Because you said you'd like to carry and a large caliber I'd suggest a S&W 45shield. It's not super expensive, compact, and shoots nicely in my opinion.
ACK! I read this post and commented, "M&P makes a really nice .45 don't they?" without reading your comment. I shot this gun down in Houston and it was amazing for its sized. Fit my girl hands perfectly.
Awesome fren, the M&P series firearms are all really nice to shoot. One of my good friends has a full frame M&P competitor thats really a joy to fire and the 40cal compact M&P shield. I actually prefer the 9mm and 45cal in the shield over the 40cal. It just seems to be more comfortable to shoot and easier to re-engage the target after firing in those calibers for me. And full disclosure I also suffer from small hand syndrome, Ha!
I was going to suggest a .45 also, because the OP mentions big game. The Colt Commander is small enough to conceal, especially if you mate it with a clip that will attach to the inside waistband. I don't know how it would stack up against a bear, but if you do a mag dump on a bear, you just might get his attention, especially if you're using hollowpoints. A .45 against a mountain lion might me more effective because it's a smaller animal than a bear, but lions have a way of stalking their prey and pouncing rapidly, might not be able to get to your concealed sidearm.
I think thats a great assessment fren, I recommend the trigger style safety because of the ability to rapidly deploy and shoot. Being able to deploy and fire in as few movements as possible if a cat were to pounce on you could make all the difference.
Wow, this poor women got torn up but luckily wasn't killed. It's a real shame the only thing her friends had to fight back were sticks and stones. That attack was brutal. When I vacationed in Tennessee I carried because of the threat of bears but to think about being ambushed by a cat would add a whole different angle to that.
Being from the mountains, I would never recommend a semi-automatic pistol for the woods. Too many things that can go wrong. This is just my personal experience and opinion (and we KNOW what those are). I take a short barrel revolver. I am not going to shoot a bear or cougar from a distance with a handgun. I carry the shorter barrel for ease of deployment (chest rig works wonders!), and it is there for surprises like coming across a mama bear with cubs. You won't have a lot of time to react. If in in bear country and lion country, I wouldn't carry anything less that a .357 Mag. 45 Long Colt, 44 mag, or 454 Casull are great options.
Your opinion carries weight, and you should do whatever you're most comfortable with. But the old tried-and-true 1911 has seen action in jungles, foxholes, mud, and sandy beaches for over a century, and if one cares for his sidearm it will hold up under conditions in the woods. I just like the added firepower of a 1911 over a revolver. Again, my opinion. Your mileage may vary.
I started out with a 1911 when I was 8 years old. The only handgun that I am deadly accurate with every time. I love the way it feels in my hand, and the way it shoots. However, a .45ACP does not have the power that a .357 does. It is a big, slow bullet. It works fantastic against the 2 legged animals, but not so great with the bigger, more dangerous kind, like the silvertip grizzly and the moose. Where I live, I carry a 9mm for the simple fact that I can have more extra ammo options when I go to the city. My 1911 is mainly for practice, and part of a bug out option because, like you stated, it is rugged and will stand up to most environments.
If he's out Bow hunting he shouldn't be concealed carry just for the point you made plus no necessity to be conceal carry. But, he'll want to carry in a manner for a quick draw and then practice it if different from CC style. For instance, if his ready position for drawing his Bow is with his dominant hand at chest height, he could use a tactical vest with the solar plexus holster canted towards him like some use for combat. His hand would literally be right next to his firearm most of the time and he could have a sub-second reaction to weapon on target time. If I'm out Bow hunting around lurking Mtn Lions, this would be my carry position of choice. With the tactical vest you can also easily carry extra mags that are convenient/fast to reach.
As an aside, I have a .45 glock but never got used to the bullet drop at range, 20+ feet and seemed to drop almost a foot or so. Maybe it was the ammo I was using or just me or they all have that issue. My glock 19 (9mm) doesn't give me that problem, which as I said, might be shooter induced anyway. Either way, be sure to use a sufficient ammo grain load with hollow point for max damage, IMO.
"Bullet drop" is frequently caused by anticipating the shot and involuntarily pushing the hand forward as you fire. Try letting the shot "surprise" you, gently squeeze the trigger and ignore the fact that it is going to recoil. I've seen plenty of "low shooters" become better pistol shots with that one technique.
