Your personal choice of Caliber?

[A Realist]

Figure out what you would use to kill wild bears/hogs with if you were actually hunting them (not protecting yourself from them), and there's your answer.

Me? If I'm out in the woods hunting, and just want to use a pistol for critter protection, I'd care less about it being highly concealed on my body like I would a CCW. Matter of fact, I carry a .357 magnum in a shoulder rig just for that purpose.

 

[New Birth]

How about a 454 Casull Magnum Alaskan

 

[RDKirk]

If bears were a considerable threat, I'd take a friend with a .44 carbine and watch his back.

 

[RDKirk]

Figure out what you would use to kill wild bears/hogs with if you were actually hunting them (not protecting yourself from them), and there's your answer.

Me? If I'm out in the woods hunting, and just want to use a pistol for critter protection, I'd care less about it being highly concealed on my body like I would a CCW. Matter of fact, I carry a .357 magnum in a shoulder rig just for that purpose.

My real answer.

Whatever is effective hunting them, nothing less is reliable to take them down when they're hunting you.

 

[Southernscotty]

Well, All good answers here
however I want a multi purpose everyday carry piece. One that I can conceal carry all the time.
If I get comfortable with something, It becomes a part of me so to speak and I never even notice it there unless needed.
I have been watching ballistic penetration videos and a 9 does very good with full metal so I may just keep the status quo.

 

[Southernscotty]

Pretty interesting

 

[Silverback]

Figure out what you would use to kill wild bears/hogs with if you were actually hunting them (not protecting yourself from them), and there's your answer.

Me? If I'm out in the woods hunting, and just want to use a pistol for critter protection, I'd care less about it being highly concealed on my body like I would a CCW. Matter of fact, I carry a .357 magnum in a shoulder rig just for that purpose.

Wild hogs are not particularly dangerous as long as you do not corner them, or, they feel there little ones are at danger.

As far as bears go, black bears will 99% of the time avoid you, as long as you are smart and store food a good distance away from your camp site.I

Larger species of bear are a little more unpredictable.

As far as calibers go, to protect against black bears, and hogs, 357 should do fine.

For larger dangerous game, a 41, or, 44 Magnum.

Is hunting is the goal, for hogs and black bear a 12 Gauge Slug Gun. For Dangerous game 30-06, 300 Win Mag, or, my favorite 45-70.

 

[MarkRohfrietsch]

Of the choices given; 10mm would be the most effective. More penetration than .45 or .40 S&W.

For me, my favorite is .40 S&W for two reasons; I shoot it accurately, and it has lots of wallop for bear at close range.

 

[marineimaging]

Figure out what you would use to kill wild bears/hogs with if you were actually hunting them (not protecting yourself from them), and there's your answer.

Me? If I'm out in the woods hunting, and just want to use a pistol for critter protection, I'd care less about it being highly concealed on my body like I would a CCW. Matter of fact, I carry a .357 magnum in a shoulder rig just for that purpose.

If we are talking about true, hardcore survival where the infrastructure has fallen apart and we have to honestly rely on our own devices I am a proponent of the .357 magnum in carbine, 6 inch S&W or Ruger pistol, and a manual reloading press and dies with the correct powder and primers and a variety of projectiles. Mostly 185 grain flat nose semi wad cutters. And then a .22 rifle (bolt action) and a .22 airgun. A good carbine in .357 magnum will certainly suffice for home protection and hunting, and with the hand loading setup it will allow me to load to different pressures for specific game.

 

[Silverback]

If we are talking about true, hardcore survival where the infrastructure has fallen apart and we have to honestly rely on our own devices I am a proponent of the .357 magnum in carbine, 6 inch S&W or Ruger pistol, and a manual reloading press and dies with the correct powder and primers and a variety of projectiles. Mostly 185 grain flat nose semi wad cutters. And then a .22 rifle (bolt action) and a .22 airgun. A good carbine in .357 magnum will certainly suffice for home protection and hunting, and with the hand loading setup it will allow me to load to different pressures for specific game.

Like a Henry lever in 357? Ruger makes a bolt action 357, and it's a nice weapon.

I have often thought of post societal living, for me, my choice of long gun would be a Beretta 686 ON in 20ga, or, 410. I would defiantly take my 357 GP-100. Two of each would be Ideal IMHO

 

[marineimaging]

There is no doubt the shotgun is the most versatile tool on the market when it comes to bad guys or game. Regardless of the other arms I would choose the 12 gauge with a couple of rounds of mixed shot per day would be enough to protect and hunt with. And loading with the right supplies would be easy.

 

[Silverback]

There is no doubt the shotgun is the most versatile tool on the market when it comes to bad guys or game. Regardless of the other arms I would choose the 12 gauge with a couple of rounds of mixed shot per day would be enough to protect and hunt with. And loading with the right supplies would be easy.

Agreed, since we would likely be shooting small game to eat, not deer, or, hogs unless you are experienced at smoking meat, or, had an off grid solar, or wind system to power a deep freeze.

 

[marineimaging]

Agreed, since we would likely be shooting small game to eat, not deer, or, hogs unless you are experienced at smoking meat, or, had an off grid solar, or wind system to power a deep freeze.

To be honest, I think under the conditions that would take us to that level of dependency, if not for Christ's return, we would have to look back to living without any source of electricity so smoking, bartering, curing old school would be the ticket.

