Hunting Sidearm Advice Sought
- Thread starter Scrumbag
- Start date
Cheapshooter
New member
I've carried a Ruger Super Blackhawk 44 Magnum in an Uncle Mike's shoulder rig as a back-up, or for a primary firearm deer hunting since I bought it in the early 70's. Although recently I quite often hunt solely with a scoped Thompson/Center G2 Contender Super 14 in 35 Remington. If I feel I need a backup to the 'Tender, I might carry my Glock 20SF 10MM in a belt holster.
L_Killkenny
New member
My rule of thumb is if I have a centerfire or shotgun in my hands I want a .22 on my hip and if I have a .22 in my hands I want a centerfire on my hip. Personally, I've carried shotguns for deer and a .357 on the hip but it quickly became obvious that it's pointless. Need a finishing shot and a .22 won't get the job done (or in my case it's illegal) than just use your long gun or in our case, a knife.
BTW, handguns on the hip are highly overrated when you already have a long gun in your hands.
BTW, handguns on the hip are highly overrated when you already have a long gun in your hands.
SerenityNetworks
New member
This is a great thread. I'm glad I stumbled across it.
For similar purposes as the original poster I have decided to get either a Glock 20 or 29 (10mm). But also, I: (1) just want a large caliber pistol, (2) live in Texas and may actually want to try to kill a boar with it, (3) will use it as a secondary home defense weapon, and (4) if I get the 29 then I may even carry it from time-to-time.
I've hunted all my life and never had a 'backup' or 'finishing shot' gun, so I had not really given any thought to other considerations (such as toting around extra weight I don't really need - and for the price of a Glock I could by a lot of extra 30.06 or 12ga shells).
Anyway, thank you all for the informative discussion.
NRA Life Member
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"There are some ideas so preposterous that only an intellectual will believe them." - Malcolm Muggeridge
For similar purposes as the original poster I have decided to get either a Glock 20 or 29 (10mm). But also, I: (1) just want a large caliber pistol, (2) live in Texas and may actually want to try to kill a boar with it, (3) will use it as a secondary home defense weapon, and (4) if I get the 29 then I may even carry it from time-to-time.
I've hunted all my life and never had a 'backup' or 'finishing shot' gun, so I had not really given any thought to other considerations (such as toting around extra weight I don't really need - and for the price of a Glock I could by a lot of extra 30.06 or 12ga shells).
Anyway, thank you all for the informative discussion.
NRA Life Member
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"There are some ideas so preposterous that only an intellectual will believe them." - Malcolm Muggeridge
ATPBULLETS
New member
and i quote......."Somehow I don't see using fifteen rounds of .40 caliber hollow points to finish off a dying whitetail, nor a .44 Magnum Super Blackhawk.
The original premise was for trailing a wounded, and dying, deer, or casual plinking.
Some of the suggested handguns would blow his eyeballs out and separate the rack. I'll stick with a good .22 rimfire. Far better than the flat side of a camp ax.
Bob Wright "
i lost my morning sip of coffee on that writing right there,.,,,,, that is funny right there,,,,
The original premise was for trailing a wounded, and dying, deer, or casual plinking.
Some of the suggested handguns would blow his eyeballs out and separate the rack. I'll stick with a good .22 rimfire. Far better than the flat side of a camp ax.
Bob Wright "
i lost my morning sip of coffee on that writing right there,.,,,,, that is funny right there,,,,
Shotgun693
New member
Since you want a follow up gun, not the primary hunting gun, I suggest a S&W M65. You can find'm used in good shape. They can handle a heavy .357 load or you can put a few .38s in your pocket to pot a rabbit. The M65 is small and slick with fixed sights. They are very easy to work on. It'll carry like a .38 but with added power, if needed. If it gets rained on or dirty the stainless steel will easily clean up and keep free of rust with reasonable care.
Here in Ky, I don' t generally bother with a handgun while deer hunting...too much weight and no real need. But high altitude hunting in Colorado is another kettle of fish.
I'm a flat-lander and over 60 now, so those high passes west of Denver are a real challenge...having packed out elk quarters on a pack board at 10,500' before, unarmed, at dusk, in bear country...is an unnerving experience. But eighty plus pounds of meat is load enough without the extra-weight of an 8+ lb. rifle. So I've taken to carrying a Ruger .44 Special with some heavy Keith type loads for an unwanted bear encounter. In practical terms, one of S&W's Mountain guns in .44 Magnum would probably be a better choice.
And I'd readily agree that the guys here on the forum from Alaska or one of the lower 48's mountain states might have better recommendations; but holding off an interested bear while you shrug out of a meat loaded pack board with a hand gun sure beats being unarmed, and about the best compromise I could come up with. I'm more than willing to donate the meat to the bear's dinner menu...I just want to get out of the way, and not a part of the hor'doeuvres. (Sp?)
Best Regards, Rod.
BTW, I don't hunt with the Ruger on my hip...again too much weight...instead, I retrieve it and the pack board from camp after the kill for the pack out. I've done it three times that way over the years, and thankfully have not had to use the .44. The last time, though, I did encounter fresh tracks on my back trial a half mile from the kill site. It'll give you the willies for sure, but that Ruger sure felt comforting. Rod
I'm a flat-lander and over 60 now, so those high passes west of Denver are a real challenge...having packed out elk quarters on a pack board at 10,500' before, unarmed, at dusk, in bear country...is an unnerving experience. But eighty plus pounds of meat is load enough without the extra-weight of an 8+ lb. rifle. So I've taken to carrying a Ruger .44 Special with some heavy Keith type loads for an unwanted bear encounter. In practical terms, one of S&W's Mountain guns in .44 Magnum would probably be a better choice.
