Best weapon for trail riding?

[Renegade304]

I am going to start trail riding atvs. Some of these trips will be in areas where encountering wild hogs and black bear are a slight possibility. I am not fearful of encounters while riding, as I am pretty certain I can intimidate our perhaps out run either critter on open trail atop an 4 wheeler. It when navigating very treacherous terrain like rocks and moving very slowly. Or when winching out the mud when I cannot get away.

So what I am looking for is: I think I want a revolver due to getting slammed around and getting super muddy and wet all day, I believe a revolver would function better than most auto's in this situation. (I know glocks and other ultra reliable autos will do well but I have doubts on my ability to hold onto a polymer weapon when slick muddy hands.)

Which brings me to the caliber. While I am aware that the .44 magnum and .45 colt ruger only loads would be ideal I want to be able to afford to practice with my weapon. I figure that I will need to practice a lot because I may be in a situation where I am on uneven rocks with mud all over my hands, so I need the peace of mind of being flawless in ideal situations, to know I have a fighting chance in a really crappy situation.

Since I do not reload, and have no interest in doing so. I was thinking maybe the smith and wesson 625 with 230 ball for practice and stepping up to +p or .45 Super when on the trail. It is to my understanding that the 625 is converted to 460 rowland by gunsmiths, so I believe it will handle a handful of .45 Super throughout its life. I will just have to keep in mind that blast and recoil will be significantly greater. If I am wrong about the 625's ability to handle this hot of a load, please advise.

So do any of you have any recommendation that would fill my role better than the 625 that's ammo is reasonable enough to practice A LOT? Sorry for so long a post, and thanks in advance for any responses.

 

[Catshooter]

Hard to go wrong with a 625. Load it with Auto Rim brass and a 260 Keith to 900 fps or so and I would be a happy camper!


Cat

 

[bikemutt]

If practice with the carried round is an obstacle owing to cost or availability, might make sense to consider upping the round count, as in semi-auto. Glock 21, or Glock 22. They are "bullet proof" reliable, and affordable. Lot be said for more lead.

 

[GuysModel94]

The glock in 10mm is a good choice i think, fairly light, but plenty of stopping power. Ammo can be bought thru Cheaper than Dirt, (get my .45 GAP there).

 

[Renegade304]

Yes I love the glock 21, but picture this: Ive just gotten stuck in a knee deep mud hole, I've reached down in the mud to grab my winch cable, when I hear the roar of angry mother blackbear protecting the cubs I didn't see while trying not to flip my atv. Now I have a substance not unlike axle grease covering my hands. I draw my glock 21 and fire the first round, but I cannot hold the weapon stationary enough in my hand for it load the next cartridge, thus a mud induced limp wrist. This is why I am leaning toward revolver. You do make a valid point so I think I should perhaps muddy my hands and try to hold onto a glock 30. Simply because the 30 will recoil even more, so I can get a wcs. Cat, I did see a 255 grain autorim load at 1000 from buffalo bore, and that was interesting to me.

 

[Doubting Thomas]

A Ruger single action of your choice would suffice. Carrying under a jacket or coat would be adequate protection. A flap holster ls even better. No need to 'slam around' your tools unless you're a crash test dummy..

 

[zxcvbob]

Ruger New Vaquero in .45 Colt (250+ grain bullet maximum SAAMI loads or slight overloads.)

Second choice is the same gun or 50th Anniversary Blackhawk in .357 Magnum (158 or 173 grain bullets, loaded hot)

 

[Renegade304]

This question is NOT ment to be taken as me being a smart Aleck. I am truly curious about: are you really comfortable in a defensive situation with a charging 400 pound animal with a weapon you have to cock first? I did briefly look at the convertible .45 blackhawk, but dismissed it as impractical, but I have zero experience with single action revolvers... So I may need to be enlightened.

 

[zxcvbob]

I have been practicing for over a year to get to where I can finally shoot a double-action revolver without instinctively thumbing the hammer.

I know you said an ATV but imagine you're riding a horse and let's turn your question around. Are you comfortable on top of a spooked horse with a gun that you *don't* have to cock the hammer? If you said "Yes", get the S&W in .45ACP or .44Mag or .41 Mag (I don't trust DA's with .45 Colt tiny rims) or 10mm. If you said "No", get a Ruger single action and learn to shoot it -- it's fun, and it really doesn't take that much IMHO to learn to cock it.

I know that's an over simplification.

 

[Renegade304]

Good point zxcvbob... I guess also it could force you to slow down and pick your shot a little better, rather than the instinctive aiming "spray and pray" situation I picture in my head (all the while evacuating my bowels). What's funny is how extremely unlikely an encounter with either animal is going to be, but I still agonize over it.

 

[David E]

Glock 20 with a grip texturing job is perfect for your situation....as long as you acquire the skill to use it.

 

[eldon519]

The first thing I would recommend is to start riding the ATVs before getting a gun to ride them with. I think there is a lot of imagination being used in this scenario, and you will likely get a better idea of what you need when you start filling in the fictitious situations with real ones in your mind.

Secondly, I think there is virtually a 0% chance that a hog or black bear will attack you while riding an ATV. The examples I have run into from both species bolted as soon as they became aware of my presence while I was simply hiking quietly. With a loud engine roaring under you, I think all but the most unaware critters will be long gone before you ever come into visual range of them.

 

[Triggernosis]

+1 to the above post.

 

[David E]

I agree with the post about the chance of running into a dangerous animal while riding is moot.

