caliber choice?

M

mitchelljd

Inactive
Does anyone have a link to a cmoparison article regarding which calibers for which situation. Everyone has an opinion and they're all different. I'm looking for backpacking protection. An easy shooter, just to fend off the occasional mountain lion and such. Thanks.
 
I can't recall seeing such a website or article. However, I would imagine a .357 magnum or larger would do the job. If you buy S&W, how about the mountain gun series?
Personally, I think a 1911 would be fine, or a revolver in .44 special. You aren't looking for long range accuracy, you are looking for protection against a rabid or desperately hungry mountain lion.
 
I now carry a Glock 20 as my backpacking gun. I used to carry my P220 and I have carried a P226 and a G19 in the past. It depends on the area I go into as to which gun I feel should be with me.
 
I also haven't read any articles concerning this subject, but I would say that a revolver would be better medicine that an auto-loader for the types of animals you're talking about.

I'd get something along the lines of .357 magnum, .41 magnum (probably my personal #1 choice), .44 magnum, or .45 LC.

When loaded up properly, the .45 LC actually has a much greater wound potential (bullet diameter and mass) than any of the others, but I wouldn't feel bad about having any of those.

Among autos, I'd feel best with a 10mm or the .460 Rowland. If you haven't looked at that one, do yourself a favor and do some research. You'll be surprised. More power than a .44 magnum in a 1911 configuration.
 
mitchelljd,
The best I can do for you in the way of a link is:
Calibers
It is a good start anyway.

I will add that the 10mm is my first choice for most every situation. Unless I am handgun hunting for specific game. Then I take the appropriate weapon for what is being hunted. However, I still carry a 10mm as a back-up! ;) And sometimes, the 10mm is the appropiate caliber.

__________________
Shoot Strait,
Michael
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"An armed society is a polite society."
 
thanks, all your replies were great. It's amazingly difficult to choose. I want a gun with stopping power, thats easy to shoot that my girlfriend wont be afraid of.

Do you guys think a 380 with a hollow point will be sufficient? Some say yes, others say go with a full 9mm, it's tough to choose, you don't want to cheat with your life on the line.
 
If you are going with an auto for your primary piece, I would have to say that you should go with 9x19mm at the very least. If you are planning on larger threats than the two legged beasts, I'd definately go with 10mm or larger in an auto and 357 Magnum or larger in a wheelgun.
 
I want a gun with stopping power, that's easy to shoot that my girlfriend wont be afraid of. Do you guys think a 380 with a hollow point will be sufficient?
Click to expand...
Quite simply, Nope!!

For the most part I ditto what PreserveFreedom said.

With a little training and some regular practice, I know of no one that can't master the 9mm. Most can master larger calibers, if they practice. I would recommend getting yourself and your girlfriend separate guns. If she is going to shoot regularly, she should have her own anyway and practice with it as to become proficient. Then purchase for yourself the largest SD caliber that you can shoot accurately and comfortably. If that is a 9mm for both of you, so be it. However, IMHO it is not the best choice to down-arm yourself just so your girlfriend can shoot your gun once every blue moon. JHMO

__________________
Shoot Strait,
Michael
smokin.gif


"Always keep your clothes and your weapons where you can find them in the
dark."
 
With regard to the question about a 380 hollowpoint being enough, I'd answer it two ways.

1) For whatever reason, neither of the 380's that I've spent much time with (Sig 232 and Walther PPK) were what I would call completely reliable with hollow point ammo. Both worked flawlessly with FMJs, but they both had difficulties with hollow points--especially when they weren't given a strong grip. Any sort of limp wristing resulted in some sort of failure to feed--be it a stove pipe or a feed problem. The FMJ's fed reliably in all situations.

Given that observation, I really question the 'blowback' style gun, in a package suitable for the 380 ammo, to work reliably with ammo that doesn't fully mirror the FMJ profile.

Lack of reliablity in a CCW is bad thing, right?

2) Both 380's, when they did work with hot hollow point defensive ammo, were tough on recoil. Shooting fifty rounds out of either one would tax the web of my thumb and forefinger--and I'm not talking about the dreaded Walther-bite, I'm talking about fatigue from the pounding due to the blow back design.

