Which would you pick for woods carry

... I have been in spitting distance of 2 Mt. Lions and a cub, in the dark. I'd they wanted to kill me they could have easily, if it wasn't for my led light and throwing rocks they may have gotten me and I would not be here typing right now. I didn't have a weapon of any sort not even a knife, ever since then I have sworn to not enter the woods without a handgun. That was the scariest thing that has ever happened to me in my 22yrs of existence.
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Mountain lions are definitely more dangerous than the critters I mentioned in my earlier post but this should serve as a wake-up call to the naysayers.

I once came face to face with a coyote under awkward circumstances. I had been target shooting with a big-bore handgun by myself in the woods. I had packed it up without a second thought and was walking back to my car. There is a little turn with a sort of embankment and I surprised a coyote. I had a "that's not a dog" moment and drew on him with my in-town EDC. I don't know how much was my own surprise or plain 'ol fear but my heart rate was definitely up. It probably felt like longer than it was but we both got lucky. It made a little noise as it broke eye contact and bounded up over the hill. I later realized that it might have learned to associate loud gunfire with hunting scraps and actually came towards the noise. :eek:
 
would bear spray work on other animals like dogs, coyotes..I mean could it be carried in city parks and if a dog attacks you, how effective this would be?
 
Like I said P7, your 1911, with heavier springs, can use .45 Supers (the case size is the same but pressures are about 3000 psi higher.)

230 gr at 1100 fps will lay low any black bears.

Deaf
 
Of the two a 1911 would be my coice because I think thet're fun to shoot.

But in real life my woods gun is a Ruger Mk II
 
I mean could it be carried in city parks and if a dog attacks you, how effective this would be?
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I carry a small can of it when I'm walking my dogs.

With someone people's lack of adherence to the law by letting their dogs off-lead and being convinced that their bull-terrier can do no ill, I've come very close to using it....
 
Bear spray such as UDAP comes out in a stream, not a mist.

In cases of animal attack, the concern about capacity, 8 vs. 13 or 17 or whatever, are likely irrelevant because you are unlikely to get off more than a couple of shots if an animal is charging you. This is not a Monty Python situation where you see the charging bear, lion, or Lancelot running at you from miles away in slow motion.

The other problem is not how many shots you can take, but the time it takes to produce a fast-kill shot vs the time it takes for the animal to be on you. You should realize that the time in which you need to draw and ACCURATELY fire and hit a target the size of the X ring in a B27 target that is moving up and down and side to side is the time it takes a charging animal to traverse the average large living room.

For that reason, I carry bear spray (I use UDAP) in a holster when I'm woods walking - especially in spring. Bear spray comes in a hairspray sized can. The stream of capsaicin solution has a range between 20 - 30 feet depending on brand. Droplets of capsaicin from an undulating spray are more likely to land on an animal's nose and eyes than scoring with a bullet at the same range. Disrupting the sensory input the animal is using to target you is more likely to deter a charge than a miss with a bang. Perfect? No. But in my opinion the odds are better with the bear spray.
 
Have you considered the AK47?
Poachers in Africa have no problem taking down any of the big five with them: Lion, Elephant, Cape buffalo, Leopard, and Rhinoceros.

A good old 30rd mag dump will usually drop them where they stand.

Worried about puny animals like Grizzly, Polar Bears, Mountain Lions, Cougars, Coydogs, and rabid Bobcats? - Do like they do in Africa - 30rd mag dump of 7.62x39.
 
Here in the northern Rockies, I carry a Glock 17 loaded with Federal 115 +P+ (9BPLE)

The only threat I'm concerned about walks on two legs.

Lotsa bears, coyotes and cats around, but I leave them alone and they leave me alone.;)
 
I spent 22 years in Alaska, if I was to go back it would be to hunt with some of my son (who's still there) or some other friends in which case I'll take a rifle. Probably my Pre-64 Model 70 in '06.

So I'll address cruising the woods here in Wyoming. Unless I'm hunting (which again would be with a rifle), I see no need to carry anything but my Smith 642 in my pocket like I carry everywhere else.

In reality the only thing I find in the woods, mountains, and prairies that could hurt me are rattlers. I've ran across several of them and had no problem dispatching the with my little 38s.

I often find my self wanting a cottontail or two for dinner while out and about and find the little J frame handles them quite well also.

When setting up camp, I drop the ruck and other gear. If I carried a heavy gun I'd drop it too probably, but my 38 is in my pocket so if I spot dinner its already handy.

As to a back up gun while hunting, I may have another rifle in camp just in case but if I need to back up my rifle, I'm gonna replace that rifle.

Yeah, I've had to dispatch wounded game in the past, the 642 works, had to put down horses, and it worked there too.

So basically I carry in the woods the same thing I carry everywhere else.
 
The biggest threat I could possibly run into would be a black bear. But the most likely attacker would be a hungry mountain lion or wild dogs, or humans I have personally seen multiple cougars here in Ohio and also Indiana where my dad lives, they are everywhere.
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I don't think there has been a documented attack from any of these critters in Ohio in the last 100 years except for humans, which have done so quite frequently, so that is where I focus my attention.
 
By far the 1911 with the correct ammo. The 40 with more ammo in the magazine is fine, but you could also practice with a second magazine to reload...only if the bear is getting close fast. As for ammo, I'd suggest Hornady Critical Duty for penetration. Perhaps your secondary CC 40 would also be appropriate as a backup. Some areas in the highlands of Arizona requires at least a .357 or larger as a side arm in case of a meeting with a bear!
 
Different versions of this question get asked a lot. I think it depends on what you mean by "woods carry".

Camping trip with the fam or deep backpacking trip solo or with a buddy?
Hiking or walk to your fishing spot?
In Alaska, Colorado, Texas, Tennesse, Washington?
Woods/trails just outside city limits or deep in national forests?
 
My Walther holds 13+1, my 1911 holds 8+1. A .40" 180gr fmj has roughly the same sectional density of a .45" 230gr fmj, and a .40" 200gr lead bullet has roughly the same SD of a .45" 255gr lead bullet.

In an attack situation, those extra 5 rounds (with the right ammo) may be invaluable. There probably won't be an opportunity for a reload.
 
Which one do you shoot best? Which one are you the most comfortable with? Which is most reliable?

Both are good choices and there really isn't a right answer. I'd chose the 1911 but I'm very comfortable with them and shoot them well.
 
Based on the information you've given I would go with the 1911 and load it with some hardcasts if your gun will feed them. Capacity won't be much of an issue, very fast and accurate hits will be.

That said, it's highly unlikely you'll need it for bears. I would be far more worried about humans and considering that I might go ahead and load self defense ammo instead.

I wonder if forums about boats and fishing have shark threads all the time?
 
The last thing I will use is bear spray. What if the wind is blowing, and just because the animals eyes are burning and nose is burning does not mean it will stop it. I would think the pepper spray would make it even more angry. Adrenaline especially that of a high willpower beast can completely block out pain or even non functional organs. A deer can run 200+ yards with a large hole in its heart. I wouldn't risk "burning" an animals eyes and nose as defense. I would much rather put a hole through the skull, you have to aim the gun or the spray, ID rather be sending a bullet down range than some peppery mist
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If it works on bears the same as it does on humans I would rely on it if I knew the wind would be in my favor. It does more than just "burn" the eyes. It gives you the snottiest nose you'd ever imagine and make your eyes water and close involuntarily so you can't see. I hear the bear spray is more potent than what is used on humans, and their senses are more delicate. I'd say a bear would have a terribly bad day if it ran into the "peppery mist".
 
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