Preferred Woods Gun

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Notably, Houston, being mostly in Harris County, is just one county west of a notorious incident in which feral hogs killed and partially consumed a woman,

We heard grunts and loud noises and saw a feral hog desperately kicking aside rocks larger than softballs to find water.

Like I had said before it depends on the woods or what one “might” encounter, but I must say I forgot about wild pigs. I am thinking if I were in an area where pigs or Razorbacks were a concern I am pretty sure I would be packing a Glock 20 in 10mm…and an extra magazine or two.

When I was a kid we lived in Rogers Arkansas for a year when I was in 7th grade. The first time I saw Razorbacks was at the city dump. I was fascinated until the caretaker showed up with a 30-30, fired two rounds into the dirt to run them off. Then I got a lecture from him on “staying the hell away from hogs! Run Boy! That’s what you do. Get to a tree and climb. Pigs can’t climb.”

A few days later my brother and I were in some woods nearby home looking for Ginseng plants when we heard pigs. We took the dump caretaker’s advice and scooted up a tree as about a dozen pigs came down the hill towards where we were. They had heard us, I guess. As they came down the hill I guess they either saw us or smelled us. Either way they hung around at the base of that tree for nearly an hour. We know it was about an hour because we were a half hour late getting home for lunch and my Mom was angry until we told her why we were late. When the pigs trotted off we waited a while before climbing down snd beatin’ feet home.

If pigs are a concern I would go with fire power and more than a revolver holds and I want fast reloads. I love my revolvers, but…
 
A " real woods person "?
Not wanting to carry unnecessary weight at all.
" A compact polymer pistol would likely be in order"?
Seeing opinions like this, give me pause.
In the 50 odd years I've spent, in the woods, never once have i thought or heard said, gee i wish i had a little compact pistol for defending my self.
Everyones mileage varies, mine is from a western perspective, where bears, mountain lions, cancer eye cows or other similar things that can and will stomp horn or rip you apart.
If yours is from methheads or snapping turtles, then obviously your perspective is much different. So painting everyone's needs with that broad a brush, is puzzling
 
My woods walking gun is usually just my EDC. A Taurus 85 UL with +P hollow points. No brown bears and the black bears are few and far between in my area, although they are getting much more common.
Lots of coyotes though, and the occasional transient with a camp set up on public land, but they are usually hiding out if they hear you coming.
 
Not wanting to carry unnecessary weight at all.
I have never gone backpacking, but I have had friends who do, including a great niece who is just finishing the Appalachian Trail. I cannot imagine adding a heavy firearm and ammunition to the gear and supplies that they carry.

One of them spends a lot of time in Colorado. He does come across and photograph families of bears. He carries bear spray, but he has never had to use it, and I have never seen it.

If one's travels involved a horse or ATV, weight would be nowhere near as critical.
 
You guys all get wrapped around the axle with what is the best woods gun and yet within reasonable limits it not nearly as import as the person running it. It always floored me when I was shooting a lot of USPSA competition how many guys running the latest and greatest semi-autos would allow me to beat them running my revolver in a sport were capacity and reload speed have a huge effect on your score. There was no reason I should have beat them other than I was willing to put in the time practicing and they were not. Carry what you want, but practice with it and be proficient with it. That will get you far further than the particular specs of the chosen firearm.

Yesterday while filling feeders, checking cameras, and clearing back the edge of a food plot I carried the old Webley it rides well on the belt. When we were finished working and I decided to go for a late afternoon early evening walk to see if I could find some armadillos. I ditched the Webley in the truck and grabbed my 300 BO pistol.
 
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I'm a rule breaker. This is my favorite woods gun for around here. And the right companion knife.

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But not a total scofflaw. For a centerfire, well I guess this one. It's loaded with 158 grain jacketed flat point full house .357, same in the speed loaders.
Might be handy walking around the woods in New Mexico or the like. And to my thinking, another proper companion knife.

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Like what Pat Riot said, it depends on the "woods". When we visited Yellowstone I carried my 6" GP100, literally loaded for bear (thankfully none met). In the Northeast I carry my 4" SP101, with lighter loads. Have heard one thrashing around some berries, but we high-tailed it out of there. Not one to pick a fight.
 
Once when my bud went to Colorado for a week he asked me to go out and keep an eye on his cows and that Psycho Houdini bull of his who refused to stay pinned for more than a week at a time I wore my 4" GP-100 and thought it would be too heavy. But with an Uncle Mikes Holster and a good stiff leather belt I forgot it was even on me. You can carry a heavy gun if you use the proper rig to support the weight. And I really like that gun. It has proven its self to be accurate.
 
Once when my bud went to Colorado for a week he asked me to go out and keep an eye on his cows and that Psycho Houdini bull of his who refused to stay pinned for more than a week at a time I wore my 4" GP-100 and thought it would be too heavy. But with an Uncle Mikes Holster and a good stiff leather belt I forgot it was even on me. You can carry a heavy gun if you use the proper rig to support the weight. And I really like that gun. It has proven its self to be accurate.
When I carry that 686 shown above, and a couple of speed loaders and a belt knife, I use suspenders worn over a t-shirt with outer shirt worn untucked. Works pretty good for an old guy.;
 
When I carry that 686 shown above, and a couple of speed loaders and a belt knife, I use suspenders worn over a t-shirt with outer shirt worn untucked. Works pretty good for an old guy.;

I do something similar with my 44 mag rig. I use one of the wide leather tool belts with the holster on the right and an ammo pouch and belt knife on the left for balance. Then clamp on suspenders to the belt so my shoulders take some of the weight. That works great and I can wear it all day and it doesn't try to drag my britches off being on my pants belt.
 
I always take my stainless Security Six when camping. It's a tank, but we're in an RV on a lake mostly. The clothing I tend to wear will only hide my every-where-I-go P32.

When I decided to walk woods, nature trails and greenways, my choice will be the K6S I am waiting on a holster for. Looking forward to that!
 
If I'm hunting, my 7 1/2" Ruger Redhawk in .44 mag.

I also have a 4 inch S&W model 66 that walked with me quite a bit but has since been left behind for my Glock 20 and 200 gr hardcast.

Edited to add. I saw one post that someone had a couple instances of not having a gun in the woods.

At one time, PA disallowed carrying a gun in archery season ( since changed with a LTCF).
I came down out of a tree and had 5 feral dogs around me. No pistol, I pulled 2 arrows out and kept them away from me till I got back to my truck about 100 yards away.
One of the only times I was afraid. Next day hunting, glock 32 on my hip. Law be damned.
 
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My favorite is the Ruger Vaquero in 44 Magnum. It's big but I don't need to CC in the woods. I consider the 44 Magnum is a good cartridge for anything I need to kill if I run into two or four legged problems and if I really think I'm going to need more than a handgun I can pair it with a Marlin 94 (also in 44 magnum).
 
If in bear country a Ruger Blackhawk in 41 mag. If it’s people I have to watch out for them a semi auto is in order. Just around then 38 will suffice. Loaded w rat shot. And wad cutters.
 
I guarantee this will be in a holster this fall. If I'm hunting with a rifle, any packable big bore that I can hit a Coke can with a 30yds will suffice.

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Along with myriad other choices. Not really planning on running gun battles with hordes of tweakers.

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If I want to be better prepared for targets of opportunity, I'll opt for something with adjustable sights. Like a 4 5/8" - 5 1/2" Blackhawk or 4 - 6" S&W. Usually a .44 or .45 but sometimes a .357 but more because I like the guns than the cartridge.

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