If I was looking for a gun for a woman to carry, it would be a browning-style barrel release in 9x19. You want her to practice without getting burned out by the pounding that she takes from the gun and you want if to feed hollow point ammo reliably. Just about any compact 9mm will fill that obligation...

Just my two cents.
 
Anything 9mm or over that is 100% reliable in your gun. Along with a lot of confidence acheived through lots of practice.

Its simple,but many make it complicated.
 
I want to agree with the comment about down-sizing your firearm to suit your girlfriend as a BAD idea. Your primary purpose in carrying this weapon is to defend yourself and her, and that means having enough gun for the job at hand. A .380 is about the least-suitable caliber for two-legged vermin, and isn't much good beyond a medium-sized dog where the four-leggers are concerned.

If you want her to shoot as well, then get here a nice .22 revolver that you can both enjoy at the range for next to nothing in cost. But if you're backpacking where you might run into some critters, then make sure you can handle the situation.
 
denfoote,
I figured that since Everybody Fires at Will, I figured it was bout time somebody would Shoot Strait and give Will a break?
grinbiginvert.gif


I just hope George is not the Strait they chose to shoot at!!
yllol.gif


__________________
Shoot Strait,
Michael
smokin.gif


"I am a man of fixed and unbending principles, the first of which is to be flexible at all times." - Everett Dirksen
 
Again thanks... I've narrowed it down. Some people push the .357 Magnum, others say a .40 will do fine. It will be primarily an outdoor activity gun, backpacking and camping, so I see where the .357 would be handy; flatter trajectory and all. But I do like the auto. Any more thoughts are welcome.
 
Hey Mitchel,
I sleep real good with my Ruger P94 .40 Cal Auto sitting next to me - I just got back from a trip to Grizzly infested Denali National park. With backpacking, I really don't think you will ever have problems with wildlife. Being sensible will prevent 99.9% of the problems with wildlife (i.e. tie your food up - don't sleep with it in your tent, make lots of noise on the trails, etc) It's those 'two-legged' bears you always have to look out for. Seriously, people can be even worse than they are in the city when they think they aren't being watched. It happened to me when I was a kid and my dad had myself and my sister with him. All my dad has was a puny 22 revolver. But just pointing that thing sure sobered them up in a hurry. Any you know what? They didn't ask him if it was a .22 or a .44! I'm sure many people on this board can relate stories similar to that one.

Others on this board may disagree, but hauling around a Ruger Super Blackhawk II is pretty darned heavy! But man, lest we forget, a friggin 9mm or a .40 caliber is a powerful weapon!

just my humble opinion.
 
T-man
I agree with you about the bears. but I live in Oregon and we get quite a few mountain lion attacks. Not usually on humans, but you have to be careful if you have a dog; even kids...
 
Get a Glock G32 in .357SIG. It's accurate as stink, perfectly sized for carry and packs a .357mag punch without the felt reciol of a .357mag revolver. In fact, I don't think mine "kicks" as bad as the .40's I have owned/shot. I'd face off with a grizzly with my G32, no kidding!! In fact, I'd rather face off with one using my G32 than I would using my S&W 629 V-Comp .44mag because I haven't yet mastered the recoil of the .44 so my follow up shots would be MUCH slower. I could burn his a$$ down with a quickness using my G32 though. :D

SHOT PLACEMENT, SHOT PLACEMENT, SHOT PLACEMENT!! In 9mm and above I believe that caliber and design is all but a mute point. I have given up on finding the magic bullett/caliber.

The G32 also seems to balance perfectly in my hands with the restricted 10 round clips, as opposed to the top heavy feel of larger guns with 10 rounders. It's the perfect semi-auto pistol, in my opinion. The only competition I have seen for the G32 is the G30 if you feel compelled to hurl ashtrays, and maybe the G19 if you can't stand the .357SIG heat. :D

R6 the Grizzly Slayer...
 
I would not rely on a 44 special to stop an angry chicken much less an angry cat. At least if you don't handload. Get a good 44 mag with a 4 inch tube or a GLock 20 in 10mm.
PAT
 
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