Yup. Also, other techniques that work well at the range are: if you have a partner, have them randomly load the mags with snap caps. That way you don't know when they will pop up. It helps quite a bit to correct anticipation. Another one is use snap caps and dry fire with a dime resting on the barrel. This might help if you are having trouble with correct finger placement causing the gun to pull left or right.
Yea I hear you on that, the trigger safety takes a bit getting use too. I generally carry a .38 featherweight J frame revolver and that doesn't have a safety either. It does have a long pull in double action and a lock with key if you want to disable it all together. My version has an external hammer so single action firing has a very short and light pull.
Two things that don't match. Concealment means a smaller size handgun for most people. In some places, printing is enough to be arrested (stupidity in action).
I would buy a handgun for concealment that you can shoot proficiently, and a different one to take to the woods.
A couple things to keep in mind, large animals with lots of fur are hard to take down with a pistol or revolver. They are tougher and much faster than a human. Conversely, carrying a full size pistol or revolver concealed is hard because of the printing.
Just like any tool, the best job is one that is done with the right tool. When I hunted, I used a lever action .357. With an 18' barrel, there was maximum burn and easily went out to 100 yards. I also carried a short barrel .357 revolver in case I ran into predators that were eyeing me like a T-Bone. One round, two functions. For a carry, an automatic is better because you can carry more rounds and reload is faster. A large caliber bullet is not need with humans because we don't have tough hides and don't move quickly like animals. I carried a .22 for many years. It's not the round, it is the placement. Practice, practice, practice
.357 magnum perhaps, to adequately, though not optimally, fulfill both purposes in one instrument. You are presenting 2 very different philosophies of use. Guns are like tools, the tool you select will depend on what you are doing. Some jobs require a hammer, other work requires a saw. In the woods, I personally would prefer a .44 magnum/10mm, on the streets, a 9mm/.45 acp. If you are financially able purchase a gun that best satisfies each intended purpose of use. There are 2 things a man can NEVER have too much of: guns and ammunition. Just my personal thought.
A fantastic woods gun is the Ruger Super Redhawk "Alaskan" chambered in .454 Casull or .44 Magnum. Short barrel, easy to clear the holster, and can punch just about anything if they startle you and are very close. A guide friend of mine worked in Denali for a while, and he said he wouldn't use anything else. Revolvers are best tools for the woods IMO.
Totally agree, Ruger Redhawk/Super, is the King of revolvers in the calibers you mentioned. I hesitated to go into the arena of the .454 Casull because the recoil impulse starts to get more unmanageable at that point. He mentioned black bears in his post, but I didn't see anything about Kodiaks. 😊
I've been teaching soldiers, law enforcement officers and civilians to shoot for over 35 years. I started with revolvers, slid into semi autos, and everything in between. My conclusion after all this experience, is that the common 38 or 357 revolver will handily meet the needs of just about anyone. Semi auto pistols are fine, as long as you are willing to spend many hours doing clearance drills, so that fixing the problem in an adrenalin filled gunfight is by muscle memory. No such issues with the old, and time tested revolver, of sound construction. If you get a bad round, just pull the trigger, and you are back in the fight. With modern ammunition choices, and a variety of very good short barreled revolvers on the market, to me it's a no brainer. If you want a semi auto, go ahead and get it, but carry the revolver until you have mastered the clearance drills. It's what I carry every day.
I agree, in part. A revolver is limited by the rounds it can carry, and reloading can be a real bitch unless you practice (more practice than doing clearance drills). Also, using the star clips or quick loaders presents an issue with concealment. In this day and age, depending on where you are at, a revolver won't cut it. When I go to the city, I always have plenty of ammo readily available, and only two reloads. If 52 rounds isn't enough, then I picked a very bad day to travel into the city.
For the OP: you will find a wide range of opinions on this topic, some good, some poor. The main thing is that it doesn't matter what you choose, just do the research and try them out before you purchase. Find out how they shoot. Many ranges will let you rent a firearm to try out. The main thing is, make sure you can shoot it well, and practice, practice, practice. Always keep up on the practice, because you will lose a lot of the ability if you don't. Just like lunging a horse. Whether it is from range practice or at home using a system like the Mantis X
I like S&W M&Ps in 9mm and 40 cal. I think a hollow point 40 would be a good round for the woods and CC around town. The S&W Shield would probably be a good fit for you.
