Working in the woods carry

[Thorgrim]

At first thought, I'd say that a 4-6" light or medium frame .357 is the best choice. I'd love to have another 6" Model 66, I enjoyed mine a lot and I'm primarily a Colt fan.

On the other hand ... there are few carry guns more useful than a reliable .22 auto, and there are a variety of good ones in most gun shops, both new and used. Since he has the .30-30 for serious business, I'd carry the .22 around while working the place. Ammo is cheap enough that he can invest some time learning to shoot well, and the .357 would be a lot more expensive in that regard.

Of course, the obvious solution is to buy both.

 

[Jim K]

kbbailey has the thing laid out. I see all kinds of trouble looming especially if it is not his land he is living off of. I don't know about Alaska or the West, but most places east of the Mississippi, you don't just go out in the woods, build a cabin and start shooting game.

Jim

 

[lobo9er]

i would say a 22 would be a really good idea to start with also. great for all sorts of small game and you can get 1000 rounds for under 40 bucks

 

[Vern Humphrey]

?? Huh? And incapacitate a brown bear in a couple seconds??

A standard loaded colt 45, made for the older firearms isn't much better than a 45 ACP.

225 grains going 860 fps.

Try a 255 grain bullet at 900 fps.

My load for my Colt New Service is a bit hotter -- I push that same bullet to 1100 fps.

Regardless, I have shot through deer with factory loads more than once.

 

[Sunray]

"...building a very rustic cabin and trying to live off the land...wanted your thoughts on it..." Put up a game camera so you'll know when to go rescue him. Likely best to tell him to lie down until this idea goes away.
Legalities of becoming a squatter aside, giving him a rifle he doesn't know how to use wasn't a great idea either. Be worse if you give him any kind of handgun he doesn't know how to use.

 

[RonDeer10mm]

The Glock 20 is what your looking for...

 

[Hunterfisher808]

Gotta agree with the majority here and say a 4" .357, My preference is a S&W 66. The .45 acp 1911 in SS would be my 2nd choice.

 

[9mmforMe]

A S&W, Ruger or comparable .357 sounds like a good choice for the many reasons already listed.

Aside from needing to know local ordinaces re: hunting, taking an NRA sponsored safety class since he is not a gun guy, being equipped for medical emergencies and so on...does your brother have the type of experience to live in this fashion? You know him best and could probably save him a great deal of potential trouble (significant legal issues and/or bodily harm).

I know that he is his own man, but you guys are family...is this wise given his current level of preparedness?

Just my .02 and if I seem like I'm prying, I apologize in advance.

 

[David E]

my little brother is not a gun guy.

People seem to keep missing this major point.

Would folks still suggest a .44, .454 or even a .357 much less any semi-auto to someone who's "not a gun guy?"

If he's willing to become a gun guy, then the .357 has much to be said for it. But he should still start with a .22

 

[TreeDoc]

Situation screams Ruger blackhawk 357, heck get a convertible and he can shoot 9mm as well.

 

[sonier]

ruger blackhawk in .22lr with 22 mag cylinder as well this guy needs some range practice and some researching in the law.

Far as deer letting you walk up to shoot them, well its pretty easy around here to do that, i shot my deer walking in open field from 30 yards. In some areas of the united states deer are completely oblivious to the dangers of people. If you want to see a lot of deer and mostly deer that just stand along the road even if you step out of your vehicle, visit westcliffe colorado.

Also if you come from the pueblo area be sure to look for big horn sheep on hardscrabble pass that are 20 yards from the road with no care in the world as well.

in glenwood springs/aspen all the way to marble the elk are not afraid fo people as well, you can walk within 50 yards of elk.

 

[smallbore]

Here's an article that may be helpful to you/your brother with making a decision.

http://www.backwoodshome.com/articles2/ayoob91.html

 

[David E]

the elk are not afraid fo people as well, you can walk within 50 yards of elk.

But never during elk season !

 

[CFFuts23]

RC has the best advice.

 

[Justin Holder]

I will say this, you can NOT live off the land without a .22 of some sort.

Since he is no gun guy I suggest a matching pair of Ruger single actions.
A Single Six .22lr. and a Blackhawk .357mag. will keep things as simple as possible.

If at first he can only have one go with the .22, then get the .357 latter when finances allow.

