Woods gun carry east of the Rockies.

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Ocraknife

New member
When I'm in the woods I mostly hang out in TN, VA, GA and sometimes FL. I've come up on more snakes and alligators than I can count, quite a few black bears, some coyotes, and few bob cats. I've never needed to shoot my way out of a wildlife encounter and hope I never will but if that were to happen in my usual haunts I'd like to get your input on what you'd rather have as a handgun in that situation.

I have a 10mm that can hold 10 rounds and a 9 that can hold 15 and I want to get a decent open carry holster for one of them. Out of the two, which would you choose? I shoot the 9 better than the 10 but I'm accurate enough with either of them.
 
I choose my woods gun with human threats first in mind. Animal protection is way down the list. The 10mm is versatile enough to do both. But if you shoot the 9 significantly better and no bear are in the area then it is a no brainer. Carry the 9.

I live in north Ga and spend a lot of time camping/hiking etc in the north GA, east TN and western NC mountains. In fact I'll be camping and hiking in the Smoky's most of next week. I chose the same gun in the west and carried My G20 in AZ, NM, CO, UT, WY and MT including while camping in Yellowstone. A 357 mag or 10mm with good ammo are as good as anything else on bear, even grizzly.

I've been carrying a G20 for years and bought the smaller G29 a couple of years ago. I can use the 15 round mags in either the G20 or G29. The G29 will be with me next week loaded with 200 gr DoubleTap ammo. Lighter 155 gr loads are used when not in the woods.

If bear aren't in the area I often carry my G19 or G26. Even in bear country human threats are the most realistic problem. Snakes and alligators are easily detoured around. Wild cats and coyote are simply not a threat. That leaves humans or bear, and bear are highly unlikely. But it doesn't hurt to be prepared just in case.
 
I'm in the NC foothills and the 2 legged critters is what I worry about most. Take which ever you shoot the best. Either one would protect you from the 4 legged kind. Your biggest critter will be a black bear and I've seen several in the Smokies. They usually high tail it as soon as they see or smell you. For me I carry my 40cal.
 
G20 SF is your friend....the most likely use in the woods would be for Coyotes in my part of Virginia. Every blackie I've run upon has headed the other way, even those with a cub or two.

I had a G20 but sold it because I didn't reload at the time. Now I'd really like another SF 20 or a G40. Until then I'll continue to carry my SR45 because it's a solid 30-50 yard shooter and holds 11.
 
I didn't mention but probably should have that I reload/handload for the 10mm anyway so I have access to decent rounds.
 
Per OP.
"I've come up on more snakes and alligators than I can count, quite a few black bears, some coyotes, and few bob cats."

Out of all your encounters, the only one that might cause me any real concern would be a black bear, especially one with cubs. Carry the 10mm, back off the snakes and alligators and let the other animals go their way.
 
My ruger single six in .22 is my primary sidearm and IMHO it's perfect for that role. I'm going to be running a trap line this year and that's all I will be carrying. I also hunt in a area populated by shady characters but usually I'm carrying a shotgun or some sort of repeating rifle. I never feel undergunned unless my primary weapon is a .22 rifle. I don't run into many bears in my neck of the woods and the ones I have seen are running a mile a minute. In PA we would be in deep crap shooting a bobcat without a permit.
 
+1 for the ruger single six, or a ruger blackhawk 357/38/9 if you want something heavier. the simplicity and sturdiness of a ruger single action revolver trumps a semiauto pistol in the woods.


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Mine is a 45 acp. Worked for Uncle Sam works for me. If weight is an issue I carry in in the form of an XDS. When out west in Grizz country I carry a carbine.
 
Sig P220-10 (10mm) if you must have 10mm.

Otherwise, I'd carry a Ruger Blackhawk .357 Mag with 6" barrel or .41 Mag with the same.
 
When I'm camping in a more wilderness area, either a .357mag or a .45LC usually come with me. In a more populated area, even in the woods I tend to go with something more in line with a self defense against a human attacker scenario in mind. Against a bear attack, most of what I read suggests that bear strength pepper spray is the best bet, and as a back up I want a stout revolver loading with heavy cast lead bullets. If I had to go with an auto, I'd probably want a 10mm.
 