I agree nothing you will encounter will get up from a 40 with hollow points. Regardless of what people choose the greatest error is carrying with FMJ/target loads.
You put black bear in there.
I went with a Smith & Wesson Shield 2.0 in 10mm for my Bear country gun.
Its thin enough for daily carry, and 10mm has better terminal ballistics for larger game (and urban bipeds).
357 revolver would make for a good sidearm. You can load with lightweight 38 special ammo for range time, but pack some heat when you are out and about. Easy to clean and maintain, point and shoot.
Nice try feds! Lost them all in a boating accident. Lol.
On a more serious note, I see lots of 45 recommendations. Only down side of the larger calibers is the magazine capacity and reacquiring your target based on recoil.
Get a Glock. They're ubiquitous, extremely affordable, lots of aftermarket parts, tons of holsters, cheap magazines, and simple to operate and reliable. I had an OSI friend put me through a combat pistol course and it became apparent immediately why the Glock is everywhere. You can cock it off of a boot, belt buckle, clothing with little difficulty. This is hard to do with a 1911 or Beretta. Plus shooting/loading off hand is easy. The Glock 19 is king for good firepower with concealability. If you need more power for game/animal defense, get the equivalent pistol in 10mm. There are lots of purpose specific 10mm bear rounds out there. I carry a 19x every day around the farm for cougars. Used the same pistol in that combat course I was talking about.
I love my HK45 and HK45C. Are there other guns just as reliable? I’m sure there are but just knowing the reliability of the HK 45 makes me pretty comfortable when I’m in the back country.
Can I just say .. I Love all the Gun talk .. blesses my heart . So happy we have our 2nd !
I’m in San Diego , friggin idiot liberals out here tried to ban water pistols from kids, so it’s refreshing to read all the comments from patriots who are knowledgeable about protection !
Bro if you can find a pre 1997 Sig Sauer P228 snatch it up. They had rolled steel slides and better fit. Best 9mm i ever shot. I ran +p ammo in it. Great reviews all around. Wish i hadn't sold mine 😭
This will catch flack, but with the right ammo, a cheaper, reliable high capacity 9mm would be an option worth considering. Stack it up with Buffalo Bore 147gr hard cast. 15 of them as fast as you can pull the trigger -- 345 ft lbs of ouch per round. There's lots of big dead critters that will vouch for me.
I sometimes hunt with my stainless Ruger Redhawk (double action) .41 mag. But no way you could conceal it with a 7¼" barrel. When hunting I carry it across my chest in a bandolier holster. My carry gun is a Springfield Armory 1911 Ronin in .45, God's caliber. The Ronin I carry has a 4¼" barrel but you can get it in 5". You can also get the Ronin in 10mm. I wouldn't be reluctant to tackle black bear or cougar with either the .45 or 10mm.
It's important to feel the gun. Many like glock, I personally hate the square feel of the grip. I prefer the feel of a S&W or a CZ as a duty postol but For conceal carry my go to is a sig p365
I agree, you should go fire them all repeatedly (NYC I hear may soon be a nice place to practice, but I digress), to find out which one fits your hand and weight tolerance while still being deadly accurate.
Because you said you'd like to carry and a large caliber I'd suggest a S&W 45shield. It's not super expensive, compact, and shoots nicely in my opinion.
https://www.smith-wesson.com/product/m-p-45-shield-m2.0-no-thumb-safety
I second this. I have a 45 springfield and a 9MM shield. I like the 45, but the shield is better for concealed carry. Wish I had a 45 shield.
ACK! I read this post and commented, "M&P makes a really nice .45 don't they?" without reading your comment. I shot this gun down in Houston and it was amazing for its sized. Fit my girl hands perfectly.
Awesome fren, the M&P series firearms are all really nice to shoot. One of my good friends has a full frame M&P competitor thats really a joy to fire and the 40cal compact M&P shield. I actually prefer the 9mm and 45cal in the shield over the 40cal. It just seems to be more comfortable to shoot and easier to re-engage the target after firing in those calibers for me. And full disclosure I also suffer from small hand syndrome, Ha!
This is the sidearm I carry when bear hunting.
Nice fren! Admittedly we don't have the threat of bears in my state but figured it would be a good recommendation anyhow.
