Reading the other thread about choosing a handgun for the wild outdoors prompted me to start this thread.
Readers can agree or disagree or throw rocks at me but the following are my observations.
There are many good resons to carry a handgun while out and about. Let's break it down to two area. Hunting (small game or big game) and protection (two legged and four legged)
Now, for small game, you can't beat an accurate 22 in either a wheelgun or auto. That's where the 22 begins and ends.
When you get to the big game and self defense arena,my experience shows me that really only calibers up to and including the 357 Magnum should be considered. Many biggame species are tough and have dense muscle and fat which makes penetration vital.Bad people may be wearing heavy clothing as well. No need to worry about overpenetration.
Animal attacks aren't lilmited to bears and cougars,rutting elk,moose and deer are dangerous as well as feral hogs. Don't forget about wolves as well as coyotes and feral dogs.
Many of these encounters will create situations where you will be forced to shoot at odd angles and multiple times.Precise shot placement is the exception rather than the rule here.
For the above reasons I rule out the 9mm,38 special,357 SIG,40 S&W,45 GAP and the 45 ACP.(Don my flameproof suit!) All of the mentioned calibers have a very good record on the street but they just don't do well in this arena.
The 45 ACP has a stellar record as a manstopper since 1911 but I have witnessed it and the 40 underpenetrate repeatedly on game animals. Enough to change my thinking.
This leaves us with the 357 magnum,10mm,41 magnum,44 magnum,45 Colt and the big mags like the 454 and 500 S&W. This listing of calibers will penetrate very well and are available in quality wheelguns and autos.
If you are not in bear country you are well served from the 45 Colt on down in size.You can purchase quality full load ammo for the 10mm from Cabela's and online very easily.Hornady,Buffalo Bore,Double Tap and Texas Ammunition Company all make a full house loading for the 10mm.
The key to reliable self defense is a good bullet. Heavy hardcast and well constructed bullets like the Hornady XTP,Nosler Partition and Speer Gold Dot softpoint are very good choices.
Practice often and get a good carry system. Many people live through animal and human attacks but are maimed for life. I know a rancher that shot a hog with a 38 Special, he hit it six times and he estimated the the hog dies in about 30-45 seconds. That small amount of time was long enough for the hog to cut him badly. He was life flighted,almost bled to death and will never walk with out a cane again.He now carries a 44 magnum and a 30-30 rifle when he is checking fences and cattle.
Think about it a little before you go unarmed or underarmed.
Readers can agree or disagree or throw rocks at me but the following are my observations.
There are many good resons to carry a handgun while out and about. Let's break it down to two area. Hunting (small game or big game) and protection (two legged and four legged)
Now, for small game, you can't beat an accurate 22 in either a wheelgun or auto. That's where the 22 begins and ends.
When you get to the big game and self defense arena,my experience shows me that really only calibers up to and including the 357 Magnum should be considered. Many biggame species are tough and have dense muscle and fat which makes penetration vital.Bad people may be wearing heavy clothing as well. No need to worry about overpenetration.
Animal attacks aren't lilmited to bears and cougars,rutting elk,moose and deer are dangerous as well as feral hogs. Don't forget about wolves as well as coyotes and feral dogs.
Many of these encounters will create situations where you will be forced to shoot at odd angles and multiple times.Precise shot placement is the exception rather than the rule here.
For the above reasons I rule out the 9mm,38 special,357 SIG,40 S&W,45 GAP and the 45 ACP.(Don my flameproof suit!) All of the mentioned calibers have a very good record on the street but they just don't do well in this arena.
The 45 ACP has a stellar record as a manstopper since 1911 but I have witnessed it and the 40 underpenetrate repeatedly on game animals. Enough to change my thinking.
This leaves us with the 357 magnum,10mm,41 magnum,44 magnum,45 Colt and the big mags like the 454 and 500 S&W. This listing of calibers will penetrate very well and are available in quality wheelguns and autos.
If you are not in bear country you are well served from the 45 Colt on down in size.You can purchase quality full load ammo for the 10mm from Cabela's and online very easily.Hornady,Buffalo Bore,Double Tap and Texas Ammunition Company all make a full house loading for the 10mm.
The key to reliable self defense is a good bullet. Heavy hardcast and well constructed bullets like the Hornady XTP,Nosler Partition and Speer Gold Dot softpoint are very good choices.
Practice often and get a good carry system. Many people live through animal and human attacks but are maimed for life. I know a rancher that shot a hog with a 38 Special, he hit it six times and he estimated the the hog dies in about 30-45 seconds. That small amount of time was long enough for the hog to cut him badly. He was life flighted,almost bled to death and will never walk with out a cane again.He now carries a 44 magnum and a 30-30 rifle when he is checking fences and cattle.
Think about it a little before you go unarmed or underarmed.
Literally, they were very small, but attacks are similar in that they give you no warning (fortunately I had my hiking staff and was able to steer them around me)
it was good refresher on why staying alert is the first step to self defense!
