WisBorn
Contributing Member
What is your preferred type of bullet for wilderness carry ?
Bullet Type For Wilderness Defense Carry?
- Thread starter WisBorn
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Lefty38-55
Member
Big, heavy-for-caliber lead blunted roundnose or truncated cone semi-wadcutter, want that frontal area bro!
NorthBorder
Member
Hard cast with a wide meplat in a revolver.
I subscribe to both in my 10mm in grizzly country. 200 grain XTP for large wound channels and NOE 403-198-WFN-Y1 1GC 1PB for the big megaplat hard driving nock down power. I alternate bullet types in the mag.
In non grizzly country I carry jacketed or lead cast in the .40 or 9mm depending on what I feel like. I spent 20 years working in the woods not being able to carry a firearm with little issue from animals and I've been up close and personal with a few so animal defense is secondary to two legged wacko defense.
In non grizzly country I carry jacketed or lead cast in the .40 or 9mm depending on what I feel like. I spent 20 years working in the woods not being able to carry a firearm with little issue from animals and I've been up close and personal with a few so animal defense is secondary to two legged wacko defense.
BreechFace
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When hunting and hiking I normally carry a stagger of the following in my primary magazine (first 3 starting with the Federal TBBC then alternating after that), as I'm more likely to encounter a black bear sow with cubs, mountain lion or wolves, but we do have Grizzlies sighted in my hunting area, just very small population very infrequent sighting. I would like some expansion in a mountain lion or wolf that an XTP would provide.
200gr Federal Trophy Bonded Bear Claw and Hornady 180gr XTP in the mag loaded in my Glock 20, with a backup magazine of all Federal TBBC.
If I were to hunt in southwestern Montana, eastern Idaho or northeastern Wyoming or Alaska, I would carry Buffalo Bore's hardcast, with a good sized meplat that runs well in my Glock 20.
200gr Federal Trophy Bonded Bear Claw and Hornady 180gr XTP in the mag loaded in my Glock 20, with a backup magazine of all Federal TBBC.
If I were to hunt in southwestern Montana, eastern Idaho or northeastern Wyoming or Alaska, I would carry Buffalo Bore's hardcast, with a good sized meplat that runs well in my Glock 20.
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buck460XVR
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I generally carry the same bullet in the guns I carry for Woods defense carry as I do for hunting, a tough expanding cup and core or bonded bullet. That is mostly because anything I may encounter in the woods here in Wisconsin, is the same size or smaller, than anything I may hunt. Now, if I were to go into grizzly country, I may opt for solid copper. I would never carry bullets made for self defense against human predators.
someguy2800
Member
Hard cast, like 20+ brinell with as wide of meplat as feasible. Solid copper would be fine to me too but that limits bullet weight in a lot of cartridges.
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I have two simple loads for my revolvers, a 235 grain full wadcutter or a 235 grain Keith SWC. Either gets loaded over a hardball dose of powder. Both have proven very effective in the field. I do not cast either of them very hard. I have not recovered any so, they work for me. Complete penetration, from any angle so far, on white tailed deer.
Kevin
Kevin
Captains1911
Member
I carry 200 XTPs in a G20. The only bears in my neck of the woods are black bears and they’re very close to the bottom of my list of concerns. I would carry 200 or 220gr hardcast if I were in an area with brown and/or grizzly bear.
.38 Special
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Depends. When I am out somewhere with big dangerous animals, I will take a cast flat nose with a large meplat. (Far too much is made of "hard cast": extremely hard rarely is better and often is worse. Grist for a different thread, though...)
The dangerous animals in my local wilderness, though, are people and mountain lions, neither of which require six feet of penetration. So most of the time, my wilderness defense loads are the usual self-defense fodder: ligh to medium weight hollowpoints - either cast, JHP, or copper monolithics - driven fast.
The dangerous animals in my local wilderness, though, are people and mountain lions, neither of which require six feet of penetration. So most of the time, my wilderness defense loads are the usual self-defense fodder: ligh to medium weight hollowpoints - either cast, JHP, or copper monolithics - driven fast.
