When you guys are in the woods ,but not hunting, what handgun is most likely to be strapped on your hip??? Depending on the area, I will have either my S&W kit gun in 22mag with 4" barrel, shootin CCI 40gr jhp or solid bullets or a S&W Mtn. Gun in 45Colt loaded with a handload of a 280gr swc-gc running about 900fps. Just curious to see what you guys carry in different parts of the country......

I'd say the one that I have the most is a 45ACP, I always have a Kahr PM45 in my pocket and usually a 1911 in a IWB Milt Sparks, both loaded with 230 +P Rangers. I have them with me everyday so they are usually the ones I have just by default. I've found that I don't tote the 22s around like I probably should. Just as easy to tote the larger ones like the 5.5" 41s, 44s, or Linebaugh's and just have them loaded down if I'm actually going to have a revolver with me. I have been working on a new 22 though just for this very reason

The larger guns just for rambling around the woods are usually loaded in the 1000 fps range with bullets of the usual weights for the calibers. 250 or so in the 44, 420 in the 475, 440 in the 500, and 250 in the 41s.

I had my .500 Linebaugh SRH built as a back-up piece to be carried on the hip, that could also serve as a primary hunting tool if need be. It is light enough to carry comfortably and will handle virtually anything it needs to.

We don't have any big bad brown boo-boo's around here but you never know what you might see so I carry a centerfire revolver always and sometimes a 22 or 45/410 along with. My main poke around the yard, walk in the woods, ride the tractor piece has been a GP100 in .357 but this new Lipsey 44 Special Bisley could well replace it.

Up North, a 4 5/8" Ruger single action, 44 Mag or 45 Colt. Both were dropped off today @ Magnaport for upgrades.
In area's without bears, an old Colt Woodsman in .22LR.

For me last year & in the forseeable future, it's a custom 4.5" Ruger BH in 41 mag. with 265gr hardcast. Small & light enough that I'm not tempted to leave the truck without it, big enough to do the job with good shot placement (and with bear protection BIGGER won't make up for shot placement).

"...in the woods, but not hunting...". On public game lands in N.C., where I live, it is not legal to carry a handgun of a caliber greater than .22 when hunting seasons are closed.
Therefore, If I'm on Game Lands, I am most likely carrying a stainless Ruger Single-Six.
If I'm not on Game Lands or the season for ANYTHING is in, I will be carrying a FA revolver in whatever caliber strikes my fancy that day, from .357 Mag. to .500 WE.

I can say that im not scared of much in the woods but the one thing that makes me jump every time is a snake. years ago i picked up a bond arms snake slayer for that soul purpose and have been rather happy with it. 410 or 45 but ive only shot 410 out of it. im thinking of getting a tarus judge for the extra rounds.

In my common areas, the only dangerous game around has no arms or legs; no shoulders, pearl tooth, jake, rattle-mouth-moccasin, (Snakes),whatever you call'em in your part of the country, so bigbores aren't really needed. When I'm in the woods, hunting or not, I have a Ruger Bearcat on my hip. Great packin' gun. Good for small game, dangerous game (see above) and plain ole' plinking. Outside of the woods, it's the 1911, 45acp and various pocket pistols...;)

Depends on the time of year, the terrain, plains vs. mountains, etc.. Anything from a 22 LR to a 500 Linebaugh.

Doc

S&W M&P 9c...all day, every day.

4" Ruger Security Six in an El Paso Austin rig. Nostalgia mostly & not too heavy. All sorts of different loads. I usually carry target & business loads.

5.5" Redhawk 45. The extra weight helps get in shape for next years elk season. At least that's what I have to tell myself when I strap it on. I'd rather have it and not need it than the other way around.

Agreed with Doc: any handgun I can grab and go with that seems appropriate at the time...

If asked for ONLY ONE trail gun for all seasons?? I would choose my S&W .44 Model 329, Air Lite PD .44 magnum with
"light" 1000 fps. 240 gr. cast bullet loads. I do own one

\

Please note that my "choice" is focused on "trail gun" which would mean not necessarily a first choice for hunting or plinking, but a good choice for about anything that you might encounter. From having to shoot a rabbit or grouse or DEER or? for survival food, to protection from a big bad bear or cougar, to firing signal shots, to protecting myself from the Abominable Snowman (or a crazy human being bent on hurting me) to ????

Very light weight but "can do" in the power department.

In the Woods: 4" Redhawk 45 Colt. 355gr hardcast Ruger Only loads in a Simply Rugged Pancake holster.

Urban Jungle: Something a little more discrete.

Snyd,
How do you like that 4" Redhawk 45 Colt? I just purchased one and will pick it up next week when I get back in town.

for 30+ yrs my 6" single six. been thinking for yrs that i needed something with a shorter barrel and more horsepower....but then the old 22 has done all i needed and its kind of special as it was my frist handgun so something new never seems to come along.

