Been on a Rocky River, NC Camp/Canoe Trip for 12 days. Ran into a drowned cow, flipped our canoe after a thunderstorm. Except for our matches/lighters/cigs/ and "have to stay dry stuff",in Ziplocs,...everything else including my Ruger Police Service Six, were soaked/submerged.
After finally making camp after our first 9 hours getting soaked to the bone, a few shakes and wipes, and test firing, made me a believer in the .357 as a camp/backwoods pistol.
Wet, submerged Federal 158 gr. JHP's went bang everytime, after a quick air-dry. My Ruger, was as reliable in function as if I just oiled and cleaned it.
Whether two or four legs, I had no disconcerting issues carrying the .357. It still maintains a 90+ % one shot stop legacy, and is quite adequate.
That and the .45 Colt. However, I believe the .357 carries a flatter trajectory at longer ranges.
There are the "backwoods" calibers that work.
Minimum needed:
.357
.44
.45 Colt
Sure exotics, like the .454 Casull/ .460 S&W/ .480/.500 work, but a good ol' .357,....well,..I'm partial...
