Woods Revolver Cartridge

[Ugly Sauce]

Perfect weight on that Ruger .44spl. 34 ounces...wow! I imagine the Ruger will take a very "stout" load too. 43 ounces on the .357, that's getting into .44 mag territory on weight! I have a .44mag Blackhawk with the smaller alloy grip-frame that weighs in at 42. My other SBH is a whopping 50 ounces. Seems like most of my hunting/hiking/exploring/trekking sidearms are in that 41-43 ounce zone. At one time I had a flat-top, three-screw Ruger BH in .44mag, it was very light, but I don't remember the weight. Like a fool, I traded it for something or another.

 

[The Happy Kaboomer]

Anything that goes BANG...............

 

[Ugly Sauce]

Yes, all my gun-trades are for other guns. Don't think I've ever sold one. My only two regrets are that 3-screw flat-top, and a Swedish Mauser that looked like it was made yesterday, and blued at the S&W factory.

 

[Peakbagger46]

2.5” Ruger SP-101 for me here in cat and black bear country. Loaded with Buffalo Bore 180g hard cast, it should hit hard on both ends. It’s certainly not perfect, but I hike kind of hard and don’t want a huge gun. When I archery hunt (with a LOT of bears around) I pocket carry my .357 J-frame with 158g LSWC hand loads.

If the day comes that I am forced to shoot a bear (and I came REALLY close one day with the J-frame) I’ll be wishing for a bigger gun no doubt.

 

[Ugly Sauce]

I have always thought a 180 is the best bet in a 3-5-7, but in a very short barrel maybe a 158-160 grain might be more better. ?? From my3" security six, (or 2.75" I forget) the 180 does penetrate more through wet hardwood.

I don't archery hunt much anymore, but when hiking/exploring I like to carry a bow. I have a lot of faith in a good sharp broadhead, on a heavy arrow, out of a powerful bow. And a bow is so light, literally just carrying a stick. But when I do that, I usually carry a heavier pistol, my Lyman Plains Pistol being my choice most often lately, which is around 40 ounces.

Just hiking/exploring with no bow or rifle, other than my Little Badger, I'll go with a .44mag, or my El Patron in .45Colt. I have cat, bear, and grizz in my stomping grounds. But the only cat I've seen is one I shot, and the black bears won't let me get close to them, other than Sows with cubs. I've not run into grizz yet, (other than backpacking in Montana) but I've sure seen some giant grizz tracks where I hunt. Last time I got between Mama bear and her cub, I had my best bow, and the Plains Pistol, and I thought for sure she was going to come for me, really thought "this is it". But she looked me over a bit, then turned and ran, left the cub up in the tree. Must have smelled me, and figured anyone who smelled that bad, must already be dead. Or something.

Anytime I'm packing a good rifle, be it muzzle loader, Winchester, or Springfield, my Remington Navy .36 usually goes along for the ride.

 

[NeroM]

A few inches of fresh snow, temp up to about 20, sunny out - almost blinding off the snow.
Went for a walk about the back 40- mostly through woods and around some open fields, probably 3 miles or so.
Model 10 in bandolier holster, ready for action. Usual mix of critter tracks. One neat spot in the snow where I presume a small hawk had scored a mole or something- small hole in snow with bird feather pattern in snow around the hole. Model 10 did not have an opportunity to speak.
S&W M10 is a great walking around partner. 38 SPL is no powerhouse, however highly shootable and accurate;
More effective than raw power suggests.

 

[BigBlue 94]

.4xx or above. Usually a revolver for me, sometimes a 10mm glock.

Ive carried 45acp in bear and moose country and 44mag in rattlesnake country (only pistol shotshells i had!) The biggest thing around here is deer. We have transient big cats but you are VERY "lucky" to ever see one. Very few hogs. Many times ive not even carried more than a fixed knife.

 

[Ugly Sauce]

A few inches of fresh snow, temp up to about 20, sunny out - almost blinding off the snow.
Went for a walk about the back 40- mostly through woods and around some open fields, probably 3 miles or so.
Model 10 in bandolier holster, ready for action. Usual mix of critter tracks. One neat spot in the snow where I presume a small hawk had scored a mole or something- small hole in snow with bird feather pattern in snow around the hole. Model 10 did not have an opportunity to speak.
S&W M10 is a great walking around partner. 38 SPL is no powerhouse, however highly shootable and accurate;
More effective than raw power suggests.

I've always thought that the .38spl is a better cartridge than it gets credit for. I have a Uberti SAA in .357 that doesn't seem to like .357's, but really shoots nice and accurate with a high-end/hot .38spl load, with a cast 160 grain round nose bullet. I bet it would penetrate well, and put the hurt on something.

 

[Ugly Sauce]

.4xx or above. Usually a revolver for me, sometimes a 10mm glock.

Ive carried 45acp in bear and moose country and 44mag in rattlesnake country (only pistol shotshells i had!) The biggest thing around here is deer. We have transient big cats but you are VERY "lucky" to ever see one. Very few hogs. Many times ive not even carried more than a fixed knife.

You know, I think the 1911 in .45acp isn't a bad "woods gun", even though I'm not real excited about auto-loader for woods guns. They make decent .45acp shot loads, and they work great, I've taken two grouse with them out of my Webley.

Them cats...where I hunt/hike/explore/trek the place is crawling with them. But the only one I've ever seen, hunting up there (North East corner of Washington State) was one I called in.