Out of all your encounters, the only one that might cause me any real concern would be a black bear, especially one with cubs. Carry the 10mm, back off the snakes and alligators and let the other animals go their way.
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I've encounter a bear with two cubs somewhat close up (well, not really close but close enough!) but I hadn't startled them. They knew I was coming and were already running by the time I saw them, still, I was pretty nervous. I made sure I made extra noise the rest of the hike.
 
When I'm camping in a more wilderness area, either a .357mag or a .45LC usually come with me. In a more populated area, even in the woods I tend to go with something more in line with a self defense against a human attacker scenario in mind. Against a bear attack, most of what I read suggests that bear strength pepper spray is the best bet, and as a back up I want a stout revolver loading with heavy cast lead bullets. If I had to go with an auto, I'd probably want a 10mm.
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I understand, ideally I'd want an revolver in .357 mag or better but I don't have one.

All I have are autos in 9mm, .22LR and a 10mm. I guess my question was are 15 shots of 9mm from my HK better than 10 shots of 10mm from my S&W 1076?

I'd keep my EDC on me anyway even if I'm carrying in the woods.

I'm with you on the pepper spray though.
 
Ocraknife said:
When I'm in the woods I mostly hang out in TN, VA, GA and sometimes FL. I've come up on more snakes and alligators than I can count, quite a few black bears, some coyotes, and few bob cats. I've never needed to shoot my way out of a wildlife encounter and hope I never will but if that were to happen in my usual haunts I'd like to get your input on what you'd rather have as a handgun in that situation.



I have a 10mm that can hold 10 rounds and a 9 that can hold 15 and I want to get a decent open carry holster for one of them. Out of the two, which would you choose? I shoot the 9 better than the 10 but I'm accurate enough with either of them.
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Glock 29, for anything you described. That's what I do.

Underwood 200 grain XTPs.
 
I understand, ideally I'd want an revolver in .357 mag or better but I don't have one.

All I have are autos in 9mm, .22LR and a 10mm. I guess my question was are 15 shots of 9mm from my HK better than 10 shots of 10mm from my S&W 1076?

I'd keep my EDC on me anyway even if I'm carrying in the woods.

I'm with you on the pepper spray though.
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OK, I understand that you aren't looking to spend the money on a new gun right now, so you are limited to what you have.

First consideration is any handgun is not exactly "adequate" vs. bear. The spray should be much more effective. However, if you are unlucky and the spray doesn't let you get away (or the bear is too close when you become aware of it to deploy the spray) we all want something which will give us some kind of a chance.

10 shots of 10mm isn't anything to sneeze at vs. a human attacker, so I think that is they way I'd go if it was me. Just load it up with a heavy, hard cast lead round along the lines of this from Buffalo Bore: https://www.buffalobore.com/index.php?l=product_detail&p=219
Maybe have the first several rounds in that heavy 10mm, and the rest can be regular JHP geared towards a human attacker (or the other way around).

How concealable is your 10mm for when your woods trips take you back into town? For me, a lot of my camping trips double as a general vacation. The tent is a base of operations from which I do not only outdoors stuff, but often do some local sightseeing as well. Even on a purely outdoors trip, the drive there and back may see a stop or two for gas, food, and bathrooms, so concealability could be an issue, or you may face a choice of poor concealment or no gun on a stop. Buffalo Bore also makes a 9mm Outdoorsman round so that may be the better bet if your 10mm isn't really concealable (esp. since you'll be more likely to actually need the gun on your stops back in civilization than while in the woods), but if actually facing a bear I'd much rather have the 10mm.
 
10mm, all day long :)

Like someone above said, G20SF is your best friend!!

Not only is it 15+1, if you get the extendas it gives you 17+1 :D

Still frustrated that they'll make a 30-rounder for the G21,
yet not for the G20??
30 rounds of 10mm gives a fella naughty naughty thoughts...
like...she can shoot all day with five 30 round mags!!!
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