baretta 9mm or 1911?

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Beretta mainly because of the high cap mag and in my experience, the 92FS will eat ANY ammo you feed it. Simple to disassemble in the field and shoots great.

FYI- 1911 is not just the name, but the actual year these guns were adopted by the Army. They were actually designed in the late 1890's. While I really enjoy shooting them and one day hope to own a Kimber .45 Ultra Carry, technology and design has changed quite a bit since their introduction.
 
Yeah... only because you mentioned "forest survival kit"...i would say 92fs as well.
 
"forest survival" ? I would have a Buckmark .22, but of the two I like Beretta 92s. I've always been fond of the 45auto though so I can't imagine you'd be in trouble either way. And didn't the US Army have special survival shot cartridges made for their 1911's during WWII? Hmmmm
 
You know, when day hiking, I throw my G19 in my pack -- that said -- I like the added capacity of the Beretta in this case
 
For the forests of the US Northwest, and given your parameters, I'd choose a 1911 in 10mm. Two-legged threats, black bears, mountain lions, deer & other game are all fair game to a 10mm cartridge. Grizzlys-if I had to use a handgun for defense against one, I'd much rather have a 10mm than a 9mm.

In Canada? Unless you're talking about unintentionally traipsing over the border while in the middle of the forest, I'll assume that you're kidding, right?

Sam
 
Forest-survival? I'd say neither. As much as I like the Beretta, I'd want something a bit bigger for things that go bump in the night.
How about a Colt Delta Elite in 10mm?
 
I would actually pick a glock 10mm. If you need to defend yourself from dangerous animals, a magnum revolver. If you are a Canadian, you might be able to get a permit that will let you carry one for defense against animals.

If the Beretta is easier to maintain than the 1911, I'd pick that .
 
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I thought you can't carry (even in the wood) handguns in CAN??
Beside, I would take a quality 1911 for the better caliber.
 
Beretta. I carry my 92FS in the woods a lot. I love my 1911A1, but it's a den gun and a range gun, not a carry gun. Fifteen rounds means you don't have to carry extra magazines.
 
It is way too big for the caliber, and the frame was designed in a way that it can't be adapted for a .45 or 10mm. It is the bulkiest auto I can think of.

When I joined the army, I had a neutral opinion, but over time, I like the Beretta less and less, and the 1911 more and more. I don't carry extra magazines for more rounds, I carry them to clear a stoppage, which is something you should plan for with any auto, in any caliber, with any capacity. In the woods, I will usually have the .22 kit on my Kimber frame.

I will second what others have suggested, that a pistol is what you use to fight your way back to the long gun you never should have put down in the first place. I usually take my SKS.
 
I own 'em both. I hate to pick the "other" option, but I will.

Either of those (9 or .45) would work on a smaller threat, but if you came across (or he came across you) a Grizzly (my fear if I was in that territory) I don't think either would quell the issue. It would require a magnum round in at least .357 but preferrably .44 or above. This would be for the penetration issue. That's revolver country (I know this is an auto board).

My choice for a mountain gun would be a big caliber revolver.

(If not an option I would go for the faster moving, deeper penetration of the 9. It also offers more capacity as mentioned by others.)
 
Forest survival and forest protection are 2 very different things, but not necessarily unrelated. I don't claim to be an expert on either topic, but I've thought about it quite a bit.

Survival in the wild should include hunting for food (most likely small game), signaling for help, protection from predators (4-legged and 2-legged) and possibly even emergency fire starting (using a cartidge with the bullet pulled out then crimped). It should be light enough to carry around for a day or a year, depending on how long you have to survive. It should be very rugged, simple and strong, not prone to malfunctions or breakages, and preferably stainless. No handgun meets all these criteria, but a single-action .22 revolver comes close in all but protection from large dangerous animals.

In a handgun, for protection only, in the NW wilds, I would carry at least a .357 Magnum revolver, or a .44 Magnum or .45 Long Colt, whichever I shot better.

I don't think either the Beretta 92 or the 1911 are particularly good choices for wilderness survival, or for protection from anything larger or more dangerous than other people. I own and love both but would choose a .44 Magnum for forest protection, and a .22 for survival.
 
OregonJohnny: "I don't think either the Beretta 92 or the 1911 are particularly good choices for wilderness survival, or for protection from anything larger or more dangerous than other people."

That is location-dependent; the people I happen to run across in the Maine woods tend to be a lot more stranger-danger than the four-footed critters.

No handgun in the world will stop a moose; your only defense if you tick off a rutting moose is to run for your life, climb a stout tree and settle in for a long night. The black bear are pretty small and peaceful. They are, however, rather quiet, so it is possible to surprise one. Cougars are out there, but few and quiet. The coyote wait for you to get lost and die. The wolves -- well, I've never actually yet met one in the Maine woods, and I strongly suspect a lot of wolf sightings are actually feral dogs, but a Beretta 92FS ought to drop a wolf. I hope.

Now as to people, you'll find lots of technically homeless seasonal loggers, plenty of stoned campers, a few illegal growers, and the occasional outta state body dumper (ever see Miller's Crossing? That's an actual southern Maine town, by the way, just off old Route 1). Beretta 92FS will deal handily with any, though I'd feel even better with a rifle, the carry of which, however, brings with it certain hunting law implications.
 
I love the 1911 platform and the .45acp but... I would pick the Beretta because of the capacity and penetration. I have had a few 1911's and believe it or slurp it the only one that didn't jamb all the time was my Llama. It had other problems though.
 
Neither in Canada, but if i had to the 1911 would be the way to go. in 10mm. theres a reason its been around for 97yrs and still the primere combat pistol on the planet.
 
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