TonyB
Member
OK,if I go camping,should I bring my 2" 357,or my .45?I shoot them both well.And even though the 357 is easier to carry,the .45 is not a burden to carry,so that's not an issue.
Which gun for in the woods?
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Waywatcher
Member
In NY I'd load up your .357 with some Barnes XPB bullets and bring that.
Federal and Cor-Bon both make factory loads with them, but the Federal is loaded hotter.
Failing XPB a good lead slug with a big flat nose would work fine. I would just stay away from the lighter JHP's while in the woods.
Federal and Cor-Bon both make factory loads with them, but the Federal is loaded hotter.
Failing XPB a good lead slug with a big flat nose would work fine. I would just stay away from the lighter JHP's while in the woods.
Sniper X
Member
What .45 we talkin here?
TallPine
Member
What kind of woods are you talking about 
If it's just a thicket of aspen or poplar, then a .22 semi-auto would be just fine.
But if going out into oak, ponderosa pine, or blue spruce, you should carry at least a .357mag or preferably a .44mag.
And those redwoods and big douglas fir are hard to stop - no handgun is enough
If it's just a thicket of aspen or poplar, then a .22 semi-auto would be just fine.
But if going out into oak, ponderosa pine, or blue spruce, you should carry at least a .357mag or preferably a .44mag.
And those redwoods and big douglas fir are hard to stop - no handgun is enough
Lonestar49
Member
Quote: Which gun for in the woods?
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OK,if I go camping,should I bring my 2" 357,or my .45?I shoot them both well.And even though the 357 is easier to carry,the .45 is not a burden to carry,so that's not an issue.
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Take both, two holsters, that way if your problem is of distance, use the 45, if the problem is within aprox 20ft give or take a few, use the 357.
One question, is the 357 a magnum, or not?
LS
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OK,if I go camping,should I bring my 2" 357,or my .45?I shoot them both well.And even though the 357 is easier to carry,the .45 is not a burden to carry,so that's not an issue.
__________________
...
Take both, two holsters, that way if your problem is of distance, use the 45, if the problem is within aprox 20ft give or take a few, use the 357.
One question, is the 357 a magnum, or not?
LS
TonyB
Member
2" 357 magnum(6 shot)
.45 is a Taurus pt945(8+1 rounds)4"
.45 is a Taurus pt945(8+1 rounds)4"
HMMurdock
Member
I vote for the .357, works best against both animals and people. The .45 is great if you're going to war with the local deer population, though... Bring a few extra mags if that's the case
Kimber1911_06238
Member
.357 loaded with heavy hard cast lead bullets.
Waywatcher
Member
...isn't the greatest all-around choice. Against big bears, they're the best bet, no doubt.
However, against cougars, small bears, and humans I'd rather have a good expanding bullet any day of the week.
glockman19
Member
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- Mar 16, 2007
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My S&W 686 is my gun for the woods, camping.
hexidismal
Member
I have to agree with some of the other posters here. In longer barrel lengths , the .357 would be the optimal woods choice ( assuming of course you didn't have access to a .44 mag ). Really though, neither of the guns you mention are really a perfect choice for protection from fauna. That being the case, if these are your only options then I'd recommend bringing both. Also, I'm not much of an outdoorsman , but sometimes in the woods it's nice to bring along some snakeshot loads, which just wouldn't work well at all in a snubbie. I also live in NY , so the woods would be somewhat comparible I would guess. My loadout for local camping would be my 686 6" in a shoulder holster loaded with something expanding and 2 speedloaders. 1 with cci snakeshot, and the other with something heavy and hard cast. AND a 1911 on my belt with my normal carry ammo and a 10 rnd. backup mag.
Also, if the situation allows, a shotgun kept in camp is always a good idea, but sometimes thats not a reasonable scenario I suppose.
Also, if the situation allows, a shotgun kept in camp is always a good idea, but sometimes thats not a reasonable scenario I suppose.
hexidismal has the best idea in taking BOTH , I would carry the 45 in a strong side holster and the snubby in a cross draw position .
I would load the snubby's first two chambers with shot shells for snakes and the rest with a stoutly loaded jacketed bullet something in the 158-180 gr range if you have a bear encounter a cast bullet wont do the job of breaking bone "even a JSP/JHP might have problems as a bears skull is quite thick"
and you need penetration to kill something that wants to kill you .
This would be good 357 bear ammo
http://www.midwayusa.com/eproductpage.exe/showproduct?saleitemid=264940
I would load the 45 up for use against humans as I doubt it would have much effect on a bear unless you got very very lucky or just scared it off !
I would load the snubby's first two chambers with shot shells for snakes and the rest with a stoutly loaded jacketed bullet something in the 158-180 gr range if you have a bear encounter a cast bullet wont do the job of breaking bone "even a JSP/JHP might have problems as a bears skull is quite thick"
and you need penetration to kill something that wants to kill you .
This would be good 357 bear ammo
http://www.midwayusa.com/eproductpage.exe/showproduct?saleitemid=264940
I would load the 45 up for use against humans as I doubt it would have much effect on a bear unless you got very very lucky or just scared it off !
ArchAngelCD
Member.
I'll add my voice to the many.... I would pick the .357 Magnum if it weren't a snubbie so I guess the .45 is my choice.