I carried the 41 ruger for a trash around the woods gun for years,than about 2 years ago I got the 45/410 Judge lightwieght. Its easy packin and a good snakegun and rides easy on the tractor. I call it the bush hoggin gun.
Here lately I've been considering another woods gun the 8-shot 327 Blackhawk Ruger 5 1/2" ss.I think this gun would make a fine all around woods gun for all outdoor use. Its just big enough to kill large varmints,besides it will shoot all the 32's

The area you live definetly dictates what type of handgun you carry.Guys like Vance and Snyd, who live in Alaska, carry short barrel,easy packin, large bores with heavy bullets for whatever they may run into. Dave,Kral and Vern live in ares where snakes can be a problem and their choice of a carry handgun can easily stop a threat,whereas, guys like Whit come prepared and can take out anything on this planet with his 500."Shortrange" used a better term to describe the type of handgun we are talking about by calling them trail guns. This is a description I read many times in the old articles written by the great handgunner/writer Skeeter Skelton. In a Shooting Times article from Jan. 1977 entitled "Whats the best trail gun for you?" Skeeter lists calibers and guns that included .22`s, .32`s and what he considered his personal best in the .38 Special. The area he lived in ,the southwest, makes perfect sense in his choice of the 38Spec.However, I can also see that the bottom line in the choice of packin pistol or trail gun that you carry is whatever
keeps you out of harms way. Enjoy the trail and be safe, James

Single Six

I hope that changes to a Blackhawk in 327 when I can afford it.

I usually carry my Taurus 92 with f.m.j.. Eighteen rounds loaded in the magazine makes me feel safe.

Ruger Vaquero 44mag 5.5 inch.

Smith and Wesson N frame 44 mag. Have Black bears, mountain lions, coyotes, and bobcats so need something noisy even if not a great shot:)

Either my short barreled 475 or my 3 screw which was 357 but now is a 44 special.

1911 with 9 in the gun and and another magazine on my belt unless I am hunting archery, then we aren't suposed to cary a firearm.

Recently has been my 5.7 FN - exceptionally accurate, fun plinker, holds 20! Also, the polymer frame and paddle makes carrying a breeze. Got bigger stuff in the bandolier or over the shoulder...

S@W mountain gun in 44 mag with 300 grn hard cast. Last year while scouting for elk my cousin and i came across grizzly tracks, and a fellow that was right above our house was riding his motorcycle and came across two grizzys, and was able to get photos of them for proof that he had in deed seen them.

Bought a 41 mag mountain gun for my wife,loaded with 250 grn hard casts. Now i'm looking into getting something for my two boys there not to big yet only 8 and 12 so it will have to be something smaller maybe 357 with hard casts. If you guys have any good ideas i would like to here them.

Thanks Norm

Around my place I mainly carry my 5.5 inch SS Ruger Bisley, loaded heavy with 300 grain cast bullets. But I also carry a 329 Smith and a FA 454 at different times. (BTW the 329 is BRUTAL to shoot with my heavy cast loads, but its great to carry)

If I'm in the Big Horns or any place that doesn't have grizzlies I usually carry my 329 or compact Para LDA in 45 acp.

It really depends where I am going, what I am doing, etc., that determines what I carry.

Taurus Ultralite .38 Special or XP-100.........my needs vary!

Mine is always the same. FA M97 45 Colt 5.5" bbl, loaded with 250 gr SP @ about 1100 fps.

My "Trail Gun" is a 357 mag 4" barreled S&W 686 with a shot capsules stuffed with #7 under the hammer and five 158gr SWC wheel weight slugs filling out the cylinder, all stoked with 5 grains of Titegroup. A Ruger MKII and 223 Contender are kept handy in the truck if a varmint opportunity arises and are occasionally swapped out with the Smith when on the farm.

I like the 'scipt that "Shortrange" gave.

I take my "Crimson Black Beauty." Four inch SBH with 1000 fps 250 grain cast lead Keith Style loads.

Ruger Single-Six .22mag.

wheelguns,

I'm a Montana boy too. Consider 44s for your kids; but, load light 44 Spl. or 44 Russian rounds for them to learn to shoot the gun. The light loads will avoid the "flinch" factor and the boys will get used to their gun. I used that method for my son and two daughters. This assumes that you handload. Also, the muzzle blast from a 357 is an ear killer!

Doc

For woods tramping nothing beats a S&W K22!
Steve

depends on the time of year and where i am going.Most of the time it is my single six.barry picking in bear country the sbh will go. deer season with a tag available could be the contender in 30-30

My always carry gun is a S&W 638 Airweight 38 Special. I normally carry it if I do not plan on any shooting, but just want a gun with me.
If I plan on plinking, or it is Snake Season then it depends a little on what I come to in the gun safe first. I shoot pistol Matches so a holster is normally in the pistol case with the gun. I probably carry my Ruger Mark III Hunter 4" about as much as anything. I carry my S&W 617 22LR quite a bit also. Probably in centerfire my go to gun would be my S&W 610 10mm/40 S&W, or my S&W 625 45acp/45 Super/45AR/460 Rolland.
If I am in the woods on my 4 Wheeler in the Fall, and getting ready for Deer Season, I might even have my Super 14 Contender with the 22 barrel on it for a few practice shots in the woods.

Springfield Armory 1911 with 400 CorBon conversion..it has Micro adjustable sights, compensated barrel bushing..this is carried in a US Army tanker shoulder holster..with 135 grain HP bullets..great for 2 or 4 leg vermin..ElDee