New Handgun for Outdoors

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Olympus

Olympus

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I'm thinking about getting a new handgun, something maybe more dedicated for woods/outdoors. I have a hunting property that I go to a lot. I like to hike my property, I’m out there a lot checking trail cameras, doing various projects, etc. I’ve been looking at those guide style chest holster like the Galco Alaskan and Guides Choice as they seem to give a lot of freedom of movement. I’ve tried belt holsters and shoulder holsters and they get in the way, get caught on branches, and are more of a hinderance when it comes to working.

I’m open to any kind of handgun at this point. But obviously personal defense would be a big consideration. My property is very rural, has zero cell service, and is also a very poor county. I don’t ever expect to, but I would not like to run into someone trespassing and doing something illegal on my property such as a meth lab or weed patch. Next consideration would be to dispatch unwanted critters. Possums, skunks, armadillo, crows, stray dogs, coyotes, etc. I’m not much of a small game hunter, so they would not be much of a concern for me. Feral hogs have just been sighted in my county, but no sign of them on my property. There has been one lone black bear caught on a trail cam in my county, but no real danger of bears. Any likely threat would be more 2-legged than 4-legged.

I already carry a 1911 in a shoulder holster at times, but the shoulder holster tends to flop around and get my shirt bunched and twisted, especially when I’m working on projects. Bending down to saw limbs and pick up brush and stuff tend to have me just taking my shoulder holster off completely. I’m just looking for another style of holster to try and it also gives the opportunity to try a new pistol!

Looking forward to hearing new recommendations.
 
The gun I use for this exact purpose is a 4.2" 5 shot ruger sp101 357 magnum.

Shown here with a browning buckmark for size comparison. At 30 ounces its 10 ounces lighter than a 1911 and you'll forget you have it on a hip holster and it has target sights. My father in law likes it so much I got him for Christmas and he uses it when he goes trapping.

IMG-0017.jpg

5 shot group at 50 yards rested with 357 magnums

image.jpg

It makes a superb small game/pest dispatcher with 38 specials and I've killed 3 deer with it loaded with 357 magnums, though I do not plan to shoot any more deer with it as I think its a little light for that.
 
I carry every day in similar circumstances and carry most often a Charter Arms 44 special. I have and sometimes carry a 44 or 45 Blackhawk [during hunting season] but the CA is light enough that it does not get in the way.
 
I have a different approach to woods carry if i truly want to take out a varmint or predator from my property.
Dont get me wrong, i truly appreciate the idea of a woods gun (handgun). I have a few that qualify, in my mind, for that purpose. For SD, putting down a sick or wounded animal, varmints at close range.....plinking....i like my .357 blackhawk or single six.
However, if i really am looking to take out a varmint, coyote, nuisance pest......i want my easy carrying carbine.
20160824_183419.jpg 20181120_065645.jpg
...or most likely, this:
20170427_162226.jpg
With a carbine, i can confidently reach out and get that groundhog, or coyote, and not just shoot at them with my revolver.
If im hiking, its slung over my shoulder, hands-free. If im trimming shooting lanes, or whatever, i just lean it against a tree and do my chore. If i do get an opportunity for a shot on a varmint, i am FAR more likely to be successful.
Thats my approach.
 
someguy2800 said:
your 1911 in a hip holster would also be great, but who am I to tell you that you don't need another gun :) we are supposed to be enablers right?
Click to expand...

I tried a belt holster first. I’m frequently getting up onto an open station tractor and the belt holster is always in the way when I sit down. I’m using my right side where the 3pt lift control lever is for brush hogging and the belt holster was also in the way.

The belt holster was what I used first and found it didn’t work for what I do. That’s when I switched to the shoulder holster and it works decently until I start doing jobs that require bending over. I’m keeping my shoulder holster and 1911 in my rotation for sure. Just looking to try this guide style holster and it gives me chance to get a new gun too.
 
someguy2800 said:
The gun I use for this exact purpose is a 4.2" 5 shot ruger sp101 357 magnum.
Click to expand...
Hey someguy2800, is that the same gun in the second picture, only with a different front sight? And if so, what front sight? Was it hard to change?
I like everything about sp101s except the fiber optic front sights. Not that I deny their practicality or usefulness, I just don't like how they look.
I stated in another thread that I'm looking at treating myself to a sp101 for the same purposes the OP of this thread listed - carry while working around the back part of our property here. But if I do, I'll be looking at replacing the fiber optic front sight.:)
 
Armored farmer said:
I have a different approach to woods carry if i truly want to take out a varmint or predator from my property.
Dont get me wrong, i truly appreciate the idea of a woods gun (handgun). I have a few that qualify, in my mind, for that purpose. For SD, putting down a sick or wounded animal, varmints at close range.....plinking....i like my .357 blackhawk or single six.
However, if i really am looking to take out a varmint, coyote, nuisance pest......i want my easy carrying carbine.
View attachment 813778 View attachment 813779
...or most likely, this:
View attachment 813780
With a carbine, i can confidently reach out and get that groundhog, or coyote, and not just shoot at them with my revolver.
If im hiking, its slung over my shoulder, hands-free. If im trimming shooting lanes, or whatever, i just lean it against a tree and do my chore. If i do get an opportunity for a shot on a varmint, i am FAR more likely to be successful.
Thats my approach.
Click to expand...