I bow hunt only for bear so a sidearm is highly recommended.
I was going to suggest a .45 also, because the OP mentions big game. The Colt Commander is small enough to conceal, especially if you mate it with a clip that will attach to the inside waistband. I don't know how it would stack up against a bear, but if you do a mag dump on a bear, you just might get his attention, especially if you're using hollowpoints. A .45 against a mountain lion might me more effective because it's a smaller animal than a bear, but lions have a way of stalking their prey and pouncing rapidly, might not be able to get to your concealed sidearm.
I think thats a great assessment fren, I recommend the trigger style safety because of the ability to rapidly deploy and shoot. Being able to deploy and fire in as few movements as possible if a cat were to pounce on you could make all the difference.
Oddly enough, I JUST came across this article about a cougar attack.
https://www.kuow.org/stories/cougar-attack-washington-state-cyclists
Wow, this poor women got torn up but luckily wasn't killed. It's a real shame the only thing her friends had to fight back were sticks and stones. That attack was brutal. When I vacationed in Tennessee I carried because of the threat of bears but to think about being ambushed by a cat would add a whole different angle to that.
Being from the mountains, I would never recommend a semi-automatic pistol for the woods. Too many things that can go wrong. This is just my personal experience and opinion (and we KNOW what those are). I take a short barrel revolver. I am not going to shoot a bear or cougar from a distance with a handgun. I carry the shorter barrel for ease of deployment (chest rig works wonders!), and it is there for surprises like coming across a mama bear with cubs. You won't have a lot of time to react. If in in bear country and lion country, I wouldn't carry anything less that a .357 Mag. 45 Long Colt, 44 mag, or 454 Casull are great options.
Your opinion carries weight, and you should do whatever you're most comfortable with. But the old tried-and-true 1911 has seen action in jungles, foxholes, mud, and sandy beaches for over a century, and if one cares for his sidearm it will hold up under conditions in the woods. I just like the added firepower of a 1911 over a revolver. Again, my opinion. Your mileage may vary.
I started out with a 1911 when I was 8 years old. The only handgun that I am deadly accurate with every time. I love the way it feels in my hand, and the way it shoots. However, a .45ACP does not have the power that a .357 does. It is a big, slow bullet. It works fantastic against the 2 legged animals, but not so great with the bigger, more dangerous kind, like the silvertip grizzly and the moose. Where I live, I carry a 9mm for the simple fact that I can have more extra ammo options when I go to the city. My 1911 is mainly for practice, and part of a bug out option because, like you stated, it is rugged and will stand up to most environments.
If he's out Bow hunting he shouldn't be concealed carry just for the point you made plus no necessity to be conceal carry. But, he'll want to carry in a manner for a quick draw and then practice it if different from CC style. For instance, if his ready position for drawing his Bow is with his dominant hand at chest height, he could use a tactical vest with the solar plexus holster canted towards him like some use for combat. His hand would literally be right next to his firearm most of the time and he could have a sub-second reaction to weapon on target time. If I'm out Bow hunting around lurking Mtn Lions, this would be my carry position of choice. With the tactical vest you can also easily carry extra mags that are convenient/fast to reach.
As an aside, I have a .45 glock but never got used to the bullet drop at range, 20+ feet and seemed to drop almost a foot or so. Maybe it was the ammo I was using or just me or they all have that issue. My glock 19 (9mm) doesn't give me that problem, which as I said, might be shooter induced anyway. Either way, be sure to use a sufficient ammo grain load with hollow point for max damage, IMO.
"Bullet drop" is frequently caused by anticipating the shot and involuntarily pushing the hand forward as you fire. Try letting the shot "surprise" you, gently squeeze the trigger and ignore the fact that it is going to recoil. I've seen plenty of "low shooters" become better pistol shots with that one technique.
Yup. Also, other techniques that work well at the range are: if you have a partner, have them randomly load the mags with snap caps. That way you don't know when they will pop up. It helps quite a bit to correct anticipation. Another one is use snap caps and dry fire with a dime resting on the barrel. This might help if you are having trouble with correct finger placement causing the gun to pull left or right.
I like, but thumb safety preferred for concealed carry, if chambered and ready to go…
Yea I hear you on that, the trigger safety takes a bit getting use too. I generally carry a .38 featherweight J frame revolver and that doesn't have a safety either. It does have a long pull in double action and a lock with key if you want to disable it all together. My version has an external hammer so single action firing has a very short and light pull.