 

[Silverback]

To be honest, I think under the conditions that would take us to that level of dependency, if not for Christ's return, we would have to look back to living without any source of electricity so smoking, bartering, curing old school would be the ticket.

It may sound strange, but, I often think of how great it would be if you could just wake up every morning and just have to worry about keeping yourself fed, clothed, and housed. No mortgage, no TV, no phone, just yourself.

But then I watch "Alone" and every person is nearing starvation after 45 days. In the end they would all be dead if the producers did not intervene.

So, maybe it's not a great day dream.

 

[marineimaging]

I once imagined if I woke up and electricity had been rendered useless due to some change in physics where the natural electricity (ie, the brain, muscles, electric eels, etc.,) was the same but man made (magnets and coils) no longer worked. Now everybody is on a level playing field. Well, I could feed my family off of squirrels and rabbits. Then, I began to count all of the rabbits and squirrels in my neighborhood compared to all of the people who would soon have the same idea. I guess they would last 30-40 minutes. Then the pets. Then the birds. In about 1 day every little critter in our neighborhood would be gone and in about a week the cattle, hogs, horses..., nothing would be left walking. One couldn't plant a garden fast enough to make up the difference. People would be eating grass and weeds, wood and bark, belts, shoes, and fences before long. Hummm, I am glad I am a believer in Christ and would not need to worry about the electricity shutting down. So, as far as my trees go the squirrels are going to be just fine.

 

[Silverback]

I once imagined if I woke up and electricity had been rendered useless due to some change in physics where the natural electricity (ie, the brain, muscles, electric eels, etc.,) was the same but man made (magnets and coils) no longer worked. Now everybody is on a level playing field. Well, I could feed my family off of squirrels and rabbits. Then, I began to count all of the rabbits and squirrels in my neighborhood compared to all of the people who would soon have the same idea. I guess they would last 30-40 minutes. Then the pets. Then the birds. In about 1 day every little critter in our neighborhood would be gone and in about a week the cattle, hogs, horses..., nothing would be left walking. One couldn't plant a garden fast enough to make up the difference. People would be eating grass and weeds, wood and bark, belts, shoes, and fences before long. Hummm, I am glad I am a believer in Christ and would not need to worry about the electricity shutting down. So, as far as my trees go the squirrels are going to be just fine.

I could deal with squirrels, can't stand rabbit. When I was in the Navy, one of my duty stations was on the Greek Island of Crete, Greeks like to eat rabbits. When I was getting ready to leave, some of my lady friends invited me over for dinner, everyone made rabbits. However, being the good guest that I am, I swallowed the rabbit with a smile on my face.

 

[marineimaging]

I could deal with squirrels, can't stand rabbit. When I was in the Navy, one of my duty stations was on the Greek Island of Crete, Greeks like to eat rabbits. When I was getting ready to leave, some of my lady friends invited me over for dinner, everyone made rabbits. However, being the good guest that I am, I swallowed the rabbit with a smile on my face.

I think that if I had to be in a survival mode it would have to be on the Gulf Coast. It is rarely cold, the wind always blowing or a breeze, and I can fish. So alligator tail, fish, oysters, crabs, shrimp, and plenty of fertilizer to enrich the local soil for corn and vegetables. And if we can figure out how to make a pate' from mosquitoes we would have it made.

 

[marineimaging]

I could deal with squirrels, can't stand rabbit. When I was in the Navy, one of my duty stations was on the Greek Island of Crete, Greeks like to eat rabbits. When I was getting ready to leave, some of my lady friends invited me over for dinner, everyone made rabbits. However, being the good guest that I am, I swallowed the rabbit with a smile on my face.

I had to do that with something akin to a Vietnamese taco with raw squid and mint leaves. After it was all said and done and we were back at the dock I looked and my buddy who also had to grin it and bear it and we both suddenly started laughing. We realized at the same time that none of the fishermen we were trawing with had eaten any of them. They were on the boat watching us and giggling and suddenly the "cook" make like he was eating one of them then scrunched his face and held his nose. It was a good time..., my buddy had banked $1.35m on the sale of the boat we were leaving and the Vietnamese had gotten one on over us.

 

[Silverback]

I think that if I had to be in a survival mode it would have to be on the Gulf Coast. It is rarely cold, the wind always blowing or a breeze, and I can fish. So alligator tail, fish, oysters, crabs, shrimp, and plenty of fertilizer to enrich the local soil for corn and vegetables. And if we can figure out how to make a pate' from mosquitoes we would have it made.

There are also the thousands of chickens in Key West, mean though.

 

[RDKirk]

If we are talking about true, hardcore survival where the infrastructure has fallen apart and we have to honestly rely on our own devices I am a proponent of the .357 magnum in carbine, 6 inch S&W or Ruger pistol, and a manual reloading press and dies with the correct powder and primers and a variety of projectiles. Mostly 185 grain flat nose semi wad cutters. And then a .22 rifle (bolt action) and a .22 airgun. A good carbine in .357 magnum will certainly suffice for home protection and hunting, and with the hand loading setup it will allow me to load to different pressures for specific game.

In a situation of "hardcore survival," I'd relegate the centerfire weapons to emergencies. I'd do all my daily foraging with .22 (firearm and airgun). The report from a centerfire carries 'way too far and is 'way too directional.

Hardcore survival is going to be mostly a situation of seeing them before they see you.