Absolutely, I have woods rifles myself. A Marlin 1894 in 44 Mag and a Ruger American in 22 Mag. If I’m going out strictly for the purpose of looking for something to shoot, I take a rifle every time. I’m talking more here about going out with some other purpose in mind, checking trail cams, cutting limbs, pruning back limbs over trails, brush hogging trails, etc where I rifle would be more in the way than just a handgun in front of my chest. If I happen to see something that needs shooting, then I have something available. If not, it’s not in my way and I continue doing my chores or whatever I’m out there doing.
 
I reload for a lot of different calibers already, so really no caliber is off limits. I load for 357/38, 44 Mag, 10mm, 357 Sig, 22 Hornet, 9mm, 45acp.
 
I live 3/4 of a mile off the county road, on 185 acres, mostly all wooded. I have several thousand acres to roam over, on foot or on horseback (people who want access to that land have to go through my land, so we get along very well.)

I normally carry either a Colt Woodsman in a holster I made myself, or a Colt New Service in .45 Colt in a similar holster. I've never had a problem with carrying on my hip..
 
I’m open to any kind of handgun at this point. But obviously personal defense would be a big consideration. My property is very rural, has zero cell service, and is also a very poor county.
Click to expand...

Just curious. What part of the world do you live in that there is no cell service? I ran in to that when I worked deep east Tx after Hurricane Rita. No service at all no matter who your cell provider was. But if I couldn't find on of my claims everyone seem to know everyone else and you could stop at any house and ask directions and most times be invited in to use the phone if they were not sure of the location. I even got invited to eat squirrel with rice. It was good too. Really nice people down there.

But to answer your question for me at least I would strap on my old S&W model 15. Its one of my favorite guns and is not unreasonably heavy and has all the power I would need for SD against two legged problems. And I shoot the gun well. At least I used to. I can't help with the holster. Maybe a Simply Rugged crossdraw.

I did watch my buds property and check his cows while he was in Colorado. I rode his 4-Wheeler to check the fences and fed the cows. I wore my 4" GP-100 in an Uncle Mikes nylon holster and never had any snags or interference from it. And even as heavy as that gun is I never noticed it on me.
 
Olympus said:
I tried a belt holster first. I’m frequently getting up onto an open station tractor and the belt holster is always in the way when I sit down. I’m using my right side where the 3pt lift control lever is for brush hogging and the belt holster was also in the way.

The belt holster was what I used first and found it didn’t work for what I do. That’s when I switched to the shoulder holster and it works decently until I start doing jobs that require bending over. I’m keeping my shoulder holster and 1911 in my rotation for sure. Just looking to try this guide style holster and it gives me chance to get a new gun too.
Click to expand...

For getting on a tractor or truck also try a cross draw holster on your left side. My normal right hand belt holsters just put on my left side work good for that. These snap closure nylon holsters are great for the woods and working

6C98953E-67BD-4350-ACC0-3C7798FD0A3F.jpg

Another thing you might like is a compact 9mm in a pocket holster in your front jeans pocket. If I'm going to be banging around and can't be snagging on stuff, say cutting firewood or being on a tractor I just grab my LC9s in a desantis pocket holster and put it in my front jeans pocket. Can barely tell its there but then I have to move my leatherman and keys to a different pocket.
 
someguy2800 said:
For getting on a tractor or truck also try a cross draw holster on your left side. My normal right hand belt holsters just put on my left side work good for that. These snap closure nylon holsters are great for the woods and working
Click to expand...
Ya beat me to it. While riding the tractor or golf cart I use cross draw, canted way forward. I actually prefer it while walking also. If my jacket is zipped, it takes barely any time to zip it down far enough to get to the gun. Much faster for me than pulling up the jacket to get to it on the right side.

I don't do this much any more but back in the day, I carried a Ruger KP90DC or a DW .44mag w/6"bbl.
If I was looking to start over I would look hard at something I liked and looked fun in 10mm.
 
Someguy2800 I have a box full of those nylon holsters. Some folks badmouth them but the only problem I ever had with one was when the plastic belt loop got brittle and broke. The ones with a nylon belt loop will last forever and do all I need a holster to do.
 
If hunting and critters were the only considerations, I would suggest a S&W M629 with a 4 inch barrel. But when personal defense against two-legged hoodlums gets thrown into the mix, I personally am very fond of the Glock 20 in 10mm Auto. I carry this thing everywhere for everything:

ls5Tini.jpg
 
Something you can carry in a pocket holster in the cargo pants pocket of shorts or long pants. If it's not too light and not too long, it will stay in there easily and not get entangled with anything, even with the pocket open. I usually carry something like an LCR or CA Bulldog, but I suspect a shorter Glock, such as a G43 or G26, would work. My long ape arms reach into the cargo pocket easily, and with the right holster it's a very quick draw.
 
Take a look at Springfield’s XDM 10mm. I picked one up recently and am impressed with it. They also have a promotion going on where you get an additional 3 magazines and a pretty good range bag.
 
My stock answer for a woods gun would be a 10mm if a 357 is sufficient, or a 44 mag or up if you feel you need more. If the big bad bears in Canada and Alaska were realistic threats I'd want a lever action carbine chambered in 45-70 or similar and to heck with the handgun idea.

Truthfully it sounds like anything in 9mm or up would be sufficient for your needs, though. So I suggest a 9mm. Tons of options on the market to choose from, cheapest ammo by a significant margin, you can find ammo anywhere and they're fun to shoot with limited recoil. Cheap practice means more practice which makes you a better shooter.
 
I know the 22 WMR is pretty dang effective from a rifle, but I haven’t looked into it much from a handgun. I do think a Ruger Single Six or Blackhawk would look cool in a leather holster.

The PMR30 is another neat option, but I’ve never even seen one in person.
 
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