woods guns
It's varied over the years. As a kid I had (and still have) a .22 single shot from a German maker, VOERE. I bought a Ruger Single-6, 4" as a back up revolver to my issue handgun when I started with the agency and carried that as a woods walker alot, loaded with mid-range 158 gr LSWC. In that same era I acquired a Marlin .357 carbine, shot it better than the handgun of course, and started toting it in my wanderings a good bit, also loaded w/ mid-range LSWC ammo. The Marlin shot those reduced lead loads just fine, Micro-Grooves and all. But you couldn't carry the carbine everywhere, and it was cumbersome if you were toting much else.
I finally acquired a .22 handgun, a Ruger Standard model auto, 4", at about age 33. I learned that it carried very nicely in a GI flap holster (1911) on a GI web belt, and a FA pouch would hold a lot of spare ammo. You had to put the ammo in a zip-loc bag first though, otherwise you would loose some regularly. Then a horrendous kidnap murder occurred in our area at an isolated boat ramp, and I re-evaluated the .22 and went back to a .357. But by that time, I had traded the Security-6 for a Ruger Blackhawk 4-5/8", so the SA went to the woods, loaded with that same mid-range ammo as before. I carried the Blackhawk in a leather "Aviator's Holster", a repro of the WWII item, and still do on occassion. Somewhere along the line, I figured out that if the Blackhawk was zeroed with 125 gr JHP, it would also shoot .38 WC to the same point of aim. It was a useful trait, two loads, two purposes, but one sight setting on the same gun. I kept things arranged that way until just recently. Another SA revolver I occasionally carry afield is my Dad's 5-1/2" (?) Single-6 in .22 mag. Poisonous snakes are an issue around my rural place, I've had several close calls at night and with the dogs as well. While I won't roll the truck over trying to run one down out on the highway, any poisonous snake around the property is fair game. In the summer mowing and doing yard work, I often carry a Bearcat with rat shot in my pocket.
I retired the B-hawk .357 when I acquired a Glock 20/10mm and like if for all the reasons jmr40 stated. I've fashioned a lanyard with a snap from para-cord, and carry the big Glock in the simple Glock sport/concealment holster. When back in civilization, I simply remove the lanyard.
With 60+ yr old eyes, I don't shoot a handgun as well as before, and more and more find myself carrying a carbine of some type if circumstances allow. Coyotes are very prevalent, and bold as well. After nearly losing a big male Lab to a pack of them at the end of my driveway, they are fair game too. The old Marlin .357 is a candidate, but I will have to scope it (and hate to) to shoot as well as one ought, due to its stubby 16" barrel. A scoped Mini-Mauser in .223 is light and accurate to way out there, , but almost to pretty for rough use. I bought a Hi POint 10mm carbine, which is coyote accurate to about 50 yds, farther than I can accurately shoot a handgun, but really need a bit more reach. I keep watching for one of the old H&R single shot rifles in .223, or .22 Hornet, but may have to settle for an affordable .22 mag bolt.
