Perfect - one gun for woods hunting.

Hey guys, what do you think?

I am often asked. "If I could only have one gun for hunting everything what would it be?" The typical perspective on this question for me is hunting the northeast but we can stretch it to all of North America if you like.
Take a look at James setup on his post - Hunt report - boar with 41. The scoped FA 83 in 41 Mag may be the perfect all around "one gun" hunting gun for North America from varmints to big game.

Luckily. Its not a real issue for me as I split my medium / big game hunting between my Contender 358 JDJ and several 44 mag revolvers. Plus I use several other guns for long range and closeup varmints and small game. If pushed hard for an answer on my personal guns I would probably pick my Redhawk 44 Mag with removable scope although my Contender 358 JDJ will kill anything it encounters!

Just to clarify. I have never owned a 41 Mag or a Freedom Arms gun in any caliber but I do recognize a winning setup when I see one!

My staple is a Bisley 45 Colt with an UltraDot for deer and such. Plenty of range for most of my hunting. I occasionally carry a T/C 7-30 Waters on a sling if I am going to be watching over a field edge in the evenning, but the 45 is on me all day and I could do if that was all I had.

I have always said that if limited to one handgun it would be a Freedom Arms 454 Casull with extra cylinders......

If I was going to choose one handgun, I'd choose a T/C Encore with a 270 Winchester barrel. While I don't have any experience with that particular configuration, I have quite a bit of experience hunting the U.S. and New Zealand with a 270 Winchester chambered Weatherby Vanguard. If I was allowed only one handgun but anticipated being able to hunt everything from coyote to elk, that's what I'd go with in an Encore.

Alternatively, I'd put the scope back on the Model 460. Certainly wouldn't be under gunned with that.

I wouldn't want to make that decision! But probably I would say the T/C Encore in .308. As is well established, the .308 has a huge variety of loadings, from varmint to big game.

As of right now, my "one gun to hunt everything" is my T/C Encore in 30-338 Win Mag. It's accurate enough for prairie dogs, and thumps hard enough on the big end for anything I'd want to hunt.

Might not be the answer you were looking for, but since you said "gun" I'd pick a Contender or Encore with multiple barrels. I'm using 30-30 right now, but 308 would probably make more sense for larger game and longer ranges. 17hmr (or wsm I would imagine) is a lot of fun on the smaller side but still has respectable range.

I'm not as experienced as most, but I believe I would be happy with my 44 Special. I shoot it well, and it can be loaded from mild to wild.

I love my Ruger Blackhawk 41 magnum, but the 44 is quickly pushing it into the back seat.

Brenden

I believe I would go with a FA83 454 with a 7 1/2" barrel and a 2X6 Bushnell Elite. I don't think I would be lacking for 90% of all hunting situations.

For woods hunting deer which is what I do the most I would be very happy with my Ruger Redhawk 44 mag with a 5.5" barrel and a ultradot 30 mounted on it.

This gun is fun to shoot balanced very well and deadly to 100 yards or better.

My 7 1/2-inch .480 SRH with an Ultradot 30 up top has served me well.

Woods and fields for deer here. 14" 35rem contender, good to 200yrds if ya catch that rutting buck out wandering around.
Love the revolver but it does restrict you(me) on some opportunity here.

I'd say either my Bisley Hunter in .44 magnum OR my TC G2 in .357 Maximum.
But I could also get most of my hunting done with my .44 special flat top. Lol.

RIGHT ON, # 2 would be my 12"X frame in 460,

I can't pick just one. Like picking a favorite kid!!! Ha.

My 629 Comped Hunter 44Mag w/2X Leupold

I'd have a tough time picking between my .41's and 454's, but in the end if it had to be just one I'd lean towards the .45.

45 colt. From 260s @ 800fps to 350s @ 1200fps, what would it not cover.

Probly my 45colt Super Blackhawk Hunter... I really feel like I'm cheating on my Encore 7mm 08 when I say that....it has served me well. In the end, the ability to go from irons to scope to red dot and back in about 10 seconds is what does it for me. That, and having multiple shots for when I'm hunting something that might bite back.

This.... I've got .44 magnums but the Ruger .44 Special 5 1/2" is my favorite I think. We don't have any cape buffalo around my house yet

the NON pc answer. single six! if im down to only one i wouldnt be above using a flashlight. .22 is a lot less mess on small game too boot.