 

[CoastieShep]

If he does this, I only see it ending badly, probably with him loosing a lot of weight and spending time in a hospital. Hopefully not worse.
But to the OP, I'd agree with a .22lr or .22mag revolver and the .30-.30.

 

[kludge]

He has a .30-30 -- that will do for deer and coyotes out to around 150 yards, and for home defense.

Knowing that he has a .30-30, my very next gun choice would be a light .22LR rifle. Most people picking up a .22 handgun for the first time would need quite a bit of practice to take headshots on squirrels at 50 feet. With a .22 rifle, a 3-9x32mm scope, and a little practice he'll be picking off squirrels at 50 yards

If he definitely wants a handgun for woods walking... I'm a proponent of leaving the snakes alone... anything that will work for personal protection (9mm, .38SPL, .357Mag, .40, .45APC) will work for a rabid coyote, possum, coon... and if more pentration is absolutely needed a .45 Colt.

For me a 4" .357 Mag is a bit much for "everyday carry" (size and weight wise), and if I really thought I needed the power of a .357 on my hip every day, I'd probably carry a 4" .45 Colt instead. The Federal 225gr LSWC-HP goes 925fps out of my 4" barrel and is quite accurate. Standard pressure Buffalo Bore 255gr LSWC goes 950fps.

And if I really thought there was a good chance I'd need to use a gun, and my life might depend on it, it wouldn't be a handgun at all. The .30-30 would be close at hand.

But I think I'd rather have a compact 9mm (glock 19, 26, M&Pc, XD-9sc, SR-9c) or a 3" SP101. Perhaps even an Airweight (yes in .357, I like having the option to use .38 SPL or .357 Mag).

 

[okespe04]

Another vote for a .357 like a Ruger gp100 4"

 

[Mainsail]

I figure he'll touch off a .454 once while out and about on his property, then he'll toss it in a drawer never to see the light of day again. He'll probably buy more hearing aid batteries than bullets after that.

Tell him to leave the snakes alone; they don't hunt humans regardless of what he may have seen in a movie. They also eat the rodents that will be eating his vegetables.

 

[sm]

I suggest two handguns.

1. 4" .357 revolver
2. .22 rim-fire.

Actually, it would be best if the .22 was a revolver, as near the .357 as could be.

There is a place for a .22 in property duty in and of itself, not to mention the quality lessons and practice that will transition to the center-fire.

 

[TexasBill]

Not a gun guy? Then I sure as heck wouldn't recommend an automatic or a single-action revolver. For carrying around while working on the land (I assume he is buying the land or is at least a legal tenant), a double-action Smith & Wesson Model 64 ($560.00 from Bud's). .38 Special +P, can shoot .38 Special, snake shot, etc. Stainless steel so upkeep isn't as much of an issue, service sights so nothing gets caught on anything.

Oh, and a bunch of range time with cheap wadcutters before starting the big adventure.

 

[Nar]

Have to say a .357, a .44 could be good but make sure he can handle whatever you give him, doesn't matter how powerful it is if you can't hit it.

 

[MCgunner]

4" .357 DA revolver is my fav hiking gun. A Single action .45 Colt is heavier, but more powerful if I need it. I do have a nice .22 kit gun I take fishing a lot just for utility in the field. Don't need to worry about self defense and I take a squirrel now and then for the pot and vermin occasionally, like a nutria a while back. It does in snakes just fine with a .22 hollow point.

I also thought about the 45LC/.410, but I think the 45LC lacks the power for a deer.

I don't think so. A 255 grain bullet at 950 fps will take any deer to 50 yards and a 300 grain JHP Hornady XTP out of my Ruger 4 5/8" Blackhawk is putting down 850 ft lbs or near abouts. That's more than my .357 and right up there in the .44 mag ball park. It's capable of more, actually, but that's how I load it. Buffalo Bore offers hotter factory loads. I would NOT consider a Judge for any sort of outdoor activity, though, but there are DA and SA .45 Colts that qualify.

 

[mjbskwim]

10mm glock 20

Not much better than 15 rounds of 10 (= 41mag ballistics more/less)
Only problem with a 10 is finding ammo sometimes.

Read of lots of people hunting with it and it is more than adequate for self defense.The recoil isn't too bad either.

 

[David E]

10mm glock 20

For someone "not a gun guy?"

A .22 would serve him better.