I have a Glock 9mm which I am very pleased with how it shoots and handles. I don't hunt so my input there is nil lol.
Great guns for defensive carry in the city. Lousy for the woods, just like most automatics.
Thanks for info - I do live in suburbs lol
Two things that don't match. Concealment means a smaller size handgun for most people. In some places, printing is enough to be arrested (stupidity in action).
I would buy a handgun for concealment that you can shoot proficiently, and a different one to take to the woods. A couple things to keep in mind, large animals with lots of fur are hard to take down with a pistol or revolver. They are tougher and much faster than a human. Conversely, carrying a full size pistol or revolver concealed is hard because of the printing. Just like any tool, the best job is one that is done with the right tool. When I hunted, I used a lever action .357. With an 18' barrel, there was maximum burn and easily went out to 100 yards. I also carried a short barrel .357 revolver in case I ran into predators that were eyeing me like a T-Bone. One round, two functions. For a carry, an automatic is better because you can carry more rounds and reload is faster. A large caliber bullet is not need with humans because we don't have tough hides and don't move quickly like animals. I carried a .22 for many years. It's not the round, it is the placement. Practice, practice, practice
.357 magnum perhaps, to adequately, though not optimally, fulfill both purposes in one instrument. You are presenting 2 very different philosophies of use. Guns are like tools, the tool you select will depend on what you are doing. Some jobs require a hammer, other work requires a saw. In the woods, I personally would prefer a .44 magnum/10mm, on the streets, a 9mm/.45 acp. If you are financially able purchase a gun that best satisfies each intended purpose of use. There are 2 things a man can NEVER have too much of: guns and ammunition. Just my personal thought.
A fantastic woods gun is the Ruger Super Redhawk "Alaskan" chambered in .454 Casull or .44 Magnum. Short barrel, easy to clear the holster, and can punch just about anything if they startle you and are very close. A guide friend of mine worked in Denali for a while, and he said he wouldn't use anything else. Revolvers are best tools for the woods IMO.
Totally agree, Ruger Redhawk/Super, is the King of revolvers in the calibers you mentioned. I hesitated to go into the arena of the .454 Casull because the recoil impulse starts to get more unmanageable at that point. He mentioned black bears in his post, but I didn't see anything about Kodiaks. 😊
I wouldn't recommend the Alaskan for squirrels either... nothing left but the feet! :)
Wait, you found the feet???
A .10 mm semi-auto should be adequate for that purpose.
10mm Glock G20. suppressor height iron sights with Trijicon red dot. Wicked pistol that absolutely knock a mountain lion right outta their boots.
I've been teaching soldiers, law enforcement officers and civilians to shoot for over 35 years. I started with revolvers, slid into semi autos, and everything in between. My conclusion after all this experience, is that the common 38 or 357 revolver will handily meet the needs of just about anyone. Semi auto pistols are fine, as long as you are willing to spend many hours doing clearance drills, so that fixing the problem in an adrenalin filled gunfight is by muscle memory. No such issues with the old, and time tested revolver, of sound construction. If you get a bad round, just pull the trigger, and you are back in the fight. With modern ammunition choices, and a variety of very good short barreled revolvers on the market, to me it's a no brainer. If you want a semi auto, go ahead and get it, but carry the revolver until you have mastered the clearance drills. It's what I carry every day.
I agree, in part. A revolver is limited by the rounds it can carry, and reloading can be a real bitch unless you practice (more practice than doing clearance drills). Also, using the star clips or quick loaders presents an issue with concealment. In this day and age, depending on where you are at, a revolver won't cut it. When I go to the city, I always have plenty of ammo readily available, and only two reloads. If 52 rounds isn't enough, then I picked a very bad day to travel into the city.
For the OP: you will find a wide range of opinions on this topic, some good, some poor. The main thing is that it doesn't matter what you choose, just do the research and try them out before you purchase. Find out how they shoot. Many ranges will let you rent a firearm to try out. The main thing is, make sure you can shoot it well, and practice, practice, practice. Always keep up on the practice, because you will lose a lot of the ability if you don't. Just like lunging a horse. Whether it is from range practice or at home using a system like the Mantis X
I like S&W M&Ps in 9mm and 40 cal. I think a hollow point 40 would be a good round for the woods and CC around town. The S&W Shield would probably be a good fit for you.
