Favorite woods/trail gun?

[lizziedog1]

When I explore the desert around here I usually go "cowboy."

I carry my Henry lever action in 22LR.

On my hip I have a Ruger Single Six in 32 H&R mag.

I suppose if I ever encounter certain things I'll be undergunned. But around here the only thing one sees is sagebrush, and most of the time, if you ignore it, it will ignore you.

 

[jeepnik]

So many choices, yet growing up with Gene and Roy, I find myself usually grabbing.


or

 

[22-rimfire]

...your favorite gun for bumming around in the woods. Also how u carry it and what types of ammo and quantity.

I carry a camera more than anything. But I like to carry my 4" Colt Diamondback or S&W Model 18 (22LR) loaded with generally bulk pack ammo or Federal Lightning for possible plinking. I will carry about 100 rounds. I'm not particularly concerned about any predators in the Southeastern woods and if I had to defend myself, the 22 would work adequately. My newish S&W M63 gets some use from time to time also. Nice little revolver.

Sometimes carry a 4" S&W M57 bumming around in the woods, but generally not plinking. I'll have about 20 rounds with me plus the loaded cylinder. I carry it in a Bianchi belt holster.

Mossberg 12 Gauge with 24" Ported, Fully-Rifled Barrel, adjustible OEM Williams FireSights on front and rear. Saboted Slugs designed for a fully-rifled barrel. I have a sling that goes from the barrel nut swivel to a swivel on the Choate stock.

This is my favorite of the comments so far!

 

[thunder173]

Usually one of the four Ruger Single Actions I have. More often than not, it's going to be a 4 5/8 inch barreled Super BlackHawk in .44 Mag,..though I do confess to carrying with .44 Special loads more often than the magnums....

 

[kd7nqb]

What I do carry: Smith and Wesson M&P .40 loaded with hornady TAP and 1-2 extra mags of 180gr FMJ's

What I would rather carry if I owned one: one of those S&W 500ES the short 2.5in .500mag

In my area my threats are more likely 2 legged but a black bear or a cougar would not be unheard of.

 

[hermannr]

For the last 50 years some type of semi auto .22. Hi Standard HD Military, Browning Challenger, Colt Woodsman.

Of late I sometimes carry a Colt Officers Model Target in .22

I'd be under gunned for several of the imagined threats but I have yet to see one. Up close anyway.

Ya, what Win71 said, except my High Standard is a Trophy, (choose you barrel, we have 3 for it). 6" Officers Model Colt.

If my wife is along, probably will have a CZ52 too, to scare the bears. I don't worry about bears, but she does. You never want to fire that CZ52 without hearing protection of some type though. loud! 7.62X25mm probably would even kill a bear, but we've never had to. They run at the first sound of that thing.

 

[THe Dove]

In the thick woods of S.E. Oklahoma I ususally carry a .45 ACP on my hip and a 30-30 Win. Model 94 in my hand. However, if it's squirrel season and I'm huntin, then my hand has a .22 win. pump in it......

If I'm out in western OK in the canyons, I usually carry a Glock .40 Cal. because I like the magazine capacity and either a Mosin Nagant or a 30-06 rifle..... Again, depending on what I'm doing at the time......

I must add that a 20 or 12 guage shotgun is a great fire-arm in the woods. My rikes'em all!!!!!!!

The Dove

 

[d2wing]

Favorites, Ruger .357 Security Six. Others P-38, various .22 lr.

 

[VT Deer Hunter]

Only during hunting season and actually hunting, go with my Ithica M37 for grouse and for deer i right now go with the Remington Model 7.

 

[JSpear]

For in the woods I usually have my mossberg .22, and my NAA .22mag with snake shot. I'm in central Texas so I really don't have to many threats to worry about.

 

[huskybiker]

Always my Rossi 462 in a Bianchi belt slide holster. And sometimes my trusty Winchester Model 94(30-30).

 

[Goblin]

My 4" S&W 686 is my current trail buddy, although as soon as I find one for a reasonable price I will probably replace that on my rambles in the woods with a 2.5" S&W 66.

In my neck of the woods, I am most worried about feral dogs, feral hogs and feral people. Not much worry about bears, wolves or mountain lions around here.

Saw 2 of those at the gun show yesterday. both were around $500 used.

 

[Malamute]

A 4" Smith 29 or Ruger 45, and a rifle. Rifles vary with season (bears out or not) and where I'm going. If it's open, a scoped bolt gun or the Winchester 71, if more woods, a Browning 1886 carbine, Winchester 71, or a Winchester 94. I really like carrying the 94 over anything else, but have been carrying larger calibers more the past few years as the bears keep expanding their numbers and range.

