back country side arm

[Brad5192]

Looking to buy a good gun for the woods.

Do you guys have any good ideas of what to get for under $600?

 

[moxie]

Ruger GP-100, 4".

 

[VegasAR15]

Taurus Tracker 4" 44mag is what I went with.

 

[NOLAEMT]

where are you going to be?

I went with a S&W 686p, as where I spend my time I am unlikely to see anything larger than a feral hog or black bear, and 357 is enough gun i think. If you're going where you'll see the big bears I would think about something larger.

 

[Blue Brick]

Ruger 357.

 

[Brad5192]

I like a 4 in .44mag min.

I was woundering what about the judge

 

[Brad5192]

I have a .454 raging bull now with a 6-1/2 barrel the draw is to long. I would like a little shorter draw. Besides my dad is buy the .454.

 

[RidgwayCO]

Unless you absolutely need the magnum's fire, roar, and recoil, how about a .44 Special?

A S&W 396 Mountain Lite holds 5 rounds of .44 Special and mine weighs 18oz empty. A pleasure to carry and surprisingly controllable to shoot. It might be difficult to find one for $600 though...

A Rossi 720 is made of stainless steel, has a 3" barrel, weighs 30 oz, and also holds 5 rounds of .44 Special. They can usually be found on GunBroker or GunsAmerica for $250 to $300. Mine is dead reliable (and might be the best "pickup gun" ever made).

 

[VegasAR15]

I was woundering what about the judge

I don't think that the judge would stand up to the hot 45colt loads you would want for your purposes. Unless, you are simply wanting it for snakes you may come across.

 

[thunder173]

I own Tauri,..and I love .410's and .45 LC. But I can tell you,..any sidearm I would carry back country,..wouldn't be the Judge......period. Just my take,...ymmv

Depending on where you are, nearly any decent quality .357/.41/.44 Mag will get it done. If you are partial to Single Actions,..look at the Rugers,....I favor a .44 Mag Ruger Super Blackhawk in 4 5/8 barrel myself,...and occasionally carry others,..including a 4 inch .357 Taurus Tracker.

 

[sonier]

357 mag in a ruger GP-100 would be perfect, the 357 mag is the most versatile cartidge i think out there. single actions i would go with ruger for sure, double actions id go with taurus or ruger.

 

[Brad5192]

VegasAR15 How do you like your .44? How is the accuracy. Can you find a holster and do speed loader work with it.

 

[Peakbagger46]

How about a 3" SP 101 .357... or a 4 5/8" Blackhawk .45LC?

 

[VegasAR15]

Its the first and only 44mag that I have fired, so I can't really compare it to others. The first time I shot it I could not wipe the smile off of my face, and pretty much everytime since then too. I am not a great shot, but it seems to be very accurate for me. I have not yet purchased a holster or speed loader for it. After some searching on forums I found a speed loader that works with it, can't remember which one at the moment. There is not a huge holster selection, but you should be able to find some for it. The porting helps with recoil, but it is a very loud gun. I got mine for 471 shipped from budsgunshop.com, I think they have a used one now for 419.

 

[RugerDoug]

Ruger GP 100 357 magnum.

 

[Dr.Rob]

Any 4 inch 357 from Ruger, Smith & Wesson, Dan Wesson

 

[Guillermo]

Dr Rob is exactly right

He known as the "great compressionalist"

 

[Red Cent]

Ruger Blackhawk 4 5/8". 45 Colt/ 45ACP. With 200, 225, 250gr bullet you can approach the 44 Mag AND you have a forty five. The versatile Ruger convertible allows the owner to play with a lot of toys.

 

[Arkansas Paul]

Ruger Blackhawk in your barrel length of choice. For carrying around a lot in the woods, I'd probably go with the 5 1/2". Caliber wise, I'd go with the .357, .45 Colt or .41 Mag. They make it in .30 carbine, but I'm not a fan, you may be. Can't beat a Ruger IMO.

 

[Dr.Rob]

I might have added Taurus but I've never owned one, and Colts are kind of spendy.

 

[Guillermo]

I might have added Taurus but I've never owned one, and Colts are kind of spendy.

quit it!
You are harming your efficiency!

 

[content]

Hello friends and neighbors// 4" for speedier draw--- 6" for hunting


I like this set up for the woods;
S&W 586, 6" .357/.38 and Interarms (Rossi) Model 92 .357/.38

 

[dashootist]

$500 Uberti SAA, 45 Colt, 250gr bullet, 35 gr FFF black powder

 

[Dirty Bob]

A used Blackhawk in .357, .44 Mag., or .45 Colt might work for you, but I would only recommend .45 Colt if you reload. I find my BH to be fairly mild in recoil, while sending a 255 grain SWC out with quite a bit of force. It penetrated seven gallon milk jugs of water and kept going. My only regret was not having more jugs with you that day. This is a modest handload, but it works for me. The .45 "LC" is very pricey in factory loads, however.

All my best,
Dirty Bob

 

[FTSESQ]

Ruger GP-100, 4".

+1 to that. Stainless if possible.