Hi Mencius,
You'd relayed -
Yeah, I am kinda mentioning a .22 would be a good thing to have around. We'll see how it goes. You can get in alot of plinking/shooting for $20 with a .22...
I am not pushing it on him. I realize it may sound that way from my previous posts, but he actually came to me asking what I would recommend. The reason I included a 9mm in the first post is that is what he was considering out the gate. I think I have about brought him around to the 357, but we'll see. I do kinda agree with your implication that having a handgun in this situation is not going to really be a deciding factor in whether he makes it or not.
On a side note, I shot a 454 Cassul this weekend. Probably a little more gun than I need...
Oh, okay...I had not understood correctly.
Well, a couple things do come to mind.
Whatever he elects, he needs to know how to take care of it, keep it safe from corrosion, dirt, or other woes.He needs to use a Lube which will not get too stiff if it is really cold.
He needs to know how to field strip and understand the Mechanism, and, of course, to insist on observing safe and proper Habits in how he Loads, carries and Handles the Arm.
I just have no idea what Arm to recommend.
If it was me, I would have two -
A .22 Automatic of some sort, like an early Colt Woodsman or prewoodsman or a High Standard Model B.
Loaded singly, these will fire CB Caps or .22 Shorts also of course, as well as Standard Velocity Ammo.
And, a plain M1911 .45 Auto.
Kinda hard to imagine any one Gun for all occasions, especially if one is in the Woods or Wilds!
My first thought was for any long Barreled Revolver in .45 Colt, actually.
But then I thought about if one wishes to Hunt small Game.
Bow and various Arrow types, would be pretty ideal for a lot of things too.
Tough question!