Steve51
Member
My preferred bullet is a Hi-Tek coated hard cast LSWC
The Night Rider
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I carry my Glock 19 loaded with Speer 124 grain Gold Dots for defense against humans
I haven't run into any animal in the mountains of Colorado that this is not 100% adequate to defend myself with.
It's actually a violation of federal law to use BEAR spray on a human.
How Do I Find This Law? Bear Spray
I frequently see people on the internet advising people to carry Specifially Bear Spray for self defense. Every time someone says it is a violation of Federal Law (Citing the he EPA) to use Bear Spray on humans. I've found one place that references "The Pesticide Act" but I can't find a cite...
www.thehighroad.org
If I was carrying a can of it on South Nevada, not so much. Although they actually have had Bears wandering around on South Nevada in Colorado Springs
doubleh
Member
I live about 25 miles east of the thickest oak forest on earth. It's shinnery oak and only grows to about knee high. My preferred bullet has always been a HP 22 LR. A coyote is the largest predatory critter you will see and if you manage to they will be a long way off. There are mule deer because they thrive on the acorns and interesting to watch. I don't know that I would call it a wilderness but it's uninhabited because there is no available ground water. Mile after square mile of shinnery, scrub mesquite in some areas, beargrass which is actually soap root yucca, short and tall grasses, and sand, lots of sand.
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When I've been in grizzly country, I carried heavy for caliber hardcast in a 10mm but would be fine with 45 ACP and similar loads.
In black bear country I'm OK with 9mm and the same bullets.
If there are no potential large predators, I carry the same HP loads I carry anywhere else.
In black bear country I'm OK with 9mm and the same bullets.
If there are no potential large predators, I carry the same HP loads I carry anywhere else.
.308 Norma
Member
I wouldn't know about calling it a "wilderness" either, but it does sound to me like a "paradise" - not my type of "paradise," but a "paradise" none the less.
Shawn Dodson
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I carry a telescoping baton, a large can of pepper spray, and a Glock 19 loaded with Underwood 115gr Xtreme Penetrator.
Well, it could be argued that there is no true wilderness anywhere near me, so, that I should simply abstain from posting a reply. SE Texas does have some very thick vegetation, in places, however, making it irrelevant how close one may be to a road. I occasionally travel to/through areas with no mobile phone/LTE communication. The main threats are feral dogs and feral hogs, plus, of course, feral upright bipeds. I do not go about cornering feral hogs, to provoke them to charge. So, the “best” poll reply is going to be based upon what I regularly carry, day-to-day, but, even that is not constant. I typically start the day with a J-Frame or SP101 in a pocket holster. The J-Frame is normally loaded with lead wadcutters. If leaving our small city, very far, which means going into or through Houston, Texas, I am likely to “up-gun” to a Glock G17, loaded with Speer Gold Dots. So, that will be my poll reply.
Until about a year ago, I would up-gun to a Ruger GP100, chambered ,357 Magnum, if traveling to or through rural areas, but, well, arthritis caught up with my trigger fingers, so, I stopped pulling most double-action triggers, except for my small-frame revolvers. So, I have been working with my single-action revolvers, to build proficiency. I may well settle upon a different bullet type, than JHP, in the near future, in a caliber other than .357, but, for now, “self-defense JHP” will do, for a poll reply.
If traveling to places where large mammals roam the earth, I would, of course, feel obligated to do the homework, for the specific area, in order to be well-equipped, and to run a statistically meaningful sample size of the relevant ammo, through the chosen weapon(s). I have already bought several boxes of such ammo, solid copper, expanding copper, hard-cast, and bonded-core jacketed, to start this testing, largely due to curiosity.
Until about a year ago, I would up-gun to a Ruger GP100, chambered ,357 Magnum, if traveling to or through rural areas, but, well, arthritis caught up with my trigger fingers, so, I stopped pulling most double-action triggers, except for my small-frame revolvers. So, I have been working with my single-action revolvers, to build proficiency. I may well settle upon a different bullet type, than JHP, in the near future, in a caliber other than .357, but, for now, “self-defense JHP” will do, for a poll reply.
