lot better penetration.

Lost Sheep, great tip on the bouncing soccer ball, what a perfect way to practice woods defense. I don't know about that shooting only the black spot trick, that is beyond my pay grade.

When we lived up in Anchorage, our firing range was the dug out bank behind our house at the top of O'malley road. In those days, the only thing behind us was several miles of wilderness, not so today. We shot when we wanted, my dad had a big bonfire when needed and no one at all said you could or couldn't do any of that. I suspect you couldn't do that anymore at the top of O'Malley road any longer. The lower 48 isn't the only place that has changed in the last 50 years.

[BarryLee]

Of all of the 10mm votes, how many of you have one?

It's not an everyday cartridge. I don't know anyone with one, nor have a I met anyone with one. I've only read about it.

Is it gaining popularity?

Well, for whatever it is worth I own a Glock G20 and have for a few years. It is actually pretty common around Atlanta. The LGS always has a few in stock and a good supply of ammo. I am seriously considering the purchase of a Ruger Red Hawk .44 Magnum. However, not sure I would feel under-gunned with 16 rounds of 10mm at least in the Southeastern US which is what the OP asked about.