Question for a friend...

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azski2

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Jan 24, 2020
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A retired friend of mine lives in Ahwatukee and hikes in the South Mountain area. While he hasn't seen any mountain lions he was told they are there. He wants to know what caliber revolver/pistol he should carry to defend himself. He's a thin 70+ year old so he doesn't want something too big or powerful that might hurt him. He also said there are a lot of liberals around him so he wants one that is also conceilable.

Any suggestions? I thought a .357 revolver but would like other options for him to try out.
 
I think you’re on the right track with a .357. Honestly, shot placement will be key as with anything else, but a well-placed .357 should do the job fairly reliably without being too abusive on recoil. He might get by with some hot .38SPL, but that would be a personal decision.
 
There is thin and frail and then there is just thin. .357 can be a handful and I am going to go out on a limb but it sounds like he may not have a lot of experience with firearms and there will be a learning curve to .357

I think an sp101 is a fine choice as its hefty enough to absorb recoil but not so heavy as to hate to bring it hiking. I would personally chose the 3". You can find them used pretty regular.

https://www.thetruthaboutguns.com/question-of-the-day-is-the-ruger-sp101-3-the-perfect-beginners-gun/

If he tries full blown .357 and its a bit much I might recommend

https://www.underwoodammo.com/collections/handgun-ammo/products/38-special-p-158-grain-lead-semi-wadcutter-hollow-point-gas-check?variant=18785707524153

I call it Magnum light. Its a sturdy round but not with the flash and kick of .357 and for me about half the noise. Its my nightstand round because of the low flash and somewhat low noise and then I swap it out for .357 when out and about.

Good size lion I think is about 150lbs .. the ammo I linked to will do a fine job and allow for a rapid follow up.

Having said all that .. I used to hike the south mountain area A LOT! Even at night. Except for a few stray coyote .. I found it pretty devoid of any good animal life.

Seen some interesting things in Cave creek and Tanto but south mountain while having good hiking trails is kind of scrubby. I dont think I have even ever run across a snake there. Still .. a small steel revolver is small insurance and I dont go hiking anywhere with out gun.

For carry .. My 2 cents .. go leather because it breaks in and forms some to the body and in the heat of AZ the smallest spur on plastic can ruin a trip. Make sure it is either tightly boned or has a thumb break because as anyone who hikes can tell you .. sometime you fall down .. wouldnt want your gun skittering across the trail.
 
A couple of years ago, I discovered that Remington Golden Sabre 125-grain .357 Magnum is actually a "mid-range" load, even though they don't advertise it as such. It chronos around 1250 fps, significantly faster than any .38 +P, but much less than "normal" .357/125, which typically come out around 1450.
 
I fifteenth the Ruger SP101 recommendation however I might go for the 4" for a couple of reasons...
He can practice with 38 Spl, but don't let him forget why he has to to clean any carbon ring out of the chambers afterward...

I found that as my eyes aged, I had a much harder time sighting down my 3" guns than I do the 4" & 6". I wasn't as accurate with the short barrels. Also with the possibility of mid-range loads being used, the velocity won't drop off as much- there is a lot of hide and muscle to go thru that the average thief doesn't typically have and many HP need velocity for expansion and penetration... also the slight extra weight will help with the recoil management.

A 4" is just as easy to conceal as a 3", but for hiking I would open carry and let the libbys be damned... if they say anything I would just respond that I hope they have a safe walk and to not call me for help if they have a animal attack problem... that will give them something to think about on their way back to the car and every-time they read about one in the news...
 
I agree on the 4".

I have one and it is well balanced and not difficult to carry, they are extremely well made and manageable pretty much no matter what round you choose.
 
Yup! If I ever went back to 357/38 it would be a 4", or 6",... even if I were to CC, a 4" barrel length has not been that much of a problem for me.
 
A few years ago some folks reportedly killed a mountain lion near the Sunset rest area with 10 shots from a .22 pistol. Not recommending it, but it can be done. 357 will do the job, but smaller ones work, too.
 
What about a pistol in .357 Sig? Less recoil than a .357 revolver and higher round capacity in most cases.
 
I was trying to find the article about an Inuit woman who killed a polar bear with a 22lr, many years ago,... but only came across this instead.

https://www.ammoland.com/2017/06/bella-twin-the-22-used-to-take-the-1953-world-record-grizzly-and-more/#axzz6CA6sxtUm

My back woods packing pardner, of many decades, has a ranger friend that has the job of killing bad/rouge bears. He uses a 357mag revolver. He has a pretty good set of eggs, from what my buddy tells me. His MO is to let the bear charge him, stand his ground, and when the bear stands to try and intimidate him, he puts a 125 grain 357 in its throat, breaking the spine at the neck.

If my buddy didn't confirm this tactic, by going with him one day,... I would have had my doubts.

Bottom line, a maxed out 357mag load should be able to take anything in north america, imo.
 
Is your friend an avid/experienced shooter? I know a lot here are advising a .357 revolver. While I agree with the small revolver concept, I highly disagree with the .357 Mag recommendation.
A small airweight frame revolver in at most, .38 Special would be more manageable for an inexperienced, older shooter. Even that will have considerable recoil in a small, lightweight revolver.
Anything bigger will probably be less likely to be carried due to the weight. I've killed lions with and without dogs, they aren't hard to kill.
I'd be more worried about 2 legged predators myself.
JMHO
 
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" While he hasn't seen any mountain lions he was told they are there. "

______________________________________________________

azski2,... I have packed horses and ridden for pleasure, up in the Chiricahua Mountains for more than a quarter century. The Chiricahuas have a reputation for having more black bear than most any other mountain range, I have heard about in Az.. I believe cats are just as abundant up there, as well.

The one thing I have learned about cats, over the decades of packing, is,... seeing one is not likely, and one that has you as a target, certainly will not be seen, unless you were born under a lucky star. In the amount of time I have frequented the Chiricahuas, I have seen one bear, but, not one cat. Being that most times guys only see a cat in the last few feet they are charging you, or, running away,... I prefer to keep my seeing them, as it is.

Now, I must clarify a bit,... my mountain mare has saved my ass from myself more than once. I have learned to trust her instincts, more than mine. I have turned away from places she has told me were not good to go, more than I can count, in the past 15 years I have ridden her, but, I can't declare whether any of the instances were do to a cat, or, not,... and that is a good thing, to me, imo!

I would advise you, to tell your bud, to, not only get a six gun, but, bring someone he trusts to cover his six, while he does the same for him/her. And advise him that cats rarely let you know they are around, unless you are in their den area, or, near a recent kill,... jmo.
 
I live pretty much on the eastern edge of south mountain. Seen plenty of yotes and more than a few snakes. Only seen 2 cats. And those were many years ago, before ahwatukee expanded westward past 32nd.

A warm 38 or 357 in a 3"-4" should be fine.
 
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