Trail gun: I need some input!

[pikepole20]

Here is my Glock 20 with Trijicon adjustable night sights. I also had a grip reduction and stippling job. The extra barrel is a lone wolf 6". It is a little much for squirrels, but really good for the backwoods of NC and what you might encounter.

 

[Brian Williams]

I had this built for woods carry

 

[Foot Traffic]

Why not a Ruger?

If your looking for a weight reduction, and want the similar power level, a GP100 Match Champion would seem to be a good answer. At 38 oz it would shave weight without giving up any power. Plus I think it just looks damn good!

If the reduction in weight is more important than staying at the current power level, the new LCRx 3" weighs just under a pound empty. The darn thing feels like it should just float away, and yet the lcr's are fairly comfortable to shoot. the only downside is the lack of .357 capability. +p's and standard pressure have done the trick on most 'problems' that arise for quite a while and should be fine.

Or, just do what someone will recommend and buy all of them. Then you can always choose which one works for ya that day!

 

[riddleofsteel]

I have packed a .45 Colt 4 5/8" Ruger Blackhawk in the woods with me for over 30 years. Not once have I ever thought I had on too much gun. It does not much matter what you run across this combo will handle it.



If deeper concealment is a problem the SP101 is one of the better choices but I have never noticed it being that much lighter.

 

[22-rimfire]

Have you considered a 22 Mag? What is the purpose of your trail gun? Protection mostly it sounds like.

Frankly a 22LR is all you need unless you are in big bear country.

You seem to want a 357, I'd go with the Ruger LCR in 357mag, but it won't be much good for hunting. If I were buying something new, I'd look very seriously at the Ruger LCR in 22 Mag as it will take care of just about everything you need taking care of and the ammo is light.

 

[Zaydok Allen]

Have you considered a 22 Mag? What is the purpose of your trail gun? Protection mostly it sounds like.

Frankly a 22LR is all you need unless you are in big bear country.

You seem to want a 357, I'd go with the Ruger LCR in 357mag, but it won't be much good for hunting. If I were buying something new, I'd look very seriously at the Ruger LCR in 22 Mag as it will take care of just about everything you need taking care of and the ammo is light.

I really wish people would
....... READ THE ORIGINAL POST!

If you had read even the very first post only, you'd know he already has a 357, he is in big bear country, and a 22 mag is NOT all he needs.

 

[22-rimfire]

Sorry bud, but I did read the original post. Did you?

I'm looking for a more lightweight and easier to carry revolver that can shoot hot and heavy loaded .357 Magnum to replace the big and heavy S&W 627 Pro I have now. I don't live near moose or brown/grizzly bears so my main concern is big cats, wolves/coyotes, black bears, and trail thugs/hobos.

Sure doesn't sound like grizz country to me. You can kill a cougar with 22 mag easily. Black bears seldom bother people to the extent that carrying around a hog leg for them is generally a waste of effort. He wants something LIGHTER that does the job. But he did say 357 mag and my suggestion there is the LCR in 357. Don't know about hot, and that would take me to the 3" GP-100 personally but your back to about the same weight. I only offer alternatives.

The S&W M60 might be a reasonable alternative.

 

[skidder]

JMO on trail guns...
I've had my SP the longest (since 1995). It is an awesome gun for packing, and my wife's choice for huckleberry picking. A convenient weight when you have huckleberry containers on your belt.

My GP is the most accurate; with my 4" Security Six at a close second. I prefer the less bulkier Security Six over the GP for packing.

I've had experience with S&W, Ruger, and Colt, and my favorite is the Ruger. I've had timing and endshake problems on all the Smiths I've owned, but I have yet to wear out a Ruger.

So my vote goes to Ruger for durability reasons only...

 

[PabloJ]

Glock Model 40 10mm pistol.

 

[Zaydok Allen]

Sorry bud, but I did read the original post. Did you?



Sure doesn't sound like grizz country to me. You can kill a cougar with 22 mag easily. Black bears seldom bother people to the extent that carrying around a hog leg for them is generally a waste of effort. He wants something LIGHTER that does the job. But he did say 357 mag and my suggestion there is the LCR in 357. Don't know about hot, and that would take me to the 3" GP-100 personally but your back to about the same weight. I only offer alternatives.

The S&W M60 might be a reasonable alternative.