Sometimes also carry a Smith K-22 for grouse if I'm short on extra-light loads for whatever rifle I have at the time.

Loads are medium-heavy for caliber. Usually have about 30 rds each of pistol and rifle loads on me at any given time.


(Bears mean grizzlies)

 

[beatledog7]

Depending on how big and mean the "locals" are, either the Security Six .357 (Magnum) with 180gr JHPs or the Redhawk (.44 Magnum) with 240gr JHPs. Two HKS speedloaders for whichever. I like having the double action option.

 

[Dnaltrop]

For plinking and walking... A model 10 and an AR-7 explorer.

the 10, well... search the board. 'nuff said.

The AR-7 is from a spotty period in the history with reports of warped barrels and failures to function. ( charter arms , circa '73 ish ) I'm one of the lucky ones with a still true barrel, but I'll be retiring the old timer for the Henry one eventually.

Secret on the AR-7's is you can only feed them high/hyper velocity .22s, the guns have really strong springs the rounds have to fight. It's light, easy to assemble, and floats

Out and about I'm fine with my M&P .40 if not intentionally out to shoot.

 

[Daveboone]

If I am hunting, my rifle or shotgun of the day totally suffices. If I am out just for a woods ramble, my J frame .38 is the most common companion, although it could also be a compact .22. There are no threats in the woods I worry about. Once off the road, low lifes are no where to be found. There really are no critters I am concerned about, even if I am in a bear occupied area. (black bear). They are too timid and alert not to be aware of me way before I see them. If by chance a retarded coyote stumbles into my direction, the .38 or .22 will send them running. I really am more concerned with feral dogs, and they never hang around after the first bang. feral cats usually hang around...but dont go anywhere, either...if you catch my drift.

 

[mdauben]

Saw 2 of those [2.5" S&W 66] at the gun show yesterday. both were around $500 used.

I've seen a number of them on line selling for around that price (and a number of them on line not selling for more than that price!). I'm hoping to run across something locally though, and haven't as of yet.

 

[Intrepid Dad]

My woods gun is a S&W 629 .44 revolver with a 4" barrel. I carry it in a Don Hume holster with a snap retention strap. I carry it with magnum rounds and two speed loaders with the same ammo.

I'm mostly concerned with threats from bears and mountain lions, but I also keep an eye out for 2-legged critters that might wish to do harm. I figure if 18 magnum rounds won't do the job, I should just call it a day.

 

[MountainBear]

This:



Andy Horvath Custom 4" Ruger Redhawk .44 Mag The load depends on the location. 340 gr. +P+ Buffalo Bore in Alaska, 300 gr. Federal CastCore in the lower, 200 gr. Winchester Silvertips for Zombies and other two-legged threats. I usually have 18 more rounds with me.

Tracker Leather Tanker Holster.

 

[whetrock]

My Ruger 10/22 with it's aftermarket Butler Creek folding stock would have to be my favorite woodsbumming and "utility" rifle.

 

[lloveless]

For the last 2 years a Charter 2000 Bulldog Pug in .44 spcl, which I sold recently and went back to my Ruger sp-101 in .357 mag.(in the lower 48). In Alaska an Ruger Redhawk stoked with handloads of 300 gr lwfn over 14 grs of 2400. I always keep between 15-24 rounds on my person of whatever caliber I am carrying. In Alaska depending on where you are there are wolves, grizzlies and polar bear and people. In Tn we have black bear(had a bluff charge from one this summer), feral dogs and cats, and people out tending their portable meth labs etc.
ll

 

[.338Sako]

glock 20 w/ double tap 200 grain hard cast. 6" barrel. 16 rounds of hard cast is hard to beat in my book. But any .357 mag or equivalent should do imho.

 

[TIMC]

This time of year my favorite woods gun is a Bushmaster AR-10, been using it for quite a few years now and it has been great for pig, deer, and what ever else I may feel the need to take.
My bullet of choice is the 150 grain Hornady SST pushed by 43.6 grains of H335. I really like this rifle above all my other hunting rifles.

 

[41]

Hey TIMC, if you don't mind me asking, what do you have strapped to the forearm of the Ar-10?

That is a nice looking rifle by the way.

 

[TIMC]

That is a foam pad to prevent scratching up the gun and or making noise when I rest the rifle. When in the woods I don't use the bipod.