Woods Revolver Cartridge

Status
Not open for further replies.
I’ve carried everything from a .22 w/2”bbl (M34 adj sites) to .45Colt/.44mag.

When carrying a centerfire rifle or shotgun w/slugs or buck, I carry a Rimfire. If carrying a .22rf or shotgun w/birdshot. A centerfire handgun. Preferably a.357mag. Nowadays a S&W NK M19.

As a conservation officer, I carried a Smith .357mag, Then later, a Glock M22. Found both to be sufficient. M19 or M66 4” are just about perfect.

I had a Ruger Redhawk 5.5” in .45Colt. Think crew served handgun. Carried it once on an all day hunt.
For all day, a S&W K frame is preferable.
 
Last edited:
uhh, I'm no expert - but, don't those hogs travel in sometimes pretty large groups? Just for the sake of discussion, and for maybe someone with experience with the feral hogs, would you really want to run into a team of those guys and have a six shot revolver?
 
uhh, I'm no expert - but, don't those hogs travel in sometimes pretty large groups? Just for the sake of discussion, and for maybe someone with experience with the feral hogs, would you really want to run into a team of those guys and have a six shot revolver?

If everyone thought like that, no one would leave the house without a Desert Eagle in .44 Magnum. Same ideology with those people who "conceal carry" a G19,four spare mags, and two back up guns.
 
The OP told me in an email that the guy shooting the 357 mag recovered all the bullets and they were expanded and stopped in the hog. Sounds like poor shooting and the wrong bullets being used. I would rather have a hard cast or at least a tough soft point to maximize penetration. I don't think you can blame the gun or cartridge for this failure.
 
Black bear, hogs to skunks. Quite a range of targets. I'd hate to plug a skunk with .44 or .357, just as I'd hate to have to defend against a bear with a .22. Possible to choose a middle road, but like most compromises it's likely to be best for none. Disclaimer, I've never hunted in your area, so I'll suggest a thought.

Pick the largest firearm you can comfortably and *accurately* shoot consistently to "put down dangerous critters." If it's "too big" for the small varmints, pass them by or deal with them, so be it. Personally I wouldn't trade personal safety from large threats for appropriate small calibers for non-threats.

-jb, if that all makes sense
 
We have Black Bears, once in a while a big cat is reported, Elk and Javelina are in the yard fairly often. I have never been real concerned about the critters big or small. Were I seriously concerned, in a revolver I guess I would carry my 4" 686 .357 or GP100 10MM.
IMG_9787.JPG
 
Minimal is kinda relative, especially in handguns where a 38 and a 357 are worlds apart in power but a 2” 357 and a 4” 38 are in reality pretty close. Since your tossing lion and blackies in the mix I’m going to say that exactly that option is my minimum in power level, and of the options I would opt more in favor of the 4” 38 because they are easy to shoot and get good hits, not to mention practice with because snub 357s are all around obnoxious to ears, eyes, hands, and face. BUT I will add that a 4” 357 is the same size and weight, so why not step it up a notch in power with essentially no felt effect. In fact I would step it DOWN even to a 3” .357 balancing the portability and power levels. It helps that one recently came to market with swappable cylinders that also will shoot 9mm. I have nothing left to complain about in a 357 for secondary arm or even primary arm if I’m not actively hunting. If hunting I want a longer barrel for a better sight radius and to build velocity meaning flatter trajectory for long shots.
 
Minimal is kinda relative, especially in handguns where a 38 and a 357 are worlds apart in power but a 2” 357 and a 4” 38 are in reality pretty close. Since your tossing lion and blackies in the mix I’m going to say that exactly that option is my minimum in power level, and of the options I would opt more in favor of the 4” 38 because they are easy to shoot and get good hits, not to mention practice with because snub 357s are all around obnoxious to ears, eyes, hands, and face. BUT I will add that a 4” 357 is the same size and weight, so why not step it up a notch in power with essentially no felt effect. In fact I would step it DOWN even to a 3” .357 balancing the portability and power levels. It helps that one recently came to market with swappable cylinders that also will shoot 9mm. I have nothing left to complain about in a 357 for secondary arm or even primary arm if I’m not actively hunting. If hunting I want a longer barrel for a better sight radius and to build velocity meaning flatter trajectory for long shots.
Black bear would *probably* be relatively rare, and if cougar truly got after ya with an intent to have you for lunch... you wouldn't know it until it's jaws was around your throat.
 