As I picture it, stopping for lunch, camping, etc would be when you'd want a gun. And then, more likely due to bad people than animals. The 10mm Glock adequately addresses both concerns.

 

[gunguy0829]

Ruger new model super blackhawk, 44mag 300 grain hollow point, that will stop any black bear or hog you come by, its what i carry in the mountians of Colorado.

 

[Cosmoline]

I'd be a lot more worried about hogs. Black bear sows almost never protect their cubs. I've been charged by the cubs before, but momma high tails it. They're wired different from brown bear sows.

As far as mud, any firearm can be jammed up in such conditions. Revolvers, too. I'd suggest using a full flap holster for anything you use, just like the real cowboys used to. Access is still quick, and the mud won't get in the works as easily.

 

[Carne Frio]

A Glock M20 with a Lanyard and this holster:
http://www.activeprogear.com/jogger_holster.html

 

[230therapy]

By all means carry a gun. Carry two if you want. As other guys said: critters will clear out.

 

[AABEN]

The 686 or 29 will be good. If you think about bears the 29 4 or 6 in barrel with sone 240 gr SWC

 

[RatDrall]

I draw my glock 21 and fire the first round, but I cannot hold the weapon stationary enough in my hand for it load the next cartridge, thus a mud induced limp wrist.

Not going to happen with a 10mm Glock. I don't think it's possible to limp wrist them...

 

[Dr.Rob]

Carrying under a jacket or coat would be adequate protection. A flap holster ls even better.

+1 make sure you have a CCW before concealing a firearm.

 

[Renegade304]

The first thing I would recommend is to start riding the ATVs before getting a gun to ride them with. I think there is a lot of imagination being used in this scenario, and you will likely get a better idea of what you need when you start filling in the fictitious situations with real ones in your mind.

Secondly, I think there is virtually a 0% chance that a hog or black bear will attack you while riding an ATV. The examples I have run into from both species bolted as soon as they became aware of my presence while I was simply hiking quietly. With a loud engine roaring under you, I think all but the most unaware critters will be long gone before you ever come into visual range of them.

I have been riding ATV's for quite some time, just in areas where the most dangerous things are copperheads, stray dogs, and coyotes. I have found my self in some thick brush stuck/mud, thinking... I sure glad i'm the apex predator in the area right now. I have also found my self wondering while pocket carrying a glock 30 if I could even keep it from limp wresting without wiping the thick mud off my hands, as I cannot hold on the handle bars, or throttle lever very well until I do so. I do agree that the chance of a bear or hog attacking while the vehicle is in motion is probably 0%. It's when stopped that I worry.

I'd be a lot more worried about hogs. Black bear sows almost never protect their cubs. I've been charged by the cubs before, but momma high tails it. They're wired different from brown bear sows.

I too think hogs would be more likely to attack, but I think a black bear encounter would be more dangerous (though how much I don't know, hogs are mean.) I have had a male black bear challenge a Mazda Miata i was in. The horn didn't phase him, the revving the engine didn't either, but squalling the tires send him running like a shot, interestingly enough.

Someone mentioned a smith 686, I love these guns, but is a .357 even with heavy loads enough?

The chest holster than was linked too is cool, thanks for the heads up on that.

Thanks for all the help and advise. What I have taken from this thus far.

.44 magnum or .45 colt +p is the decisive stopper for the encounter. I feel like either will also dispatch a 2 legged attacker with authority. The practice ammo is high dollar.

10mm/.357 mag I feel like a good compromise in power between bear medicine and that of gremlins. Either in a glock 14 rnds, or a smith 686+ 7 rounds (or the 627's 8 rounds) I will get higher capacity than the big bores mentioned earlier. I can afford the practice with these loads.

The .45acp is enough with auto rim loads or hotter, but the capacity of a revolver chambered for these is a concern. I can shoot .45acp all day at its cost however.

Again thanks a lot for your insight, and I do agree that the event of this ever happening is very very slight. Also, some of this could be an excuse to get another gun.

Also, if could carry my marlin 45-70 this would be a non issue....

 

[ForumSurfer]

Just a forewarning...whatever you choose, be careful where you put it. I wouldn't be willing to put one anywhere where I wasn't willing to fall on it. Then again, I rode high performance racing style quads where falling was an eventuality, not a maybe.

I had to settle for off body carry strapped to the four wheeler. Chest holsters risked a fractured sternum if you fell wrong, hip carry risked pelvis fracture (or spine for small of back...eeek) and shoulder holsters got in the way and could cause broken ribs (had a few, and they really hurt).

I generally hate nylon holsters, but riding may be teh only time I'd recommend them...with padding added.

But even with riding as you mentioned, be careful and remember that wherever you place it...you're now definitely going to land on a big lump of steel.

Edit:

I have also found my self wondering while pocket carrying a glock 30 if I could even keep it from limp wresting without wiping the thick mud off my hands, as I cannot hold on the handle bars, or throttle lever very well until I do so.

In my experience...muddy hands didn't cause a problem. Cold, gloved, muddy hands did. Everyone is different. If you do go with a glock in extreme muddy conditions (read:: aw crap, I'm stuck in the creek...it happens), you may want to consider maritime spring cups. Easy to install.

 

[dprice3844444]

when you say bear,and it abolutely,positively needs to be killed on time,http://www.magnumresearch.com/news_detail.asp?story=article_bfr45_70.asp

 

[gunguy0829]

I can get hsm 240 grain jhp for 23 bucks for a box of 50 for 44 mag, 20 bucks for semi-wad cutter 50 rds