Anyone carry a Single action for CCW?

H

HighValleyRanch

New member
One of the reasons I applied for a CCW was to carry while in the mountains. There are big cats (not the feral household kind!) and black bears around where I ride my horse, hike and live. I could carry open if I had my hunting permit, but would rather carry concealed to avoid all the anti gun hikers freaking out.
I am a Glock fan, but have a first gen. 19, and 9mm is probably OK for cats, but not bears. I just shot my brothers's model 65 .357 and it was pretty nice shooting and accurate. I tried carrying it all day in a IWB holster and it was just as comfortable as the glock. Today I am carrying the uberti in a IWB holster and it feels pretty comfortable. I looked like I gained a few pounds in the waist!LOL :p
My CCW instructor said that some people applied with say a Ruger Vaquero for their mountain carry gun. A glock will definitely be my city carry, but I am tending towards a wheel for the mountains.
My choices are the .357 mag, model 65, a Uberti single action in either .45 colt or .44 mag. The .45 colt is smoother of the two. I tend to like the looks of the single action, but they are old styles, not rugers, so would have to carry one empty chamber. Don't see getting in a gun fight with a bear, and I am a good shot, so it seems like 5 would be enough, but after have 15 in the glock, I would feel a bit bare. No way to speed load with a single action, so that probably would be the only reason I would go with the DA .357.
I can only apply for 2 guns on the permit, so I would like to hears peoples' comments. Single action, be it like a uberti or ruger blackhawk, or double action, like 65, 686, etc.
 
If you like older styling, you might check out the "new vaquero". It's smaller and more classic styled than the old vaqueros. Dont know how available they are yet, havent seen any in person. I shoot cowboy action a lot, and like the dependability of the Ruger SA's, you should pick what you like though. I think I'd feel well enough protected with a hot .45 or .44mag or even a hot .357 . I'm no bear hunter though, could be that the .44mag is the obvious choice?

Personally I think I would feel fine with a single action, but I havent spent a whole lot of time thinking about it. I've shot a few thousand .45's thru my 7" vaqueros, and am fairly good with them. Could load some hot HP loads for back country carry. ( I'm not sure how hot the Uberti wants to get, could be that the .44mag would be better)

Good luck, you'll probably get some better answers than mine. :-)

Jeff
 
I used to carry a SA

It was a beautiful Cimmaron Birds Head Sheriff's model with a smooth action job in .45 Colt. I felt totally comfortable with it.

I think most people are going to advise you to go with what you are comfortabe with.
 
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