Woods carry gun

[Browning]

The idea that you 'may' get into a running gunfight with half a dozen armed meth-heads and actually 'need' a high capacity semi-auto while out in the boonies seems pretty far-fetched.

I've been shot at while at a rural shooting spot north of Phoenix in the 90's. We've also had a few guys at our deer lease down outside of Giddings Texas fire several shots up in the air and in our general direction to scare us off while they were on our land.

Then when we were moving from California to Arizona my wife was following me in a separate vehicle and we driving through a rural area when my wife had a carload of guys who she believes were drunk force her car off to the side of the road. I saw what was happening, I pulled over too and ran back there with my pistol and once they saw me coming they took off swerving their car at me like they were going to run me over.

Then when we lived outside of Sierra Vista Arizona down near the Mexican border we'd often see illegals passing our end of the street and a couple times we saw a man armed with a rifle leading the group.

So not all that far fetched at all to have a confrontation out in a really rural area with armed criminals. There's a certain breed of criminal that prefers rural locations simply because the response time from police is going to be longer than it would be in the suburbs where the police station is right down the street or because that's where they're from.

However I never mentioned anything about there being 6 of them.

Do I think I'm going to end up in some sort of End of Watch shootout every time I go hog hunting or go hiking with my wife? Do I even believe that it's likely at all? No, but I do like being a little more prepared than I have been in the past.

 

[CraigC]

So not all that far fetched at all to have a confrontation out in a really rural area. There's a certain breed of criminal that prefers rural locations simply because the response time from police is going to be longer than it would be in the suburbs where the police station is right down the street or because that's where they're from.

I understand all that but there's a big difference between the situations you describe and NEEDING 15 shots to save your skin. Implying that the revolver is going to be woefully inadequate. That's where the "half a dozen" and "running gunfight" comment comes from. Around here it's mostly weed growers but we don't think we need a combat loadout just to walk the woods.

 

[Browning]

I understand all that but there's a big difference between the situations you describe and NEEDING 15 shots to save your skin. Implying that the revolver is going to be woefully inadequate. That's where the "half a dozen" and "running gunfight" comment comes from. Around here it's mostly weed growers but we don't think we need a combat loadout just to walk the woods.

A pistol and two mags is a combat loadout? Really?

Missing your target completely or shooting a threat in a non-vital area and having them remain a threat is fairly common. Pistols can and do malfunction and usually it's the fault of the mag. Having another one ready to go makes sense (or at least to me it does).

If you feel adequately prepared with 6 rds more power to you, that's great. Often times the mere presence of a gun can make potential attackers back off. In such a situation the amount of rds in the gun doesn't matter much. However after having some of the experiences I've had I just felt the need for more rounds already in the gun and at least one reload. I have several mag pouches and most of them are doubles. Not much effort is required to stick a second one in there. It's not like my belt is ringed with mags.

I don't believe that this makes me some sort of mall ninja. If you feel that it does I feel that you're misunderstanding what I'm saying.

 

[CraigC]

No but 45rds is a long way from 6-12. I don't even carry that much when I go to Memphis. Of course, we all have to make decisions based on our own circumstances and experiences.

I'm very cautious with the whole "mall ninja" generalization and most generalizations.....in general.

 

[Crowman]

I carry a bunch of reloads for my revolvers. Two speedloaders in right vest pocket (10-12 rounds, depending on the gun), two Quickstrips in the left (6-8 rounds depending on the gun). There are two additional Quickstrips in coyote brown pouches on my belt. Sometimes I add a MTM Ammo Wallet with the appropriate loads in my hip pocket next to my whiskey flask. When ridge walking, I pack one of my 4” sidearms in addition to my CCW. Both share the same cartridge. “New York reload” here. That should pretty much repell all boarders. I’m not bothered toting heavy, trained for it all my life.

 

[mcb]

For woods carry I only carry the six in the revolver and one speed-loader on my belt. I might have two more speed-loaders in my tool box in the UTV but I am not always near the UTV.

 

[Browning]

No but 45rds is a long way from 6-12. I don't even carry that much when I go to Memphis. Of course, we all have to make decisions based on our own circumstances and experiences.

I'm very cautious with the whole "mall ninja" generalization and most generalizations.....in general.

That's a good policy.

