Handgun for home protection and hiking (I know nothing about guns)

.44 mag
Dey bears out they?

If not 9 milli

A .44 mag with about a 5" barrel is a great choice if you can handle it. If not, a .357 with heavy hard cast loads will do fine.

I'd carry a blackhawk if I needed bear protection, but that's just me.

Go with something light if you are using it for hiking. Many of the guns I like for outdoor activities could be too heavy for your use.

What are your goals for the pistol when hiking? I assume self defense from 2 legged creatures mainly?

Shotgun is better for home defense if you are interested in buying 2 guns.

quote:

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NawlinsTigah270

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Thanks for stopping by the OB for your firearm needs. You are in good hands.

If you may be leaning towards getting a revolver, I think Weagle and Downshift are two of the most knowledgeable here (sorry if I am forgetting someone!). They can point you in the right direction to a solid 357 mag or 44 mag.

Now, for a woods gun you also need to consider weight. Like others said, a steel revolver will be pretty hefty. But the upside is that you can load those thermonuclear rounds that Downshift alluded to. Revolvers are built for some extremely high horsepower rounds. They can dish out the pain, to put it bluntly.

Now if you want a general home defense and woods pistol just in general, I think you may get some good use out of a 10mm. It is a bit expensive to shoot since the ammo isn't as common but it is one of the higher power semi auto cartridges out there that would work well against 2 or 4 legged attackers. 357 Sig is another oddball round but doesn't have the capacity to shoot as heavy of a bullet as a 10mm. Typically, the heavier the bullet, the farther the bullet will penetrate. If you have a heavy, fast round, that is very good for the woods.

I would also consider an 18" 12 gauge shotgun. A shotgun is one of the most versatile weapons on the planet. It can be loaded to pop quail, ducks, geese, turkey, deer, people, bear, moose, etc. You can use a multitude of shotgun ammo for different situations. Then again, it is a long gun and will be a bit more to lug around in the woods. But 5-7 rounds of buckshot can lay a hurting on most anything in the woods.

If you're still thinking about a handgun though, this video may clear up a few things although it doesn't perfectly pertain to woods carry.

First Time Firearm Buyers

Glock 10mm - 16rd capacity
.357mag
.44mag

Since your not a gun guy and probably don't want to spend a fortune get you an SCCY 9mm. This is my jeep gun, and for the price point a great shooting, very accurate gun. I use it quite a bit to plink at the range with as well.