I agree nothing you will encounter will get up from a 40 with hollow points. Regardless of what people choose the greatest error is carrying with FMJ/target loads.
I would go with a .357 mag tons of stopping power and very reliable.
Glock 10mm. Either the G20 or G29.
You put black bear in there. I went with a Smith & Wesson Shield 2.0 in 10mm for my Bear country gun. Its thin enough for daily carry, and 10mm has better terminal ballistics for larger game (and urban bipeds).
https://www.smith-wesson.com/product/m-p-10mm-m2.0-thumb-safety-optics-ready-slide-4-barrel
357 revolver would make for a good sidearm. You can load with lightweight 38 special ammo for range time, but pack some heat when you are out and about. Easy to clean and maintain, point and shoot.
I lost all mine on a boating accident
A good .357 revolver is what I recommend. A 500 doller revolvers is more accurate than a 500 auto.
If the bears are real big I would step it up to .44 mag.
Nice try feds! Lost them all in a boating accident. Lol.
On a more serious note, I see lots of 45 recommendations. Only down side of the larger calibers is the magazine capacity and reacquiring your target based on recoil.
Tons of good opinions on the gun. So an opinion on how to carry, look at a chest holster for carrying whatever you end up with.
A chest holster allows you to properly wear a pack with hip belt which doesn’t allow a belt holster. The Kenai from gunfightersinc is a great option.
Good firearm access when wearing the pack. Then it keeps the gun on you when you doff the pack for a stalk, stand or rest.
Desert eagle
Great for the animals. Horrible for carrying, concealed carry, and range time.
Get a Glock. They're ubiquitous, extremely affordable, lots of aftermarket parts, tons of holsters, cheap magazines, and simple to operate and reliable. I had an OSI friend put me through a combat pistol course and it became apparent immediately why the Glock is everywhere. You can cock it off of a boot, belt buckle, clothing with little difficulty. This is hard to do with a 1911 or Beretta. Plus shooting/loading off hand is easy. The Glock 19 is king for good firepower with concealability. If you need more power for game/animal defense, get the equivalent pistol in 10mm. There are lots of purpose specific 10mm bear rounds out there. I carry a 19x every day around the farm for cougars. Used the same pistol in that combat course I was talking about.
I love my HK45 and HK45C. Are there other guns just as reliable? I’m sure there are but just knowing the reliability of the HK 45 makes me pretty comfortable when I’m in the back country.
Can I just say .. I Love all the Gun talk .. blesses my heart . So happy we have our 2nd ! I’m in San Diego , friggin idiot liberals out here tried to ban water pistols from kids, so it’s refreshing to read all the comments from patriots who are knowledgeable about protection !
Bro if you can find a pre 1997 Sig Sauer P228 snatch it up. They had rolled steel slides and better fit. Best 9mm i ever shot. I ran +p ammo in it. Great reviews all around. Wish i hadn't sold mine 😭
This will catch flack, but with the right ammo, a cheaper, reliable high capacity 9mm would be an option worth considering. Stack it up with Buffalo Bore 147gr hard cast. 15 of them as fast as you can pull the trigger -- 345 ft lbs of ouch per round. There's lots of big dead critters that will vouch for me.
And when you can't carry... Byrna.
I sometimes hunt with my stainless Ruger Redhawk (double action) .41 mag. But no way you could conceal it with a 7¼" barrel. When hunting I carry it across my chest in a bandolier holster. My carry gun is a Springfield Armory 1911 Ronin in .45, God's caliber. The Ronin I carry has a 4¼" barrel but you can get it in 5". You can also get the Ronin in 10mm. I wouldn't be reluctant to tackle black bear or cougar with either the .45 or 10mm.
It's important to feel the gun. Many like glock, I personally hate the square feel of the grip. I prefer the feel of a S&W or a CZ as a duty postol but For conceal carry my go to is a sig p365
I agree, you should go fire them all repeatedly (NYC I hear may soon be a nice place to practice, but I digress), to find out which one fits your hand and weight tolerance while still being deadly accurate.
https://www.canikusa.com/canik-firearms/tp9
Canik makes a damn good handgun at an amazingly low price.
u got big hands?