The OP told me in an email that the guy shooting the 357 mag recovered all the bullets and they were expanded and stopped in the hog. Sounds like poor shooting and the wrong bullets being used. I would rather have a hard cast or at least a tough soft point to maximize penetration. I don't think you can blame the gun or cartridge for this failure.

This, my friend; is one of those times and critters in which shot placement and proper bullet selection is more important than the cartridge being used (to an extent). Buffalo Bore's H20 .38 Spl +P HC Keith would probably do the job on my local hogs, given proper shot placement, whereas .454 Casull to the gullet probably wouldn't produce an immediate stoppage.

Whether said beastie gets shot with a mewling RNL .38 and bleeds out a day from now, or gets shot with a .454 Casull and bleeds out six hours from now; it's irrelevant when you've been gored, gutted, mauled and made into hog chow because you put too much stock in caliber and not enough in shot placement.
 
uhh, I'm no expert - but, don't those hogs travel in sometimes pretty large groups? Just for the sake of discussion, and for maybe someone with experience with the feral hogs, would you really want to run into a team of those guys and have a six shot revolver?

As soon as you start shooting, they will scatter like cockroaches when the light is flipped on.
 
I wouldn’t personally characterize it as “plenty,” it’s more minimal. I think the .44 Mag would be a good all-around piece.
How about a properly loaded to warm .44 Spl, or a properly loaded .45 Colt; both with hard cast bullets ? Would they be classified as "minimal" ?
 
A woods load is no good if it can't be fired in a woods revolver. That rules out 44 magnums, because any 44 mag that's light enough to carry all day would be too light to shoot. My woods gun is a Charter Arms Target Bulldog in 44 Special with adjustable sights and a 4" barrel. It's filled with Buffalo Bore 200 grain wadcutters. They hit hard and penetrate, and they're the hottest load you can safely shoot in a light gun like a Bulldog.
 
A woods load is no good if it can't be fired in a woods revolver. That rules out 44 magnums, because any 44 mag that's light enough to carry all day would be too light to shoot. My woods gun is a Charter Arms Target Bulldog in 44 Special with adjustable sights and a 4" barrel. It's filled with Buffalo Bore 200 grain wadcutters. They hit hard and penetrate, and they're the hottest load you can safely shoot in a light gun like a Bulldog.
S&W Mdl 69 ? It'll tolerate any factory .44 Mag, but is more suitable to .44 Spl's. Also, it is a matter of compromise.
 
A woods load is no good if it can't be fired in a woods revolver. That rules out 44 magnums, because any 44 mag that's light enough to carry all day would be too light to shoot. My woods gun is a Charter Arms Target Bulldog in 44 Special with adjustable sights and a 4" barrel. It's filled with Buffalo Bore 200 grain wadcutters. They hit hard and penetrate, and they're the hottest load you can safely shoot in a light gun like a Bulldog.

How is a 3-lb revolver a dealbreaker? All of my carry rigs are comfortable.
 
I carry my Colt New Service -- both in the woods and in town occasionally. It's very comfortable in an El Paso Saddlery #88 pancake holster.

Remind me please, good sir; isn't your Colt New Service chambered in .45 Colt ?
 
A woods load is no good if it can't be fired in a woods revolver. That rules out 44 magnums, because any 44 mag that's light enough to carry all day would be too light to shoot. My woods gun is a Charter Arms Target Bulldog in 44 Special with adjustable sights and a 4" barrel. It's filled with Buffalo Bore 200 grain wadcutters. They hit hard and penetrate, and they're the hottest load you can safely shoot in a light gun like a Bulldog.

The 329pd is 25oz and it does kick, but it's not like it's impossible to shoot in anyway. I wouldn't want to fire 500rds of full power Magnums thru it but a couple cylinders aren't bad at all
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top