Handgun selection

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MWenzel

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East Tennessee
I work at a surveying business and I am out in the woods all the time. I need a good handgun that I easy to carry and could possibly take down a hogs or any other dangers. We have also seen black bears. Could someone help me please choose a good handgun.
 
500 s&w :evil: :evil: but i would say a .45 just any old 1911 would work but if your gonna carry it get a springfield xd that will help with the weight
 
If run a genuine risk of running across a bear, I'd recommend a Desert Eagle in 44 magnum...the hotter, the more that gun would like it!
 
Like my friend 10-Ring said, "if the threat is genuine" I would
recommend a scandium frame Smith & Wesson model 329PD* in .44
magnum. Light weight and easy to carry; but packs plenty of punch.

*FootNote: this firearms felt recoil can be brutual using full power
magnum loads.:uhoh: :eek: ;)
 
How much gun can you carry without impeding with your duties? I'd recommend a .44 mag or at the least a .357 mag revolver for black bear or hogs. A 4" barrel or longer will work fine for the distances you'll need. A model 329 would be a good choice.
If you can spend a bit more money and want something with some real smackdown on it go for a Ruger Alaskan in .454 casull. They'll usually run you $600-$700 and cost a buck or two per shot but for a short range last-ditch weapon against furry peterbilts (which sounds like what you need) it's a hard weapon to beat. You can shoot .45 long colt in it for practice (the thought of a .45LC as a "light" load is funny, but it's a serious gun!)
If you really want an auto I'd look at the 10mm Glocks.
We helped out a friend who did timber cruising in Alaska for a while and needed a gun for grizzly threats. Got him a .445 supermag with an 8" barrel. Luckilly he never had to fire it in self defense but I think it would do the job.
 
I guess since you posted in the auto section I would third motion the Desert Eagle in 50 cal. I shoot MR's 350 grain and the gun kicks about the same as my New Model SBH 7 1/2" using 240 Hornadys at fps 1350 at muzzle. I think the DE's gas ejection might take some of the recoil out but I'm sure someone here can elaborate. But back to carrying a gun like that for extended periods you may want to consider an Alaskan? Myself...a Ruger Redhawk Alaskan in 44mag. But if you miss the bear at close range with the DE, alas when the smoke clears you will have bear on a spit. Muzzle blast is terrific. I've heard bear can be tasty:D

Another thought would be a full size 1911 using +P+ loads but make sure the gun can handle it. Grip is a lot better in size than a DE. I just love my Springfield 45 Loaded Operator

Practice and Practice
 
S&W Mountain Gun

# 4" Tapered Barrel
# Drilled and Tapped Frame for Scope Mount
# Hogue Rubber Monogrip For Comfort and Control
# Black-on-Black Adjustable Sights
# Smooth Double Action and Crisp Single Action Trigger Pull
# Ideal Companion for Hunting, Hiking, and Fishing

Model: 629
Caliber: .44MAG/.44SP
Capacity: 6 Rounds
Barrel Length: 4"
Front Sight: Pinned Black Ramp
Rear Sight: Adjustable
Grip: Rubber
Frame: Large
Finish: Satin Stainless
Overall Length: 9 5/8"
Material: Stainless Steel
Weight Empty: 39.5 oz.

163653_large.jpg
 
well get the blued one it comes with the hogue and wood grips
edit: i think i put the 29
 

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I would say a 4" GP100

the 357 should be good for anything out in those woods. Plus the GP is a rugged little bugger and you can get it in stainless steel, so if it got wet it wouldn't be a big deal.
 
If you are a semi-auto guy and can (literally) handle a Glock 20, I would give it some thought. The 10mm loaded like it is supposed to be is in the same class as the .357, plus you get to carry 16 rounds into the woods with you - now I call that hog medicine!
 
Ruger SBH or old model Vaquaro in .45 Colt. Load up or load down. Good fer man or beastie. Fun to shoot and accurate too. Not real expensive initial purchase tho' feeding em store-bought good stuff ain't cheap.
But since this is the autoloaders forum, something in 10mm oughta do.
 