Holy moly. I really apologize man. I confused this thread with a totally different one where the original poster does live and work in griz. country. The one titled "a disturbance in the force".....

Totally my mistake and now I need a crow bar to pry my foot out of my mouth, since it's in so deep.

Truly apologetic. Forgive the idiot posting this please.

 

[2zulu1]

The 327 TTR8 is a wise choice. The neat part about the 8-shot Tactical Rail Revolver is it's design to temporarily affix a top and/or bottom rail.





Smith and Wesson designed the scandium N-frame for the lead penetrater on door entry teams. Typically, the top rail carries a red dot optic and bottom rail a light (laser)

I'm not sure where you will be hiking and camping, but your most vulnerable time will be night, between dusk and dawn. That's the time I've seen a large black bear near my bedroom window, some 30-40ft away. Here, it's a time to be wary of rattlesnakes, don't expect snakeshot to kill a rattler. This Mojave rattler was hit three times behind its head, muzzle about three feet away. Finally one 125gr SJHP shot behind its head separated it from its slithering body.




I have a great deal of respect for mountain lions, in a defensive situation, the lion will be facing you and you will be making a frontal shot. During daylight hours I only get a fleeting glimpse of the big cats; however, at night they have faced me (and dog). I had a big cat come toward me, angling from 125yds to about 85yds; between its large yellow eyes was a laser light, reluctantly he walked off. Next morning I went out to wear the l lion had been, the range grass at that location was 32 inches high.

Mountain lions are capable of a 30'-40' horizontal and 20ft vertical leap distances; in fact, mountain lions t-boning elk can cause its neck to snap.

Here, there's lots of brush along the sides of canyon/mountain trails. Be aware of wind directions and remember, lions will leap over brush and charging bears can run through it.

I carry 686s and M29 Mountain some of the time, also 1911s in 38Super and 10mm, typically in a Galco vertical shoulder rig, wheel guns in a Bianchi X15.

A G20 loaded with 200gr WFNs comes highly recommended for your needs should you not choose a 357mag.

Enjoy

 

[cluttonfred]

One option that I don't think has been mentioned is going with a small-frame revolver with a full-size grip. Something like a 3".357 Ruger SP-101 with the full, three-finger Hogue monogrip would make a great trail gun, much easier to shoot than most small-frame wheelguns with boot grips but still lighter and handier than medium- or large-frame revolvers. For example...

 

[ArchAngelCD]

So....
The M627 is too large and heavy. (and it is)
The M327 has a short barrel but very expensive.
The SP101 is smaller but it's light and holds only 5 rounds.

I saw the M327 TTR8 mentioned and while lighter it's really not smaller than the M627 because both are N frames. If the size doesn't bother you the revolver weighs only 35oz but like the 2" M327 it's very expensive.

S&W recently re-released their M66 which is a K frame revolver that weighs 36oz. You get 6 rounds of ammo and a smaller package than even the M686 L frame. The K frame M66 just might be what you're looking for.
http://www.smith-wesson.com/webapp/...57769_757767_757751_ProductDisplayErrorView_Y
I have seen them online for just over $700 which is a far cry from the $1200 for a M327.
Even though it's slightly larger and wider than the K frame the 3" M686+ might not be too bad since it's no heavier than the 4" M66.

 

[joneb]

I like post # 40
http://www.thehighroad.org/attachment.php?attachmentid=135741&d=1296943890
For the options given I would go with the Ruger, but when you throw a pack of wolves in the equation the Glock 20 option makes sense to.

 

[cluttonfred]

And remember, wolves can't count. Not sure why that's relevant, pointing it out. ;-)

 

[bluejeans]

my 2 cents:

for one best all around gun i'd say a 4" m66 or m686.. but that's not your case; you already have an awesome gun, the 627. takign that into consideration i'd recommend one of two options:

1. duplucate gun but lightweight; the 327pd is the same 4" gun but 26 oz. hard to find but you would always only have to train for one gun, use the same holter, etc.
the "pd" is important bc those were the only model with a 4" barrel rather than the 2" like the one in you op.

or

2. broaden the gap between your guns by getting a .357 j-frame. (as low as 12 oz) then you will have two great guns for distictly different uses.

the k frame is a great middle ground but since you have the 629 it isn't different enough to warrent getting it as a second gun.