Favorite woods/trail gun?

Ruger 77/22 MK II in .22 WMR with matching S&W 451. Never needed more than a handfull of extra shells (~12).

Scoped Marlin 60 with whatever's the cheapest bulk .22 for squirrels and bunnies. I'm more worried about an empty stomach than getting attacked. I'll probably carry an extra 50 or 100 rounds in plastic baggies.

I am a deciple of John Taffin's packing pistol concept as such I have more than a dozen packing pistols that I find near equal in my admiration. But for example the last time I went bumming around the farm I had a OM flattop Blackhawk 357 loaded with home brewed 158gr LSWCHPs @ 850fps in a Ruger branded triple K thumb break holster and had 20 extra rounds in my back pocket. As always LF pocket carried my Smith 442.
a link to Taffin's PPP article
http://www.sixguns.com/range/perfect_packin_pistol.htm

For me it all depends on what I"m going to be doing in the woods.

All things from a Ruger Single Six (and yes I carry both cylinders with me) to a S&W422 for plinking to something like my Marlin 1894 or a Super Blackhawk.

There are other times, when I'm in a "public woods" and feel the need for personal protection, my Sp101 or any of my Glocks would fit the bill.

If I'm just hiking or something, not planning on hunting anything, I'll carry my S&W 469. If I'm hunting, I'll purpose carry a long gun, unusally my .22 or either 12 or 20 guage shotgun.

Vaquero 44Mag or CZ 40 S&W, holster mounted center of chest, works better when riding a horse.

Colt SAA 45.

Depends what time of year it is...

summer: Kimber eclipse ii target loaded with 230 gr whatever (its eats what i feed it and never misses a beat) spring: Kimber (see above) fall: stoeger uplander 12ga 2 gun loaded with #1-3" or #5-3" and the 1911 Winter: marlin model 60 loaded with stingers and you guessed it the kimber 1911. Not worried bout nuttin gettin me just like my guns.

My favorite woods gun is actually my Romy WASR-10 with jacketed soft points. 30-30 ballistics in a semi-auto.
If I ever get an R&D cylinder for my 12" 1858, it'll probably accompany me to the woods a lot too.

The Romy works great on hogs, dogs, people, bear, wild cats (there's a few panthers around. Though I haven't seen a cat, I've seen sign of their presence). The bears and big cats are both protected, but self-defense is self-defense. If I'm going out mesing about looking for squirrels, rabbits or small game birds, I prefer a lead .22 which is the ultimate survival round.

My most usual RF companions are my cherished Marlin 39M, a 4" stainless Taurus M94 or Ruger NM Bearcat. Just got hold of a very nice old 6 3/4" Browning Nomad, and it may well enter the lineup. Add a couple of hundred rds. of whatever bulk pack .22LR is on hand and I'm set for a pretty pleasant afternoon.

In CF mode, usually either a much-beloved IMI Timberwolf .357 pump or a little 16" bbl. Rossi M92 "Trapper" in the same caliber. Woods bumming ammo for both is my standard general purpose handload of 158 gr. LSWC over 4.7 gr. Unique in .357 cases.

We live on 25 acres with woods, so my S&W 65 is nearly always with me. I know we have bears in the area, so if I also carry something bigger if I'm going past my immediate yard. I need to convince my wife that getting eggs and feeding the chickens can be dangerous, especially as winter is coming up and animals are getting ready to hibernate.

S&W 686 on my hip and a BL-22 filled with shorts. Never needed the revolver, but it's comforting.

Smith & Wesson Model 10 right now. has enough wear/patina that I dont care much about the finish, in fact i think it gives her character. I also like carrying the GP100 6" with some hard cast rounds when Im in ursine country.

Today, hiking in the Sangre de Cristo Range in southern Colorado, I had a Beretta 70S in .22 LR in a Safepacker on my pack's hip band. Saw four rabbits close up, but the season is not yet open, unforunately!

rodensouth said:

S&W 686 on my hip and a BL-22 filled with shorts. Never needed the revolver, but it's comforting.

Click to expand...

I find the choice of the BL-22 filled with shorts interesting...Not criticizing the choice by any means -- just interesting.

BTW -- I have had a BL-22 for going on 30 years, and I was always very pleased by its accuracy and handling characteristics.


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Beat up Glock 17, kinda heavy but you never know when you might need
a hammer. Sometimes a spare mag.
Dave

For personal protection in the woods I typically just carry my Glock 26. It's lightweight and small, reliable and easy to maintain. In Colorado we no longer have grizzly bears, so my "threats" really include the following:

1) black bears. Not a big threat, generally don't mess with people, and would probably be deterred without needing a HUGE-honking pistol. I don't really consider them much of a threat, unless you get in the way of their cubs, or catch them in the wrong place at the wrong time. I've seen lots of bears out here, and they're just as happy to go their separate way from you. Black bears don't typically prey on large animals either, so we don't look like we're on the menu.

2) Mountain lions. These are probably the most significant animal threat in my state. After all, their diet normally consists of an animal that weighs as much as a human, that has better senses, and is much faster. We must look like slow and dumb deer by comparison. Add to that the fact that mountain lions are extremely effective predators, and tend to ambush their prey, and you've got a fearsome adversary (should it look for a fight). They're generally elusive though, and will often back down from little more than aggressive posturing. They're also no bigger than a person, and are considered thin-skinned. If your gun will stop a person, it'll stop a mountain lion. Still, I wouldn't want to go hand-to-claw with one of these cats.

3) People. Their threat is the easiest to understand, and the hardest to predict.

4) Moose. These darn things get mean during the rut. I've been charged by a moose before, and it looks like a deranged freight train. Just get out of their way.


Anyway, I see personal protection as a different category than "bumming around in the woods". For bumming around I usually carry my cheap old bolt action .22lr. It's a great lightweight plinker, and works well for small game hunting.

For me it would be a S&W 629-4 with a 3" barrel.

A target sighted Browning Hi-Power with good hollow points or cast SWC's has always served me well. Potted many a critter with one.

mmmmm woods/trail guns are one of my favorite topics!!
currently, my top three trail guns:
1. NAA .22/.22mag mini revolver with holstergrip
2. Pietta '58 Rem .44 cap 'n ball, crossdraw holster
3. Ruger SP101 2.25".357 in a IWB holster

This list is subject to change.

PS I like "mtn bear"s rig

After Labor day I pack a Ruger MKI or a Raptor with 22 conversion for grouse until BG season then I just carry the rifle I'm hunting with. The rest of the year its usually a Glock in 9, 40 or .357. I've been having some fun with a 2.5" 66 and I might carry it during BG season, especially on pack outs once I can get rid of the rifle, I feel pretty good about it with bears that might want my elk.

Henry .22 is my usual woods/farm/mooching gun with 15 LR in the tube & a handfull of loose in my pocket. If I'm going to be anywhere a little hairier I'll switch it out for my 366 in .44mag. 10 in the magazine & I don't usually bother with any more. I carry both rifles in my hand, rather than slung.

For general hiking in spring and summer, my Ruger P89, usually. Sometimes my Pietta 1858 New Model Army in 5.5". I'm more worried about people than bears. After all, the woods and/or the desert are where the bad guys dump the bodies.

In the autumn, depends on what I'm hunting, a centerfire rifle or shotgun should do the trick.

Just my S&W 38 Spec snubby. Anything else is too big and heavy and I'll just not carry it. Guess I'm lazy!