what handgun to get

[gadwall]

I'd go .357

If you're going to carry it in the woods,you can get much better loads for cougar or bear in .357

 

That does pretty much mean a wheel gun rather than a semi auto.  How do you feel about that?

[Rick]

http://www.buffalobore.com/index.php?l=product_detail&p=124

"Item 25B utilizes a 124gr. FMJ flat nose bullet at 1,425 fps. This bullet will smash through typical stick frame walls, car doors and a bears skull or shoulder bones. It is designed for those who need deep penetration. It should penetrate 24+ inches in human tissue."

Thats a decent load,but I'd rather have a 180gr. hard cast at 1400fps.

[mebco09]

One item to consider, if you are looking for a woods gun, does it really have to be a legal caliber for hunting? If I am in a bad situation with a wild animal in the woods, I really don't care if I kill it, just that it goes away.  I guess that goes for a 2 legged animal too. 

I would say that the governing factor would be the concealment potential of an all-around gun rather than knockdown power on a wild animal. 

The most important factor is to get a gun that is comfortable that you will wear, it does you no good if you have to leave it in the truck beacuse it is too heavy etc.
 

[mjbskwim]

A great gun for both is a 10mm (41 mag ballistics).Great round for hunting small critters and should drop a good size deer if you get hungry.
Glock 10mm's come in a few sizes and are great guns.Recoil isn't too bad either.
The full size is as big as you would want for concealed carry

Otherwise a nice Ruger GP 100 in 357 is great.Still concealable and a great round.A little small for hunting,but should be adequate for scaring a black bear off. Yes I know it will kill a deer.So will a 22LR
Blackhawks are great but not a great configuration for carrying concealed.
I would wait and save money up before I would bother with a Taurus.I have had a few and got rid of all of them in short time.

40's and 45ACPs are OK for outdoor and should ward off most threats,but are the best 2 calibers for a CCW

It really comes down to what YOU shoot best.Shot placement.
And if you want it primarily for a CCW or a sidearm for hiking
Which will it be used for most?
Go to a gun range that rents handguns and try some out

Oh and my standard for those thinking of starting to CC,
only do this if you can KILL someone.Cause if you can't,they bad guy will take your gun and kill you and your family.

[Huntbear]

Why are you worried about concealability in a woods gun?  I would worry more about knock down and stay down power.

My minimum would be a .357 mag.  One thing about wheel guns, they always go bang. 

[moffitt]

I have an S & W 327 PD in .357 mag.  It's one of the scandium lightweight models but it holds 8 shots.  4" barrel allows me to carry without too much discomfort.  Love how light it is and the 8 shot capacity, it's a great gun, I would highly recommend to anyone in the market for anything but a .357 in particular.  A lot of people question whether the lightweights can handle heavy loads in the larger calibers, but I haven't had any issues.  Come with a nice, rubber, Hogue grip which minimizes the kick.

[Yeti]

I carry the XD. 40 sub compact, with a high hip.  Perfect.  Barely noticeable while hunting.  Granted the 3" barrel isnt legal for hunting but I didnt buy it for that purpose.

[Tony 270]

I found the ultimate gun combo package. This is the do-it-all, Swiss Army of handguns 

[Wazukie]

I love these threads, which gun do I buy?  It's like Ford or Chevy?  Whatever you decide to buy, make sure you know how to use it. Make sure you know how to shoot it instinctively. Shoot till you're comfortable with it and then go shoot even more. If you ever do find yourself in a situation where you have to draw your weapon, you don't want to think about what you need to do, you want to react. And by the way, my .357 will kill anything this state has to offer.

[fisheral87]

I have wanted one of these for a while.

http://www.ruger.com/products/sp101/models.html

Firepower limitation, but a sweet little gun.

[rock]

well for knockdown power howabout one of these http://www.ableammo.com/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=83787
 

[high country]

if a 45 is on your to consider list, remember you can always load 45supers or grab a 460 rowland kit for it......big time increase over the 45auto. the 10mm was mentioned and it should be noted that the 10 is a proven people and critter killer. I recall reading a story by a brown bear guide that killed one with his delta cup 10mm. I have come to love my 329pd for woods cary, in fact I took a buck with it this year.

[BallisticsNut]

i am going to be buying a handgun and not sure what to buy. i want something for carry and home but possibly big enough to carry in the woods as well. is there one gun that will do this or am i looking at a couple different guns. was looking at the .40, .357 and the .45. what would you recommend. thanks

I have an imput on this.  5 years ago or so, I went through the same issue.  I wasnt in now hurry so i went to my local range often and rented handguns at various calibers and models to see what "fit" my needs for accuracy as well as comfort.  I eventually was sold on the Sig Saur P226 Blackwater and I dont regret that decsion in the least.  Came with 5 magazines and far more accurate then any other weapon I tried.  So, lets get down to brass tax. 

Home use defined as self defense? = short distance and reliable go with a police issue glock .40 and you wont have any worries. 

If you are looking for something more to have fun with and a little more accurate i would look at a Sig P229 Elite which has interchangeable barrels. You can convert from a .40 to a .357 or .9mm.  (which is what I should have done)  A bit pricey but well worth the extra.   http://www.sigsauer.com/Products/ShowCatalogProductDetails.aspx?categoryid=8&productid=253

Also, the CZ shoots real nice and comes in both left hand and right hand models.  http://cz-usa.com/products/by-category/handguns/

 

Either way, try and find a range locally that you can rent hand guns and try out a few.  Get what feels right for you and you will have more confidence when you use it.  thats what is important IMHO!

[ridgefire]

thanks for all the replies

[fisheral87]

Does anyone shoot the .357 sig? Everything I have read has said it is not any better and probably worse than other offerings. My impression is that it does not compare to the .357 mag as far as knock down power.

The .357 mag is a solid round, power, versatility of use and ammunition, and manageable recoil with most platforms. Disadvantage is round count with revolvers. Practice will dictate your effectiveness, not round count.

I have heard the 10mm is a good round but harder to come by than say .38 spl and .357 mag.

You really should go shoot the ones you are looking at. I love buying/shooting/owning/talking guns. 

Keep us updated, as I am poor at the moment and would like to live vicariously through you.