Best Self Defense Pistol

[ylapirrynag]

I would like to now what is the best pistol for self defense against people and animals. Me and my friend like to go hiking up in Lewiston (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lewiston,_CA) were he lives, and I want a caliber that can protect me from a cougar (there have been sightings of at least a 9ft cougar up there, and that isn't counting the tail ). I don't want a rifle or shotgun due to the size, we occasionally have to crawl/climb through bushes up a 30%+ grade hills. However, the biggest problem is I am 15 years old. :|
(Sorry if this thread is in the wrong board. )

 

[chupacabrah]

if your friend is 21, maybe look into .357 revolver, or .41/.44 magnum.

if you're both under 21..... carry a stick

 

[ylapirrynag]

:|
Well, I currently do carry a stick and practice with it (it's a staff).

 

[shdwfx]

"Best"? Trying to start a war?

 

[kentucky_Dave]

This could easily spiral into a caliber war, or a pet manufacturer debate, but look at it in the most simplistic form.
Find a gun that fits your hand comfortably and properly (for good instinctive aiming) and practice before you go on any expeditions.
A gun that properly suits you will be very easy to aim, and considering the probability that you'll be using it without the luxury of taking the time to perfect your sight picture, instinctive aiming is essential.

Hope that helps

 

[DawgFvr]

The "best self defense pistol" is the one you have at hand that deters the threat.

You must be bored.

 

[marksman13]

#1-show me a nine foot cougar, and I'll show you Bigfoot.

#2-anything that will work on a human will work on a cougar.

#3-there isn't any pistol that you can legally buy from a dealer at 15.

 

[ylapirrynag]

I am both bored at the moment, and a little worried when I am up there on a hike and I hear branches snap. :|
I want something that'll put down an animal if it charges me or my friend. I'll ask my dad about a .357 magnum and if I raised the money to buy one if he would let me have it.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cougar

 

[luckylogger6]

We must be almost neighbors up here in real Northern Ca. Search here for discussions on wilderness guns but, at your age think about a fixed blade knife. No one would think twice about a 15yr old carring that in Lewiston. As a forester I spend a ton of time out in the woods and am not as worried about four legged animals, as I am the two-legged type. Mt lions are out there but most sightinigs are just that...sightings.

 

[ImARugerFan]

357 revolver.

 

[Gord]

1) Do a search
2) I don't believe you can legally carry a handgun (or a rifle, for that matter), whether open or concealed, unless you're on private land, with permission
3) As above with regards to a nine-foot cougar
4) Seriously, this is either a troll or you really need to learn how the Net works re: searches.

 

[luckylogger6]

357 revolver.

You would send you 15yr old son out with your .357 alone?

 

[ylapirrynag]

^I'm not alone I'm with my 14 year old friend. (This is a joke :|)

1-Doing that.
3-Read the wikipedia on them. They can get 9 feet.
4-I like to gather as much information as I can before I formulate a conclusion otherwise I have a bastardized opinion which has been the result of mistakes that other people have made. For example going to the M9 beretta pistol in the military (which I believe is inferior to the 1911 Colt).

 

[Gord]

There is a difference between forming opinions based on what you read on the Errornet, and forming opinions based on experience and knowledge. One carries no weight whatsoever; people just might listen to the other.

You're probably going to want to find out if and how you can even carry a gun, before you go wasting a week doing research on which gun to carry. Just a thought.

You would send your 15yr old son out with your .357 alone?

Better alone than trying to impress someone by fooling around and "looking badass." My 15yo brother and his friends out with a gun unsupervised... scary thought.

 

[Phydeaux642]

there have been sightings of at least a 9ft cougar up there, and that isn't counting the tail

I think they call that a weiner-cougar.

 

[ylapirrynag]

A minor may not possess a handgun except with written permission or under the supervision of a parent or guardian.

A minor under 16 may not possess a handgun, unless they are accompanied by their parent or guardian while participating in a legal recreation activity involving firearms or has written permission to participate in such activities.

A minor under 16 may not possess live ammunition except with the written permission or under the supervision of a parent or guardian, or while going to or from an organized lawful recreational or competitive shooting activity or lawful hunting activity.

Well a .357 would be a nice birthday present. XD

 

[Gord]

I'm not reading that as "a note from my dad gives me permission to carry a gun wherever I want." California is not exactly liberal (excuse the pun) with its allowances for firearms; I just moved out-of-state last year to get away from that, among other things.

Without a CCW I believe you're only allowed to open-carry a handgun while hunting, in some counties. You may be able to OC (though this may be only for those 18+) in your county as I recall something about OC being legal in counties with a population under 200,000. Internet info, grain of salt, I am not a lawyer, etc. Someone in Cali should be able to give more concrete and detailed information on these things - you might try shooting a PM to ArmedBear.

Other than that, unless you are on private land, you're SOL.

 

[marksman13]

That wiki-link you gave does not support your nine foot cougar theory. Five to nine feet from nose to tail must me measuring the cougar plus tail. Wikipedia isn't exactly the most reliable source in the world either.

 

[Hawk]

3-Read the wikipedia on them. They can get 9 feet.

The Wiki figure includes the tail. This is from the Wiki footnote 13:

Body length: 3-4 ft. Tail: 2.5-3 ft. Height at shoulder: 25-30 in. Weight: 70-170 lbs.

Big difference between 9' not including the tail as noted in the OP and 9' including 3 or 4 feet of tail.

9 foot cougar plus 6 feet of tail == Sasquatch. I'd be thinking more along the lines of the Pfeifer Zeliska revolver in that case. Best check on legalities too. California is a rule onto itself I wouldn't be surprised if they made it illegal even with an inherited firearm on your own property.

 

[Gord]

I'd be thinking more along the lines of the Pfeifer Zeliska revolver in that case.

If it's for a nine-foot cat, the only revolver I want is this one...

 

[ozarkman]

Are you sure it's not an Urban Cougar that you're thinking of??

Urban Cougar: (er ban coo ger){n} sophisticated species of female who seeks the pleasure of younger males. She avoids the entanglements of a "relationship," in favor of the freedom of the hunt.

They generally grow to be 5 to 6 feet

 

[Gord]

I want to say something about Magnums... but I'll refrain. Well, kinda.

 

[Neckshot5seven]

1911. Best Autoloader.
Can't go wrong with a wheelgun either. If I were going to get a wheelgun id go with a .357 with a 4 inch barrel

 

[Guillermo]

would I send my 15 year old out alone with a .357

I hate to do this but what the heck…

While technically illegal to do so, 14 is when I started carrying my father’s .38 Colt Diamondback…everywhere. Eventually he made me buy my own revolver. Usually the .38 was in a crossdraw holster as I had a shotgun or a rifle on the strong side.

Of course that was then and this is more years later than I would like to consider. Would I send my 15 year old out onto the trail with a .357? Perhaps yes.

I am more concerned about F Troop and Barney Fife than her mishandling a firearm. If the area had a low instance of government brownshirts I would not be concerned. Hell, I worry more about other shooters at the range than I do my unsupervised daughter.

 

[jhco]

10mm glock maybe not best but a good one