[Matteo1371]

Everything I’ve read says the ballistics are very close. Closer than 9mm and .40. Maybe someday I’ll get a .357 or .44 Mag but for now these are my most powerful handguns.

Hard cast, FMJ or an XTP loading from Underwood is not to be underestimate. 180gn at 1080 to 1100 fps is 464 & 484 ft-lbs respectively. Ive gotten 972 fps with a Buffalo Bore 200gn hard cast from a 23.

 

[Glocnich33]

I think the G23 will be fine.
I’m in East Tennessee and I would feel just fine with it.

I will say however, hogs are tough critters.
In the very unlikely chance you “HAVE” to use the .40S&W, keep shooting until the hog stops.
My best advice would be to stay away, and back off.
But in reality the hogs will likely run off way before you even need to consider drawing your firearm.

Good luck to you neighbor. And stay safe

That’s pretty much the plan for any dangerous thing I happen to run into. Shoot until it stops or it gets me which ever comes first. Believe me I’m not going to instigate. Any encounter will be completely by chance. I’m to old to be trying to wrestle any wild animal. Lol.

 

[Glocnich33]

Hard cast, FMJ or an XTP loading from Underwood is not to be underestimate. 180gn at 1080 to 1100 fps is 464 & 484 ft-lbs respectively. Ive gotten 972 fps with a Buffalo Bore 200gn hard cast from a 23.

Those are some good numbers for sure. I was thinking about Underwood‘s extreme penetrator or similar.

 

[Bren]

Is the G23 good for woods protection. I don’t have or want a 10MM but I do have a .45 1911. Looking for opinions on which would be better G23 or 1911? Thanks.

Any time self-defense is involved, I'd go with the G23 over the 1911. Weight, simplicity, capacity and fewer sharp edges.

 

[Bren]

Typically, though, for a woods gun I often carry one in 22LR, either a Ruger Bearcat or Ruger SR22.

I don't understand the point of that. Not accurate for hunting small animals and too small a caliber for self-defense. If I was carrying it to shoot squirrels or something, I'd at least get a target-quality Ruger.

 

[Faulkner]

I don't understand the point of that. Not accurate for hunting small animals and too small a caliber for self-defense. If I was carrying it to shoot squirrels or something, I'd at least get a target-quality Ruger.

Actually, either are plenty accurate enough. I've taken a dozen or squirrels with a Bearcat and several more and a coyote with an SR22, all stoked with CCI Stingers. No sense in debating the self defense aspect of a .22 LR, I'll concede it's not optimal but not useless either. But for a woods gun, and I've been trapesing in the Arkansas big woods for decades, I like to carry something light weight and I like a smaller size.

Now, for jungle carry, either Amazonian or mid-town, I would prefer something more substantial.