TonyB, are those the only 2 handguns you have access to? A 4" .357 Magnum would be a much better carry for the woods but I'm sure that full size .45 will be fine just-in-case. I would load it up with a hotter load than you probably would carry, something like Double Tap or Buffalo Bore. After all, it’s penetration you’re looking for against tough skinned animals, not expansion. The added velocity of a Double Tap ammo will help with that.
Have a good time camping and try to get some fishing in too. (I just love fishing!!)
TonyB, are those the only 2 handguns you have access to? A 4" .357 Magnum would be a much better carry for the woods but I'm sure that full size .45 will be fine just-in-case. I would load it up with a hotter load than you probably would carry, something like Double Tap or Buffalo Bore. After all, it’s penetration you’re looking for against tough skinned animals, not expansion. The added velocity of a Double Tap ammo will help with that.
Have a good time camping and try to get some fishing in too. (I just love fishing!!)
FireArmFan
Member
I'll agree with what many people have said to bring both. Also if you aren't already doing so, might I suggest that if you have a long gun, to bring that. Even if it was something you didn't want to carry around in the woods, it would be nice to keep in the tent or car or something just in case.
None of the bove!
"Camping" and the threat that lies within the woods, is not the same, depending on geographic location. For example, in coastal AK where the grizzly bears get over 1000 lbs, you'll need a lot of power from any handgun. Where I live in NW Montana, we have lots of grizzly, but they are the smaller interior grizzly that are normally under 600 lbs, but not always. If I were "camping" in the mountains of Arizona, the biggest predator in the wood would be a black bear and black bears are easy to turn compared to any grizzly sub species.
So, for any intelligent discussion on this topic to ensue, we need to know just what geographic area you are talking about here. Because neither the 357 or 45 acp are very good choices for coastal AK or NW Montana, but would work great for other parts of the world.
"Camping" and the threat that lies within the woods, is not the same, depending on geographic location. For example, in coastal AK where the grizzly bears get over 1000 lbs, you'll need a lot of power from any handgun. Where I live in NW Montana, we have lots of grizzly, but they are the smaller interior grizzly that are normally under 600 lbs, but not always. If I were "camping" in the mountains of Arizona, the biggest predator in the wood would be a black bear and black bears are easy to turn compared to any grizzly sub species.
So, for any intelligent discussion on this topic to ensue, we need to know just what geographic area you are talking about here. Because neither the 357 or 45 acp are very good choices for coastal AK or NW Montana, but would work great for other parts of the world.
TonyB
Member
I'm talking upstate NY here.Possibly the Adarondacks.Yeah the 12 ga will be at home base,but to carry inthe woods,a handgun will be used.I may have to borrow my Father's 4" sec. six
I'd borrow the Sec 6. I have a 3 inch GP100 that I use for woods carry and I feel it would do a good job. I am of course, in the South (not now, but that's where I usually am) so critters are a little smaller here, except for the hogs...but that's another story altogether. Get yourself some 180-200 grain doubletap ammo for it and it should do a dandy job. You may also need to check your laws and regs because I know NY has some funky gun laws, and if you have to "register" it and have a CCW it could be a real pain.
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I bought my Colt Magnum Carry with backpacking/camping/fishing in mind. Stoked with 158gr hydrashocks it's not a 'giant killer' But its less obtrusive than a lightweight Commander sized .45 auto (my other 'backpacking' gun) and can go into a pocket if need be. (People even camping with you might not ever know you have it.)
I have no idea what the handgun laws are in NY state, but if you are just 'truck camping' take a shotgun instead.
I have no idea what the handgun laws are in NY state, but if you are just 'truck camping' take a shotgun instead.
AStone
Member
OK, somebody else brought up 12 ga.
So, now, the door is open.
Outback, Oregon: .357M 686 4" (158 gr)
Inner city, Oregon: .357M 2.5" 686 (125 gr)
Northern ID: .357M + 12 ga. 00
Outback AK: .454C + 12 ga. 00 + slug
or 1895G in .45-70, .357M as BUG
Anywhere: Marlin 39A for small game
So, now, the door is open.
Outback, Oregon: .357M 686 4" (158 gr)
Inner city, Oregon: .357M 2.5" 686 (125 gr)
Northern ID: .357M + 12 ga. 00
Outback AK: .454C + 12 ga. 00 + slug
or 1895G in .45-70, .357M as BUG
Anywhere: Marlin 39A for small game
Mark8252
Member
Woods
Here in Colorado I regularly camp in outback areas....far from anyone. I carry a Taurus Model 4410 5 shot revolver. It uses 410 shotshells or 45 colt.
Its much more likely for me to have a problem with a snake so the first two are 410 shells. The remaining 3 are 45 colt hollow point which will handle the next likely problem of coyote. The 45's will also handle most predators I will likely find in Colorado.
The 4410 I carry is a polished stainless 3" barrell gun I carry in a holster.
Makes a great camp gun as well as a car gun (legal in Colorado).
Here in Colorado I regularly camp in outback areas....far from anyone. I carry a Taurus Model 4410 5 shot revolver. It uses 410 shotshells or 45 colt.
Its much more likely for me to have a problem with a snake so the first two are 410 shells. The remaining 3 are 45 colt hollow point which will handle the next likely problem of coyote. The 45's will also handle most predators I will likely find in Colorado.
The 4410 I carry is a polished stainless 3" barrell gun I carry in a holster.
Makes a great camp gun as well as a car gun (legal in Colorado).
countryrebel
Member
Taurus PT 945
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