[gnarledmaw]

The question then is, what model/caliber combination would you suggest as the best to attempt to cover all these bases? Keep in mind that its raining and youre covered in mud/manure, or youre standing knee deep in snow with a 125lb sack of grain on your shoulder. The weapon shouldnt require a full size leg holster as it will constantly be in the way and gathering garbage while working.

Am I questing for a mythical beast?

[gnarledmaw]

bang

[dirtboy]

I believe you can get a .45 caliber handgun that fires .410 rounds - that would be very effective at close range against varmints without having to worry about aim very much.

[mgc1122]

YOu can get all kinds of good advice here, but you should really go to a trusted firearms dealer or range operator to try a few out for fit, feel, comfort and efficacy. Good luck.

[dirtboy]

30-40yd range (the max range Ill likely be shooting pop up varmints at).

At that range, the .410 wouldn't do much more than sting their hides...

[TOMH1]

Try this at the TALK section of this site.

www.shooters.com

Personaly, I think you are looking at a 6 inch .357 Magnum revolver. Use .38 Mid Range Wadcutters for the smaller/messy critters. Full house magnums for the larger ones.

[Henchman]

Make a ZIP gun. recycles old car ariels, tubing or what ever; rubber bands; wood; nails and accepts the calibur of your choice

[ctdonath2]

Have you tried anything intermediate between .45 and .22? Maybe a long-barreled Glock 9mm with night sights?

Splattered skunks do provide a difficult twist on this problem...

[ArrogantBustard]

Am I questing for a mythical beast?

Possibly. Seems to me that if your pistol is powerful enough to reliably terminate coyotes at 40 yds it's going to spatter skunk on the chicken coop at close range. Seems to me a .357 mag might serve you better than .45 acp for the long range shots (flatter trajectory). Have you looked at "flap holsters"? They cover your weapon better than the modern police type open holster, but do slow your access to the weapon.

AB

[RLK]

Get yourself a tough-ass dog such as a chow, or two of them. A Ruger stainless 357 single action will work on coyotes, even with 38 special.

[Servant of the Nine]

Take a look at the Taurus "Raging Hornet" revolver in 22 Hornet. The cartridge has adequate power to take coyote at 100 yards, but will not omogenize smaller animals close in. With a 2X scope it is capable of hitting rabits or sknks to 100 yd.

If that is too big, get some CCI shotshells for your 45. Keep a clip of shotshells in the pistol, and a clip of hollow points in your pocket. The shotshells are about equivelent to a .410

So9

[ctdonath2]

How about loading shotshells for the first round, then ball for the rest? That would let you persuade the skunk to leave, and with two shots could take out the coyote.

[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".....

[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

[BallandPowder]

Excellent Personal Protection!
April's Gun of the Month is the Thunder Five by Holston Enterprises, a shotgun wheelgun! This is a unique self-defense firearms, chambering five rounds in either (a) any combinationof .45 Long Colt or .410 gauge shotshell or (b) .45-70 caliber! Check out the THUNDER FIVE website for more information on this most unusual Gun of the Month!!

[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.

[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.

[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).