Request suggestion for special use sidearm

Noggin ^ | 08NOV01 | gnarledmaw

[gnarledmaw]

Please forgive the vanity but I knew this group would have some of the best advice.

I find myself in a situation where I need a special purpose sidearm and Im having difficulty finding one that meets what has apparently become a rather unique need.

As some of you may know, I run a small, rather primitive homestead and use permacultural methods as much as possible. The intent is to grow as much food as possible for my free ranging stock without my intervention. This creates a situation where because of the seasonal over abundance of food, various pests stop by to take advantage of it and of course, where ever there are pests and small stock on the menu, the predators move in. Ive had some degree of success controlling the uninvited guests but because my property lies along various types of habitats that are criss crossed with wildlife corridors I soon find myself with and influx of new immigrants in the form of coyotes, foxes, 'possums, racoons, skunks, etc.

Often while completing my chores for the day Ill run across a beastie that obviously intends to cause problems and Id like to deal with it before it does. Ive attempted to carry a carbine with me but, as youve guessed, it was never nearby when needed. Obviously, I needed a pistol. Something like a .45acp splatters skunks all over the chicken coop (just trust me on that) and something small like the .22lr is useless against moving coyotes in the 30-40yd range (the max range Ill likely be shooting pop up varmints at).

[spunkets]

"Something like a .45acp splatters skunks all over the chicken coop (just trust me on that)"

What, are you using hollow points? That's what I use to nail 'coons on the run. They show up in broad daylight to grab a hen and run off with her. Sometimes there's just no shot, so I chase the critter to rescue the hen. LOL! I have a Kimber that I worked on to get the precision needed to trim trees. Else it's a 357 that's good for 100 yd shots.

[cyberaxe]

.....Glock.....
.....great for icky weather.....

.....10mm.....
.....plenty of bang, good distance.....

.....two clips.....
.....on with solids, one with "shot".....

[spunkets]

45 FMJ.

[tpaine]

I've killed quite a few pheasant at 30 yds or so, with a .410.

[RLK]

There used to be 38 special shotshells. I assume you still can. They won't work on a coyote at any distance, but a ball slug in 38 special or 357 will.

[dirtboy]

I've killed quite a few pheasant at 30 yds or so, with a .410.

I don't think a .410 would be lethal to a coytoe at 40 yards. It'll make him wish he was somewhere else, but I doubt it would penetrate very far past all that fur and skin...

[Own Drummer]

This is a simple problem, and it calls for a simple solution. That simple solution is called a Taurus M941 double-action revolver (get the 5" barrel for increased accuracy), and it holds eight .22Mag (aka .22 WMR) rounds. If weight is a concern, get the Titanium model. The .22 Mag is sufficient for any beastie at 40 yards, especially with a quick follow-up shot or two, and it won't splatter anything except maybe a small mouse. You can also get .22Mag shotshells, and you might want to load a couple in the revolver cylinder--my experience, though, is that shotshells are useless beyond 10 feet anyway.

The .410 is a horrible choice, sorry--it's actually quite difficult to get any kind of accuracy with it, and, as another poster pointed out, past 30 yards you might as well throw a handful of sand.

All the larger calibers come with the disadvantage of heavy guns (to offset the recoil). Stick with the revolver (you can also get a Ruger Single Six (it has interchangeable .22 LR and .22 Mag cylinders), but it's more expensive and single-action only. Likewise .22 Mag ammo is cheap too.

Own Drummer

[RLK]

A 22 won't kill a coyote instantly, but it will raise hell with it. If you don't like the weight of a 357 a 22 or 22 mag will work.

[BallandPowder]

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[TOMH1]

Ruger has an SA in .32 magnum now. I think the major problem with it is ammo variety and availablity. If you reload that shouldn't be a problem. Nice looking gun.

[Chop Farwood]

My personal choice for the scenario you decribe would be a Ruger GP100, stainless, 4" or 6" barrel. Can handle anything from a light .38 target load to maxed out .357 magnum loads without a whimper. You should be able to find a load somewhere in that range to give you exactly what you want in terms of stopping power. I would imagine a medium powered lead semi-wadcutter loading should give you all the stopping power you need for the class of critters you describe without excessive "splattering". Available with or without a heavy barrel. The GP100 is an unusually tough gun that should hold up well to a rough environment, but it will still need a good cleaning to prevent rust every once in a while. Eezox is an outstanding rust preventative that you may want to consider trying. Smells odd when you apply it, but the smell fades and it works well. Rust preventative review article Personally, I found that a nylon Hogue Monogrip made a major improvement in feel on my GP100s over the factory grip. And they don't hold moisture like wooden grips. They aren't too expensive, may want to give one a try.

[tpaine]

I wouldn't want to test the penetration of #4 shot from a 3" .410 at 40 yards, would you? - Should be the same as say a 20ga, cause the MV's are roughly the same.

[dirtboy]

I wouldn't want to test the penetration of #4 shot from a 3" .410 at 40 yards, would you?

Like I said, the coyote will wish he were somewhere else if hit at 40 yards by 4 shot - and I doubt he'd come back, so it might be just as effective - but I doubt it would kill him outright.

[Morgan's Raider]

If you can hit a moving coyote at 40 yards with ANY handgun, you've got my respect! Most folks couldn't hit a stationary sillouette consistently at that range.

Seriously, as someone else has already pointed out, I believe a .22 magnum would suit your purposes more than adequately. Some revolvers are even made with interchangeable cylinders in .22 mag/.22 long rifle.

[fourdeuce82d]

"Ruger has an SA in .32 magnum..."

seemed to me I saw a Taurus in TI - had the frame of a 5 shot .38, held six rounds of 32mag, and had 3-4" barrel- reasonably accurate, somewhat flatter shooting than a .45, extremely lightweight...hmmm...

[Cachelot]

That simple solution is called a Taurus M941 double-action revolver

Smith&Wesson used to have a nice gun chambered for 22 Jet, and I believe you also got a cylinder for 22mag with it. I also seem to remember they had a model chambered for .30 carabine / 9mm. The 22 Jet model went out of production years ago, though.

[KitJ]

S&W Model 10/M&P, 4" barrel, loaded with 158 gn. wadcutters. Relatively light, accurate, inexpensive, common, reliable. Worn on the hip in a flap-holster

Since you asked.

Kit.

[Feckless]

Get a donkey. Unlike a dog, it will not eat what it is protecting. Jenny's are probably best about getting along with other animals(and more expensive).

[Free Vulcan]

I would think a Ruger 10/22 would be fine, and give you more distance and accuracy v. a pistol (snag you an occasional rabbit too). Plus it's cheap and there are all sorts of aftermarket accessories for it too. Get the highest power hollow point ammo you can for the coyotes, might have to do double taps on them it will still take them down at 50 yards.

[tpaine]

A 3" .410 will kill a pheasant at 30 yds. -- 40, with a good hit. It is not a joke load. In a comparably barreled shotgun it will kill just as effectively as a 20 ga.

The only real difference between the different gages of such shotshells, at 30 yds, loaded to the same chamber pressures, is pellet count in the target area, and shot string length.