That's kind of the nature of the Internet gun forums though.

Definition of 'under prepared' : Someone who carries a fewer number of rds than you do.

Definition of 'over prepared' : Someone who carries a greater number of rds than you do.

Just kind of human nature to regard things that way. We're both probably about right in our choices for our respective locations.

It's actually 39 rds for me right now though (4th Gen Glock 21SF for woods carry).

Normally besides that I'm swapping back and forth between a Glock 26 with 12 rd mags and two spares in an IWB holster for the pistol and an OWB for the mags and a Walther PPS with one 7 rd mag in the pistol and two 8 rd spares for pocket carry for social settings that require greater concealment. I've actually even used one of my Browning High Powers for woods and hunting carry before.

I've just had some bad experiences and so now I carry a greater number of rds as a result as well as going to a few classes and having additional gear on hand.

If I lived somewhere else I might very well default back to something exactly like the S&W 66 I had for a long time.

 

[CraigC]

That's kind of the nature of the Internet gun forums though.

Definition of 'under prepared' : Someone who carries a fewer number of rds than you do.

Definition of 'over prepared' : Someone who carries a greater number of rds than you do.

Seems to be. If I head to the woods with 40rds or more, the likelihood that I'll return with any are slim.

 

[farm23]

As I said earlier I mostly carry a SA 45 LC and a speed strip but I also carry a NAA Black Widow in 22 mag and actually use it more. I have carried the BW for many years and it always goes with me along with something else. The BW actually gets used more than anything else because most of my uses are small. I am fortunate to live in a low crime area and for most of time I could get by with no gun or only the BW but then again I have had more than once to dispatch coons with rabies and we have lots of deer so the SA is useful. We have quite a few Black Bears but the chances of them being a problem is small but again I don't have to take the chance.

 

[huntsman]

If I’m toting my 4566 I take an extra mag not so much for capacity but in case I would drop the one out of the gun, the Blackhawk would be a full cylinder + a few.

 

[Browning]

Seems to be. If I head to the woods with 40rds or more, the likelihood that I'll return with any are slim.

Ha.

Depends on if I'm hiking or not. 40 rds isn't going to last long.

 

[docbrown]

I believe the OP has already made his decision but the thread lives on. I would just like to comment that my Match Champion is pretty comparable to my Security Six but has the advantage of being supported for repair by Ruger, and parts are readily available, as are grip options. Neither suits me with full power ammo in 357, but with medium performance loads I would rather shoot the Match Champion. Grips are involved in that preference, but you can do more with the GP100.

That would be a fine choice as well. Security Six grips are available. Even the 150 series can use the Pachmayr grips (I know, I have them on mine). I don't have much of an issue with full house loads with the Pachmayr grips, but would not even think of trying much more than a mid-range load with the factory grips. It is true that you will have more options with the GP simply due to its being newer. Also, while Ruger does not support the Six anymore, parts can be had - but you likely will not need them often, as they are pretty robust. There are LOTS of great choices out there for a good woods gun. Heck, the EAA Windicator would not be a bad truck gun - but aftermarket support would be problematic. The main thing it has going for it is that it is CHEAP.

 

[ThomasT]

The last time I explored the woods I had my GP-100 on my belt. No worries about any wild animals or crazy people. I was just hoping a deer or hog would show themselves. I only had the six rounds in the gun. Never got a shot at anything I just had a blast driving my buds 4 wheeler around checking the fences and making sure the cows were in.

My normal 357 load is a 158gr hard lead loaded to around 1150 FPS. It penetrates And is accurate and doesn’t have the blast of full bore loads.

I worry much more about crazies on the road. I have an S&W SD9VE with 2 mags and a 22 rifle in my truck. The LA riots back in the 90s changed my thinking when I saw the truck driver Reginald Denny being drug out of his delivery truck ang hit in the head with a brick. That could could happen again and riots have happened. I want to be able to at least go down fighting if I am ever caught in that situation. That worries me far more than anything I have ever seen in the woods.

I was chased up a tree once by four Brahma bulls. But I didn’t dare do anything to them. They grew bored and wandered off far enough from me to drop out of the tree and make a mad dash for the fence with them hot on my tail. I never went in that field again.

 

[If1HitU]

I like the S&W 69 .44 Mag. 4.2" 5 shot revolver.