I'd personally go with any .45 i could get my hands on, but if i wanted a purpose gun I'd probably get a .44MAG. Taurus Raging Bull or similar big bore. I wouldn't go above .44 though.
 
Hey Brian. I did go to MR's site and to my surprise they make a cartridge with a smaller grain bullet.

Each brown cardboard box contains 20 rounds of .300-grain jacketed hollow-point extremem penatration ammunition. This MRI brand of ammunition is manufactured for Magnum Research by Hornaday.

Muzzle Velocity 1475 FPS (6" Barrel)
Muzzle Energy 1450 FT/LBS (6" Barrel)

This is still 50 cal.
 
Hey Brian. I did go to MR's site and to my surprise they make a cartridge with a smaller grain bullet.

Each brown cardboard box contains 20 rounds of .300-grain jacketed hollow-point extremem penatration ammunition. This MRI brand of ammunition is manufactured for Magnum Research by Hornaday.

Muzzle Velocity 1475 FPS (6" Barrel)
Muzzle Energy 1450 FT/LBS (6" Barrel)

This is still 50 cal.
Click to expand...
oooooh something to try in my buddies deagle :evil: that old tree of his is going down :evil:
 
I'm also a surveyor and carried a Colt Commander in .45 for almost 30 years. Switched over to a SIG P220, and then P229 in 357SIG a little over a year ago. Havent seen any hogs, have seen a couple of black bears, south end headed north. Dont really worry about them unless I see cubs. Only ever took my pistol out of its holster for a couple of shakey looking raccoons and a skunk. I always have it along, but the woods was never really the place I thought to much about needing it, downtown is a whole other story. :)

What ever you choose, I'd consider stainless/hard chrome over blue/park/etc., and kydex over leather for your holsters.

If you sweat like I do, your soaking wet by 9AM in the summer, and stay that way the rest of the day. Wet leather sucks, for you and your gun.
 
For most outdoor use a XD in .45acp, 14 rounds in a package that’s made for hard use in the outdoors. If you are truly concerned about bears then a Glock 20 in 10mm, 15rnds of 10mm will mean a truly bad day for any bear you might run into in your part of the woods.

I like the XD better then the Glock is the only reason for the XD in 45acp over the Glock 20 10mm, if you like Glocks better then just forget the XD. I hope XD comes out with a 10mm soon.
 
I assume that since you posted in the Autoloaders Forum, that you want a semi-auto rather than a revolver. I would also suggest you look at the Glock 20 10mm. The Danish military use this pistol for the unit that patrols in the wilderness of Greenland. They carry the Glock 20 primarily for defense against polar bears and my understanding is that it works for that purpose.
 
Mwenzel, you made the mistake of mentioning bears in your thread.:scrutiny: :what: :eek:
For some reason, a lot of people believe that a man needs a ridiculously huge handgun to deal with a black bear. I've seen many black bears and have never had one give me the least bit of trouble. The folks I know that hunt them usually use a 30-30 or .44mag for handguns.

I seriously doubt that you'll ever need to use a handgun against a bear in your location. Tennessee is not Alaska, and blackies are much smaller and much less aggressive than grizzlies. It's more likely that you would need to use the weapon to defend yourself from two-legged predators.

In the woods you would be well served with a quality .357 revolver loaded with hard cast heavy bullets. If it must be an auto, then .45 or 10mm would be great. I think 9mm might be a little small for hogs though.;)
 
I would say a 4" GP100

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the 357 should be good for anything out in those woods. Plus the GP is a rugged little bugger and you can get it in stainless steel, so if it got wet it wouldn't be a big deal.
Click to expand...

Second that for me . . . The GP 100 is built like a tank, relatively inexpensive and a stout .357 load will handle anything you'll run into in east Tennessee outside of a zoo.
 
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