Looking for your thoughts on a handgun for multi-purpose woods carry/SD. I trail run out in the sticks and have decided it's prudent start doing so armed. Main concerns are wolf and bear, but running into a meth lab out in the National Forest isn't out of the question, either, and cougars and feral hogs have also been reported (rarely) in some of the areas I run. My wife would also potentially use the same weapon for piece of wind when she solo hikes out in the sticks (more concern for two legged predators than four in her case).
I've narrowed my options to:
1) Ruger Alaskan .44 mag
2) Ruger SP101 in .357 mag
3) Glock 20/29 10mm
4) Colt Delta Elite 10mm
The revolvers could obviously be loaded heavy for my uses and light (38/44 special) for the Mrs, but I suspect a narrower range of options is available with the 10mm.
I run with a pretty heavy camelback as it is, and the difference in weight between the lightest and heaviest of those is around a pound, so I'm not concerned about the actual weight of the weapon. I am concerned about finding a way to snugly carry it. My experience is that a couple of pounds, well secured to my body, disappears after a mile or two but a couple ounces bouncing around is annoying as hell.
I'm pretty sure I could put one of the revolvers into a simply rugged pancake and tuck it into a reachable side pocket of the camelback, don't know about the Delta. I understand there are some limitations with selecting safe holsters for Glocks due to the trigger/safety mechanism, but don't know the details.
Questions:
1) Can the Glocks use heavy handloads with the factory barrel, or do you need an aftermarket?
2) Is there a significant difference in felt recoil/follow-up shots between the Delta and the Glocks?
3) Anyone found a way to run with a Glock or 1911?
Any other suggestions/comments would be appreciated.
Thanks!
I've narrowed my options to:
1) Ruger Alaskan .44 mag
2) Ruger SP101 in .357 mag
3) Glock 20/29 10mm
4) Colt Delta Elite 10mm
The revolvers could obviously be loaded heavy for my uses and light (38/44 special) for the Mrs, but I suspect a narrower range of options is available with the 10mm.
I run with a pretty heavy camelback as it is, and the difference in weight between the lightest and heaviest of those is around a pound, so I'm not concerned about the actual weight of the weapon. I am concerned about finding a way to snugly carry it. My experience is that a couple of pounds, well secured to my body, disappears after a mile or two but a couple ounces bouncing around is annoying as hell.
I'm pretty sure I could put one of the revolvers into a simply rugged pancake and tuck it into a reachable side pocket of the camelback, don't know about the Delta. I understand there are some limitations with selecting safe holsters for Glocks due to the trigger/safety mechanism, but don't know the details.
Questions:
1) Can the Glocks use heavy handloads with the factory barrel, or do you need an aftermarket?
2) Is there a significant difference in felt recoil/follow-up shots between the Delta and the Glocks?
3) Anyone found a way to run with a Glock or 1911?
Any other suggestions/comments would be appreciated.
Thanks!