An all around handgun

[preacherman]

So I have been looking for an "all around" gun for a few months. I wanted something I could take into a multitude of different situations. Here is the criteria I had

1. must be fun to shoot and easy to find ammo for (and cheap ammo if possible)
2. small enough to carry around while hiking, camping, traveling etc
3. powerful enough to work in the rare case it's needed
4. easy to use, easy to clean, low maintenance

I honestly believe the best weapon you can carry is your mind so I was not looking for some tricked out $900 glock with laser sights that will be used in a blaze of glory in a moviesque gun battle. Those guns are cool but not in my criteria and I believe somewhat overboard for most average citizens. I want something I can carry while in the back-country that will do some damage in a real pinch but my main strategy will be avoidance, common sense, and preparedness.

So I looked at ALOT of guns.... My top runners where:

A Bersa thunder .380 (Ammo is way hard to find)
A Bersa thunder 9mm (I could not find this gun locally)
A Walther pp .380 (somewhat harder to find than the .22)
Kel-tec 9mm (a small carry gun but feels like a toy it's so small)

Then I was looking at the x-mass Academy Sports ad when I found this...

http://www.academy.com/index.php?pa...enterfire&start=0&selectedSKU=0358-03613-5102

BUT...they had one with a 3" barrel and it was on sale for $199. After some research I found that the .38 can be a good little self defense round. Many people say that it's "too small" a caliber gun. I found several gun range tests that showed with a longer 3" barrel and a good quality round the .38 can be a good choice. It fits all my criteria. It's easy to shoot, easy to find ammo for, affordable, fun, small enough to carry while hiking, low maintenance and the price was right. So I got it. When I get some rounds through it I will report back.

 

[ExplorerExplorer]

3. powerful enough to work in the rare case it's needed

Being that you chose .38 I'm guessing you aren't worried about wildlife as much as other campers?

 

[Mr. Leary]

My choice would have been the Walther, but you should be happy with the .38. Can't get more reliable than a wheel gun, and it will stop most threats, short of an angry bear or a human jacked on PCP. Looking forward to a write-up!

 

[007]

.357 wheel gun, you can shoot the lower cost .38 special ammo through it also.

 

[Mercedesrover]

.357 wheel gun, you can shoot the lower cost .38 special ammo through it also.

+1. Find a 2" in stainless and you won't have to worry about it rusting on you.

 

[peekay]

Glock 19 or S&W M&P Subcompact in both 9mm or .40. Both are ultra reliable and relatively lightweight.

If you are in a free state, you can get 15-17 rd magazines for each of those guns. That is more than enough ammo to stop even a black bear. Sure, one round may not be enough to stop or deter one, but I find it difficult to imagine that a bear would continue to advance on you after emptying 15 rounds of 9mm or .40 +P ammo on it.

 

[BIGdaddy]

guys. [smacks forehead] lol...

I don't think he was "asking" for anyone's opinion of their all around gun. haha...

He chose a rossi 38 special revolver. Its in the first post. just fyi.

anyways...

Good choice, preacherman, revolvers are hard to beat, and there's nothing wrong with a rossi. good on ya!

5 rounds of .38 special, center mass will stop 99% of the problems you'll encounter. Bear problems can be solved
with spray, and mountain lion attacks happen danger close, so the best gun to have is one you'll carry on your person 100% of the time.

Thats the problem with my shotgun, it'll put down anything but the biggest bears, but I don't carry it around 100%. A lot of the time its in my tent or my truck. I.E. completely useless during a "situation".

I always have my buck knife on me as a tool and VERY last resort weapon, but then again that knife will be with me when that darn mountain. lion jumps on my back or corners me on the way to the loo, so at least I'll have a chance. I, myself, need to find the gun that fits me well enough to keep on me in the same manner as I do my knife.

Again, great choice, buddy. have fun!

 

[Mr. Leary]

free state

I admire your choice of terminology, sir!

 

[maximumrob]

The OP did ask for "fun to shoot," and I've not yet shot a fun-to-shoot snubbie.

The other posters here have the right idea. A 4" revolver chambered in .357Mag. Shoot .38's for fun at the range and full house magnums will have you loaded for bear (small bears, anyway). The .357 is a wicked, wicked hunting round that doesn't get the credit it deserves any more.

I own a Walther PP .380 and it's a great carry gun on warm days and is even fun at the range, but a .380 isn't terribly effective at stopping 2-legged or 4-legged predators.

 

[preacherman]

Thanks for the feedback.

I realize choice of gun is a very wide subject. I choose this gun because it fits all my criteria. I know there are more powerful guns, more accurate guns, more lightweight guns, more well designed guns, and guns more likely to "drop" something with fewer shots but I chose the lowly ol .38 for the same reason I like old jeeps. They are trustworthy, reliable, proven, simple, and worked for years before some advertising agency convinced us the newer version was better.

The main things I am worried about are: snakes, small woodland creatures, the occasional bear that cannot be scared away with shouting and will need something louder to scare away, mountain lions that need some noise to scare off, tin cans that are begging to be shot and quite frankly are just asking for it and those bastard cardboard cut outs that taunt me when I go to the range,,,

all other encroachments to me or my family will be turned over to 911, my German Sheppard or a combination of the two.:bike_rider:

 

[CSG]

A .22 kit revolver is a great all-around camp gun but I find that I usually carry either my Glock 26 (9mm) or Glock 36 (.45) when camping. I have lots of choices in my collection but a .45 is hard to beat. I usually don't carry one of my 1911's because of the weight and the Glock delivers the same round in a small and reliable package.

 

[07 Elephant]

The judge makes a great snake gun. A little large to carry but great for snakes of all kinds. 2 legged ones too. And since you are in a free state if you don't have your chl get it. Federal firearms violations can be very expensive.

 

[Mr. Leary]

The judge makes a great snake gun. A little large to carry but great for snakes of all kinds. 2 legged ones too. And since you are in a free state if you don't have your chl get it. Federal firearms violations can be very expensive.

I have a Judge as well. I feel safe carrying it on my hiking trips. It is a little big, but is lighter than it looks and doesn't rust. It has the destinct advantage of chambering .410 shells, so the versatility is there, or one could put in some .45 LC rounds and take out a truck at full gallup! :coffeedrink:

 

[Tucson T4R]

I agree, those tin cans are begging for it! :elkgrin:

You'll enjoy what you picked up for sure.

For years I loved my trusty S&W .357. Recently I picked up a S&W .460 XVR. Check out how the .460 dwarfs my trusty ol .357.

Now I'll be ready when a herd of stampeding elephants or those oh so common Tucson Grizzlies sneak up on me. :wings:

 

[Mr. Leary]

Oh my! What a large caliber you have!

If I have trouble, could I call you with coordinates?... fire for effect!