Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Handguns Best defense handgun for the woods?

I feel very "defended" with my Glock 20 with a full hi-cap. 10mm makes a good round for hunting, too.

Perhaps this killing in the woods will give us Wisconsin residents the leverage we need to get the concealed carry bill passed.

Here is a place to do some reading for you Wisconsin residents.

http://www.wisconsinconcealedcarry.com/

If we dont get this CCW bill passed, toteing a pistol under concealment gonna get ya in deep trouble, when the LAW inforcement discovers your hidden pistol.

When selecting a handgun, it needs to fit your hands, needs to be reliable,and powerfull enough to do the job required. A 9mm would be ok in the summer months, but in winter when people are wearing multiable layers of heavy cloth's, a 10mm or 357 would be preferable for penatration purposes. Most of all, you need to have it with you 100% of the time, if not, chances are you wont have it when you need it most. With all that said, we need to work on getting the CCW bill passed.............. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/help.gif" alt="" />

Re using your rifle to return fire,one thing for consideration-are you hunting with a scoped rifle or open sights? The first thing the Wis. shooter did was to detach his scope,(he knew exactly what he was doing)and then had much faster target acquisition than most hunters with a scoped rifle.If you were able to take cover the scoped rifle may be a good option,but in a highly stressed situation when things are happening at mach 5 I'd prefer open sights. I'd opt for the lightest (and largest cal) handgun you can comfortably carry [color:"red"]and [/color] accurately shoot.I lean towards revolvers so I carry a 329PD in a crossdraw while hunting and a highride strongside everyday. My rifle doesn't bang and rub on it in the crossdraw and its light enough to carry all day.I hardly know its there,which means I'm not going to leave it home or in the rig,because its uncomfortable and/or to heavy to carry. I don't leave home without it. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

I carry a Kimber Tactical 45 when woods walking and deer hunting, and am always watching for "threat".
We have Cougars in my area also. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" />
Virgil B.

I haven't heard for sure but I'm assuming this Hmong guy was a veteran--not involved in his first rodeo. The hunters who were shot probably had trouble even comprehending what was happening until it was too late. They didn't approach the situation as a tactical problem, nor would most of us before this happened.
I rarely carry a handgun anymore if I'm carrying a rifle, and this won't change that view. Still have a handgun around camp, but I'd much rather deal on some bad guy with a .338 or .30-06 with which I can head shoot him at 200 yards than get into a pistol affray with a homicidal nut.
Think people will be a little more tense in those public land "whose elk is it?" confrontations?

Thank you Jog - You hit the nail on the head.

I don't know how it is in many states regarding carry of a handgun during hunting season other then gun season. In my state if you get caught carrying a handgun during bow or muzzleloader season your subject to fine and seizure of the handgun, suspension of hunting license. This applies to even conceled weapon license holders or if you even have it openly displayed. The squirrel sheriff's in this state don't even let LEO's have a break. Last year I almost caught a fine and lost a J-frame S&W Mdl. 342 while bowhunting in a region of the state where I don't know any of the game wardens. I had to call a judge I bird hunt with, who knows the commissioner to get it straightened out. After the incident in WI. this maybe subject to change.

Hunter1960- "In my state (Tenn.) if you get caught carrying a handgun during bow or muzzleloader season your subject to fine and seizure of the handgun, suspension of hunting license. This applies to even conceled weapon license holders or if you even have it openly displayed.
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In Idaho, you may carry a handgun openly or concealed, when you are archery hunting and muzzleloader hunting. You'd just better not use it to kill your game animal.

Id. F&G honors your/our Right to self protection. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif" alt="" />

FWIW. L.W.

Virginia anounced this hunting season that it is LAWFUL for concealed carry permit holders to be in possession of a handgun during archery and muzzleloading seasons. The code goes on to say that is is unlawful to take game with said handgun during these seasons.

I'm glad VA got this figured out. Several people were having problems including LEO. I hope the other states do the same for their hunters.