I hope that was a BIG knife you was packing. No matter how much fire-power I have, I always take my K-bar.

 

[3Crows]

I Taut I Taw a Big Puddy Tat walk across my back yard. Then I told myself it was a coyote or something. Then two weeks later an elementary school a few miles away had plenty of cell phone pics of a big puddy tat! So maybe I did taw a big puddy tat in my backyard .

If hunting, I might just carry my Single Six with .22 Magnum as nearly any rifle is more FPE than all but the largest revolvers and the rifle is likely to already be in my hand, not going to drop it and hunt for my (inferior) revolver! But woods walking, again, my Single Six unless there is reason to believe there might (reasonably) be bears or cougars in which case my Ruger Blackhawk .45LC with HMS Bear Loads (or more). As I have become increasingly more aware of predators of the human kind I sometimes instead now carry a Glock 19 or Kimber 45ACP.

 

[RexFeral8]

Here in North Alabama there are not many dangerous four legged critters roaming the woods. There is the occasional rare sighting of a Black Bear and there are feral hogs here and there. Beyond that, feral dogs and Coyotes are probably about the only dangerous four legged critter you are likely to run across. Unfortunately, two legged critters are a more likely threat... That being said, my woods pistols are my Colt Commander in .45 ACP or my 4 inch barreled M&P in .38 Special. They both carry easily enough while I am bow hunting or otherwise tramping around the woods. Don't know about other State's laws but in Alabama there are no prohibitions against carrying a handgun for personal defense during bow season (or any other time) on the public hunting land, provided you have a Concealed Carry Permit.

 

[BigBlue 94]

You know, I think the 1911 in .45acp isn't a bad "woods gun", even though I'm not real excited about auto-loader for woods guns. They make decent .45acp shot loads, and they work great, I've taken two grouse with them out of my Webley.

For posterity, the 45acp I carry is a Colt 1917 revolver... But i agree, a 1911 makes a great woods gun, as long as nothing over about 300 lbs is in the area. ACP has a bit more oomph from the revolver.

Its not the size of the knife that matters...!

But yeah, nothing under 4" blade. The scariest thing not on two legs ive seen while out roaming in my area of ne KS is a tarantula. Fu## that s### man! My trapline revolver is a simple 22mag

 

[Ugly Sauce]

I guess the "woods revolver Cartridge" depends on the mission. That could be hiking, hunting, exploring, trekking, and with any of those, the possibility, or non-possibility of wilderness survival. So yeah, the bigger the rifle, the smaller the sidearm, for me. In a patch of woods that is pretty "tame", like the State land about two miles from me, I'd be fine with a single-six (but I don't have one...darn) especially in .22mag. No bear around here, but we do have the Puddy Tats, although I've never seen one here, and have lived here since 1983. Wife has seen one, and a lady I worked with found a dead buck one day on the wildlife refuge, another couple miles down the road, went back the next day to saw off the rack, and a big old Tom was on it chomping away. But again I think a .22 mag would easily take the fight out of a Puddy Tat.

Having said that, sometimes when I spend the day out on the state land, just to get away from people and the world, I'll usually take a Winchester, just because I love my Winchesters, and love walking the woods with one. !! In that case, my sidearm is a S&W aluminum "Airlite", in .22LR which weighs 11 ounces. !

 

[Ugly Sauce]

Here in North Alabama there are not many dangerous four legged critters roaming the woods. There is the occasional rare sighting of a Black Bear and there are feral hogs here and there. Beyond that, feral dogs and Coyotes are probably about the only dangerous four legged critter you are likely to run across. Unfortunately, two legged critters are a more likely threat... That being said, my woods pistols are my Colt Commander in .45 ACP or my 4 inch barreled M&P in .38 Special. They both carry easily enough while I am bow hunting or otherwise tramping around the woods. Don't know about other State's laws but in Alabama there are no prohibitions against carrying a handgun for personal defense during bow season (or any other time) on the public hunting land, provided you have a Concealed Carry Permit.

Same here in Washington State, although I think they may have dropped the Concealed Carry requirement.

 

[NeroM]

Sunday morning, many go to church. For me, a Sunday morning walk in the woods is my metaphysical connection. Live in a very rural area, the "woods" is sort of dirt road bound oval approx 3 miles wide and six miles long. Six inches of new light snow at the end of last week and a slight dusting last night to freshen the top. More dreary out than desired when I left the house this morning, temp had risen to 20. S&W M10 comfortably hung from bandolier holster. Strolling about flushed a few partridge. Saw a couple large white rabbits. Nice bobcat track, have seen him a couple times on other Sunday strolls - a very handsome kitty. followed along a section of swamp for a while, this swamp is a little like the Bermuda Triangle. Stuff goes in, never to be seen again. If you carry a GPS to the edge, gps will warn you to go no further.
Sat on a stump near swamp edge, wishing I had brought a Thermos of tea. Caught the sight of a deer galloping across the swamp, soon realized it was following the edge and shortly ran by about 25 yds in front of me. This is odd? Unholstered Mr M10, cocked the hammer, about 15 sec later a pair of feral dogs running along the deer path clearly in persuit. M10 spoke four times, feral beasts got acute Pb poisoning. These critters have been a real problem with my Amish neighbors sheep. 38 SPL is no powerhouse, however pragmatic to shoot and right to the fixed sight at 20-25 yds with a 140 gr TCFP handload at 920 fps. M10= great woods gun.