Reliable pistol for Rural Georgia

Personally, I prefer a revolver for outdoor/rough country use. I specifically prefer double action revolvers like the Ruger Redhawk in .44 Magnum. It will shoot everything from light .44 Specials up to the excellent .44 Magnum Garret Hammerheads.
 
I'm from GA. also,Took a few with my Glock 21,But if I have My way I use my Ruger SRH 454 the hog stops here.;)
 
It would be hard to beat a Glock 20 in that scenario. I'm not a Glock owner. In my opinion, they're ugly but they shoot good, they always function, and you get the 10mm round. It's also hard to hurt a Glock.
 
A stainless revolver strikes me as a good choice. If you got the bucks an 8 shot S&W 627PC would be tops on my list. From there a 7 shot S&W 686 and 6 shot S&W 686 would follow. 4, 5, or 6 inch barrels would be acceptable to me, with 5" getting first place.
 
The 1911 is certainly a good choice for power and reliability, but I'd be inclined to a stainless revolver, double action- .357 or if you reload, a .41mag. Reason being, the revolver will give you a couple rounds of snake shot, which I would deem a necessity down there. Some good hardcast semi-wads would put the hurtin on a running hog. Good luck.
A .44 like a Redhawk will certainly take care of biznizz, even on a cranky boarhawg. Some of the wrist-twisters Ive concocted would kill by muzzle-blast alone. My preference for a somewhat smaller weapon is the weight and "in the way" factor. As in I'm likely to HAVE the .45 or .357 or the model 57 Smith. As opposed to not wanting to lug that boat anchor Redhawk. As to the comment that the .41 won't work on the hawgs.. having never shot swine- porcine or otherwise- with anything other than a 4" .357 Python, I can't say. Seems odd tho considering the .41 mag loads Ive loaded and sent down range.. jus sayin.
 
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Given the anatomy of feral hogs (particularly from the angle of one charging you), a reasonably powerful cartridge is probably warranted. If you want a semi-auto, a 10mm loaded with 180gr or heavier bullets would probably be the best choice. However, I agree with others here that a revolver chambered for a cartridge that ends in the word "Magnum" would probably be even better. At bare minimum, a .357 Magnum would be needed and something bigger would be preferable. While .41 Magnum is an excellent cartridge, the short step up to .44 Magnum would offer you much better variety and prices for both guns and ammunition. For the uses you describe, I cannot think of a much better gun than either a S&W 629 or Ruger Redhawk with a 4" barrel either way.

http://www.smith-wesson.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/Product4_750001_750051_764949_-1_757770_757767_757751_ProductDisplayErrorView_Y

http://www.ruger.com/products/redhawk/specSheets/5026.html
 
A good GI model 1911 that rattles when you shake it would be an excellent choice. My service 1911 got dumped in the Louisiana and Georgia mud on more Times than I care to admit. It has never failed to perform.

What ever your choice, avoid the high end, high precision weapons with tight tolerances they have a much higher failure rate under adverse conditions than do standard weapons.
 
A good stainless revolver is a better choice than any semi-auto in my opinion ( and I like 1911's a lot ) ....but dropping any semi-auto in the mud can be a big deal...

For Hogs....I'd go with at least a .357 mag ( like a S&W 686 in 6" probably ) ....a S&W 629 in .44 mag is not a bad idea ..if you can shoot it as well as you can a .357 mag...( it takes some practice and some skill ) ...to make 2 or 3 fast followup shots on an animal if necessary with a heavy caliber revolver in .44 mag...but I'd say a S&W 629 in 6" is another option.
 
While I might be the biggest fan of the .41 Mag. in the world I have heard some pretty scary stories from guys who have hit feral hogs with one and swear that it's not enough to drop one. Those things are almost bullet proof and really don't want to fall down and die.
 
ltc444 - LOL - we're on the same track today. I own a pair of 1911s - one is tuned for competition, tight as a drum and a bit picky about ammo. The other rattles like it is going to come apart and eats anything. If I have to count on the gun firing, I grab the rattly one because it never ever fails to go bang and to cycle. Its accuracy is not bad at all, either.
 