I have a couple of observations. The defensive handgun you've spent thousands of rounds with would be a good choice. I carry a .45 ACP similar to the one that did 20 years of military service with me, attended several bullseye and combat matches and generally went plinking with me. I wouldn't feel unarmed with any centerfire handgun I'd hunt deer with. My experience there is .45 ACP/AR, .41 Mag, .44 Mag, and .45 Colt. I have a 10mm Glock, but is "lives" with my wife, so it probably won't go deer hunting with me. I squirrel hunt with a .22 revolver or semiauto. I'd rather avoid and seek cover with this light a defensive tool. Push come to shove, a 22 in the eye/ face just might discourage an attacker. I live in Tennessee too. Frankly, I deer hunt with both bow and muzzle loader with a .45 ACP concealed on my person. I hunt for enjoyment but don't give up my citizenship in the process. I have no plans to shoot any game animal with an "illegal" firearm. I play by the wildlife management rules but protecting myself and my family are first. You can legally hunt certain species with a centerfire all year, including coyotes, possums and racoons. Range and power become issues out in the woods they wouldn't be in conversation "city" situations. I'd say a handgun that wouldn't shoot dinner plate groups at fifty yards would not be my choice. I've never tried the new "ultralight" S&W .44 Magnum revolver, but am tempted. My Mountain Gun at 39 1/2 ounces approaches a .45 Auto Government Model is weight, but not power or reach. The comment on Idaho just reinforces my view that Idaho is a great state to hunt in, and I'll be back again if at all possible.

Put me in MontanaMarine's camp, I've never been very bashful about carrying a handgun when in the weeds. These days during gun season I carry a Colt Delta Elite 10mm, it is reasonably portable, sufficiently powerful and, oh yeah, a variation of the ultimate combat handgun just in case things should go south. I don't do the bow thing, but when next year's muzzle loader season comes around I expect I'll tote a .44 Army clone, which is legal for finishing shots here. At other times I'll carry something a bit smaller and lighter like a Kahr 40 or a S&W 640. Repeat after me: "Officer, state law requires me to inform you that I am in possession of a legally concealled handgun."

I'd pick my beretta 9mm with 2 15 rnd mags using tracer bullets. I'd walk them onto the target...

I'm most accurate with this as I use to shoot IPSC with in in stock class. After pouring 4000 rnds dwn range in a year you get pretty good with it....

I once cleared a set of 16 targets two shots each in 30 seconds with a mag change and on the move the whole time.

In my KS woods, rabid animals and snakes are more of a threat than two legged problems. No bears or big cats. I carry an old 3" SS Charter Pathfinder revolver in .22 mag. It shoots HP's as good as I can and better than any of my short center fires. I sometimes feel that the .22 Mag is under rated as a defence cartridge if accuracy is equated. Good luck.

George

I'm likely to have my Glock 20 with 17 rounds of CorBon 200 grain penetrators or 180 grain soft points, and the other type in a 15 round backup mag. Enough for survival situations and four legged predators, I think.

re: two legged predators - They get to decide where to have the fight, I get to decide how to respond.

"I don't know if they'll go to heaven or hell, but they'll get an audience with Saint Peter this day," vowed Christopher Robin as he spied poachers in the 100 acre woods...

BW;

It almost makes one want to hunt with a fast handling short lever gun with irons. Something like a Jeff Cooper special with a reciever ghost ring site for quick target aquisition.

Dixie... I have two Marlins set up like that; one an old straight-stocked .30-30, the other a .357/.38, both with Williams peeps.

That little .357 comes immediately to mind, quick handling and easy to shoot well. The fact that it takes the same ammo as my 3" Mod 60 doesn't hurt either. Prob'ly be an even better carbine though in .44 magnum.

Birdwatcher

I reload my 357 Marlin with 18 grains fo LIL Gun and a Sper 158 gold dot. velocity is 1900+ FPS, nine in the pipe and one in the chamber.

Home or truck defense gun, and it's not an "assualt weapon."

With Cast Performance 180 grain LFNCGs and 15 grains of the same powder, it's ready for anything.

DW... thanks for the load info. On these forums over the years I have heard of guys who use their Marlin .357 for most everything, up to and including whitetail, I dunno anyone who owns one who doesn't like 'em.

The same seems to be true of the 3" adj sight S&W j-frame Mod 60 of which I own one too. Both the Marlin and the Smith feeding the same ammo (180 grainers sure are a blast to shoot in that little Smith <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />).

Well, pertinent to the topic of this thread I went to a gun show today and checked out a wide variety of autos, couldn't warm up to any of 'em except maybe the full-size 1911's.

"Sigh".... I guess I'm just gonna stick with the ol' trusty Mod 60, five rounds was enough for all of them cowboys with their Peacemakers, 'spect the same will do for me.

Birdwatcher

I agree. It would be hard to beat a Marlin 1895 G with this setup.

Yepper, 9 + 1 rounds of .45-70 handloads delivered rapid fire oughtta get their attention, prob'ly get the attention of the guy holding the 1895 anyway.

Birdwatcher