Sportsmen who seek game and fish in lonely, remote places often carry pistols for protection against four- and two-legged predators.
One chooses a weapon based on many factors, including weight, bulk, ease of concealment, cartridge preference and ease of use.
I carried a Ruger Single Six .22-cal. revolver while backpacking from Arkansas to Maine with my wife in 1987-88. I deployed it to foil an attempted robbery near Lewiston, Penn., and during a random attack by a lunatic on a lonely roadside near Wolcott, Vt.
I did not shoot. The timely deployment of the weapon gave me the diplomatic leverage to disrupt the assaults without anyone getting hurt. The Vermont situation reignited later, but that's a story for the campfire.
I liked the Single-Six because of its appearance, heft and solid feel. It looked more substantial than a .22, which I believe worked to my advantage in the aforementioned situations, but its weight and bulk made it a poor choice for a pack weapon. However, there weren't many light, compact, high-powered handguns available until the early 1990s when Glock and other polymer-frame handguns became popular.
Most people prefer more firepower than a .22 LR, and that's just as well because 22-cal. handguns are as large and as bulky as those chambered for more powerful cartridges. Even the nifty little Ruger SR22 and the Sig Sauer Mosquito are disproportionately large for their limited firepower.
For that reason, the 22 WMR is a better starting point. The Kel-Tec PMR 30 is the best in this class. It holds 30 rounds, compared to 10 rounds of smaller 22 LR for the Ruger Mk. II. Fully loaded, it weighs 19 ounces.
Still, most people want more punch, and that conversation generally starts in the .30 cal. neighborhood. The .380 Rem., is a popular concealed-carry cartridge. It is available in a dizzying array of compact pistols, including the excellent Bersa Thunder and the equally excellent Ruger LCR. They are small enough and thin enough to tuck neatly into a pocket, fly fishing vest or the front pouch of your waders.
The LCR is feather light and effortless to carry, but I did not like the .380 Rem. cartridge.
More firepower is available in the LC-9. It's the LCR's big brother and is chambered for 9mm Parabellum. The gun is a little beefier, but it still has most of the attributes of the LCR. Other excellent 9mm options are available in the various models of the Kimber Carry line, which are also available in 45 ACP.
With its M&P line, Smith & Wesson makes some of the best tactical and self-defense firearms on the market right now. They are also some of the most affordable. For an all-around concealed-carry sidearm, the M&P Shield is hard to beat. It is the lighter little brother of the regular M&P and is available in 9mm and 40 S&W.
The 9mm is a fine self-defense cartridge if you use appropriate ammunition. Full metal jacket ammo is not appropriate and is suitable only for target practice.
I like the 40 S&W better. It's a 10mm round, a step up in power from the 9mm. With appropriate ammo, it has adequate firepower to handle anything within its intended purpose. It was conceived as a law enforcement cartridge, and many law enforcement agencies use it. Its recoil and muzzle blast are harsh, making it unpleasant to shoot from light "carry" handguns.
A shooter definitely notices it when shooting an M&P Shield 40 S&W, but it's more startling than unpleasant. Once you get used to it, the bark and bite are quite manageable if you limit your practice sessions to no more than three magazines, or 18-21 rounds.
The M&P Shield comes with two magazines. One holds six rounds, and the other holds seven. S&W has corrected the feeding and chambering issues that plagued the first generation Shields.
The Shield has good sights. My 40 S&W is accurate at least to 25 feet with Winchester white box, 165-gr. full metal jacket ammo.
If you prefer the 45 ACP, there are plenty of concealed-carry choices, but remember that the physical attributes of the 45 ACP cartridge demand that the guns be heavier and bulkier than those chambered for smaller cartridges. If that's not a limitation for you, the 45 ACP provides adequate power for any situation.
Sports on 02/12/2015