If traveling to places where large mammals roam the earth, I would, of course, feel obligated to do the homework, for the specific area, in order to be well-equipped, and to run a statistically meaningful sample size of the relevant ammo, through the chosen weapon(s). I have already bought several boxes of such ammo, solid copper, expanding copper, hard-cast, and bonded-core jacketed, to start this testing, largely due to curiosity.
Southerner up North
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Wilderness = few people to me. Means over penetrative is not a concern as it is elsewhere. For now a wide, flat, reliable hardcast is the ticket. 9 or 16 of these in 10mm is what I want. Doesn't matter striker fired or 1911 platform to me.
I need to spend an afternoon and a couple cups of coffee exploring the solid copper slugs for woods carry.
I wish Hornady still produced the 265gr JSP in 44mag. If they did, it would be a different answer from me.
At the end of the day I think one is more likely to encounter two-legged vermin than aggressive four-legged critters. There are exceptions such as unknowingly getting between a sow and her cubs or walking with your dog and attracking the attention of a pack of critters. With this being "said", it goes back to carrying a gun and load the shooter is proficient with that will stop the threat.
I need to spend an afternoon and a couple cups of coffee exploring the solid copper slugs for woods carry.
I wish Hornady still produced the 265gr JSP in 44mag. If they did, it would be a different answer from me.
At the end of the day I think one is more likely to encounter two-legged vermin than aggressive four-legged critters. There are exceptions such as unknowingly getting between a sow and her cubs or walking with your dog and attracking the attention of a pack of critters. With this being "said", it goes back to carrying a gun and load the shooter is proficient with that will stop the threat.
Armored farmer
Member
The last time I was anywhere near grizzly country I was fishing the Madison river near West Yellowstone. I was carrying my 4" Python with my favorite load. 158 gr. JSP.
We found out the next day there had been a grizzly sighted in that area the day before. We didn't see it.
We found out the next day there had been a grizzly sighted in that area the day before. We didn't see it.
OP
OP
WisBorn
Contributing Member
I voted for and carry Hardcast. I do prefer the coated bullets over the uncoated. They seem to make clean up easier.
The introduction of the Hornady Backcountry Defense line has me wondering if they would be a good choice.
I have tried the copper bullets and I'm not thrilled with the accuracy. The more I read and learn about copper bullets the more critical a clean bore down to the metal then fouled with the copper bullets makes in their accuracy.
The balance? Is a good bonded bullet better? I would never hunt with a hardcast.
I will be the first to say defense and hunting are not the same thing... But are we better off with a hunting bullet???
The introduction of the Hornady Backcountry Defense line has me wondering if they would be a good choice.
I have tried the copper bullets and I'm not thrilled with the accuracy. The more I read and learn about copper bullets the more critical a clean bore down to the metal then fouled with the copper bullets makes in their accuracy.
The balance? Is a good bonded bullet better? I would never hunt with a hardcast.
I will be the first to say defense and hunting are not the same thing... But are we better off with a hunting bullet???
Pat Riot
Contributing Member
I selected
If I still lived in Oregon or California, depending on the area, desert vs mountains, I would most likely carry a .45 Colt revolver with flat point hardcast bullets in my ammunition.
There have been black bear maulings / attacks here in WV, but they are rare and seem to always be on unassuming people with their little dogs. Apparently black bears feel the same way I do about little dogs yapping at them.
Self defense hollow points (FTX, HTS, XTP, bold dots..)
I Selected that because of where I live now and what types of threats I may encounter in the woods or while fishing here in WV. Also, I am leaning more towards carrying a semiauto than a revolver, as I did out west.If I still lived in Oregon or California, depending on the area, desert vs mountains, I would most likely carry a .45 Colt revolver with flat point hardcast bullets in my ammunition.
There have been black bear maulings / attacks here in WV, but they are rare and seem to always be on unassuming people with their little dogs. Apparently black bears feel the same way I do about little dogs yapping at them.
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