1.) .357 Magnum has the penetration but lacks in diameter. (2.) 10 mm , 41 & 44 Magnum...ding ding ding. 12 Gauge slug , 30-30, AK, SKS, Mosin Nagant & 8mm Mauser, M1 Garand...ding ding ding. (3.) .45acp & 45 Long Colt have the diameter but lack penetration. Why use specially loaded 45LC when the 44 mag is more proficient and efficient?

For those whom are shy about packing a semi auto pistol for wild hog....on the hazard factor scale, protecting yourself, with a pistol, from dangerous people, is much higher than any swamp meeting with porkey.

Speaking of swamps...If loose rattling fitted 1911s improved function, then thousands of IPSC & IDPA competitors would sound like squeaky front yard gates when they walk past. Loose fit does not equate optimum 1911 function. Besides, GI issue 1911s also had the reputation of be extremely inaccurate.

Your modern double action revolver is faster to load & shoot as compared with a single action revolver. Especially if you have a hand injury or if you need to shoot with non dominate hand. Revolver shooters don't have to worry about losing a magazine or chasing brass. Ruger and farmers is a match made in Haven.

Fish & Game regulations will specify if you're allowed to use full metal jacket, FMJ, ammo or not. If you can, don't be affraid to use FMJ 10mm, 41 & 44 magnum on wild hog. ComBloc Military surplus 7.62X54R and 7.62X39 will be just fine for feral Georgia farm swine as well.

Cut, Paste, Complain, Disagree......End.
 
I live in GA and have tackled the porker population over on the Flint River. They are a tough breed. I have unloaded a cylinder on 158 HC in a .357 and did not stop one, stopping after my companion hit him with a trio of 180gr .30-30 rounds. They are hard to put down with frontal shots. Most success has come with some 215gr SWC handloads in the .41 mag. 1-2 shots usually does the trick. I did use a JDJ HC 295gr in some handloads that worked well to dispatch hogs with one shot but I had to get my teeth fillings repaired afterwards. :)

In the heavy brush around the River, I prefer not to use a pistol with all the little branches and grime one encounters there. Would probably be fine but this is just my personal preference.
 
Why buy a DA revolver?...

I go back to my main point(s), a well made snub DA revolver like a Ruger AK in .44magnum or a Taurus Raging Judge can use different types of ammunition for different roles.
A .44spl or .45LC can be loaded for general protection-defense from poachers/trespassers, a .410 shotshell may work for snakes or swamp areas where you could get bit by a small animal.
More powerful .44magnum, .41magnum or .454 Casull loads may bring down wild hogs(but, from what I've seen, a 12ga slug or 7.62mm rifle may be required).

As noted, 10mm or .45acp pistols may work in the field but they aren't as practical as a stainless DA revolver.

CF
 
Flordia Vet thanks for the Kudos.

My 1911 is 99 years old this year. It served in 2 WWs, Korea, alerted for deployment in desert Storm and 14 years with a South Arkansas SO.

It rattles but will put 10 out of 10 in the 10 ring at 50 yards if I do my job.
 
Ok thank y'all very much I appreciate all the input. Now I'm torn between a .44 or a .357 I more than likely wont need it for a hog but it's just a possibilty being down on the back of the property mendin fences. Mostly I would need it for rattlers and moccasins. So the .357 has a certain appeal to it but that added "just in case" factor of the .44 sounds good too. Any more y'all could tell me would help out thanks.
 
Here's another vote for the Glock G22. Trade in LEO guns are anywhere from $350 on up. And many of these will have some type of night sights already on them. They are reliable, accurate, and certainly robust. That, plus the .40 S&W chambering isn't to shabby - ballistically.

If you prefer a revolver just about anything by a quality manufacturer such as Ruger or S&W in .357 Mag will serve you well.
 
Not that there is anything wrong with the many good guns being suggested, but I wonder how many of those recommended them have strapped them on and tried to carry them around all day while doing other things on a farm/ranch. A Redhawk is a very nice gun but it is a big brick.

When big hogs are possible I like the 10mm/41Mag power level. A G20 is a pretty compact carry. In revolvers I have titanium Taurus Tracker in 41Mag and a SW 329PD. Both can be carried all day and almost forget they are there.
 
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