And I'd readily agree that the guys here on the forum from Alaska or one of the lower 48's mountain states might have better recommendations; but holding off an interested bear while you shrug out of a meat loaded pack board with a hand gun sure beats being unarmed, and about the best compromise I could come up with. I'm more than willing to donate the meat to the bear's dinner menu...I just want to get out of the way, and not a part of the hor'doeuvres. (Sp?)
Best Regards, Rod.
BTW, I don't hunt with the Ruger on my hip...again too much weight...instead, I retrieve it and the pack board from camp after the kill for the pack out. I've done it three times that way over the years, and thankfully have not had to use the .44. The last time, though, I did encounter fresh tracks on my back trial a half mile from the kill site. It'll give you the willies for sure, but that Ruger sure felt comforting. Rod
2damnold4this
New member
If I'm going to be carrying a high powered rifle, I want something small. A J frame in .32 S&WL or a .38 special snubby. If I've got a bow or a rimfire rifle, I'll carry the .38 or a 9mm.
The previous posters who said to check the regs where you are hunting are correct. For example, a bow hunter in North Carolina is limited to a .22 rimfire handgun for finishing shots on deer.
The previous posters who said to check the regs where you are hunting are correct. For example, a bow hunter in North Carolina is limited to a .22 rimfire handgun for finishing shots on deer.
Deaf Smith
New member
Scrumbag,
I have 'N' frames of the likes of .44 magnum, .44 Spl., and .45 ACP.
And I reload for them all as well as having bucket of factory .45 Supers for the 625 .45 ACP.
I also have the Glock 20 10mm and I reload for it to.
BUT, my newest one leaves them all in the dust.
Ruger Super Redhawk 7 1/2 inch .454 Casull. Got it at a shop, magnaported, for only $500, tax included.
Shoots wonderfully with 250gr LSW hard cast handloads of 21 grs of 2400 (1200 fps or so.)
Not really heavy either. Works with a cross draw well. And if you want. jack it up to 2000 fps for that 250 gr or use heavier slugs.
I ran through 50 rounds of handloads yesterday as well as 50 rounds of standard .38s through my Colt Cobra .38 2 inch snub and 200 rounds of 9mm through my Glock 26 (it was practice day!) Man my right wrist hurts some! Kind of weak to.
If you do want a hunting handgun, give the Super Redhawk a look. Very accurate and well made. But do think about handloading it down to 'mere' .44 magnum power.
Deaf
I have 'N' frames of the likes of .44 magnum, .44 Spl., and .45 ACP.
And I reload for them all as well as having bucket of factory .45 Supers for the 625 .45 ACP.
I also have the Glock 20 10mm and I reload for it to.
BUT, my newest one leaves them all in the dust.
Ruger Super Redhawk 7 1/2 inch .454 Casull. Got it at a shop, magnaported, for only $500, tax included.
Shoots wonderfully with 250gr LSW hard cast handloads of 21 grs of 2400 (1200 fps or so.)
Not really heavy either. Works with a cross draw well. And if you want. jack it up to 2000 fps for that 250 gr or use heavier slugs.
I ran through 50 rounds of handloads yesterday as well as 50 rounds of standard .38s through my Colt Cobra .38 2 inch snub and 200 rounds of 9mm through my Glock 26 (it was practice day!) Man my right wrist hurts some! Kind of weak to.
If you do want a hunting handgun, give the Super Redhawk a look. Very accurate and well made. But do think about handloading it down to 'mere' .44 magnum power.
Deaf
My hunting sidearm is a S&W 627 Performance Center. The N-frame is made for the larger .44 mag caliber, so it will easily handle the hottest .357 load you can safely come up with. It has a 5" barrel which is a perfect compromise of the balance of a 4" and the accuracy of a 6". It holds 8 rounds instead of 6 and puts it right there with a 1911 .45. The trigger is the best I've seen on any production revolver. And as you can see, it comes already drilled and tapped for any optic you can think of. I have a Docter red dot optic and this thing is so accurate and fast that it's almost not fair, almost.
Pointshoot
New member
IMO one thing to consider in a field gun is how much muzzle blast the thing creates. In a rifle or shotgun hunting situation I usually wear electronic earmuffs. Yes, they get hot - - but the hearing you lose from loud noises doesn't come back to you. (That's what a hearing doc told me.) And, its hard to hunt without being able to hear.
Sometimes defensive situations may come up where youre not able to quickly put in the hearing protection first. That's why I prefer using lower pressure cartridges like the 45 Colt and 44 Special whenever possible. (The 357 is a loud barker producing twice the sound level of the 45 Colt.)
So I'd go with a convertible Blackhawk in 45Colt/45ACP, a S&W629, or if you wanted super light weight - - at high cost - - a S&W 329PD in 44Mag. Of course you can shoot 44 Specials in the 44 Mag guns. The right loads in these two cartridges will shoot right through a deer or hog with not a lot of fuss while doing it.
Sometimes defensive situations may come up where youre not able to quickly put in the hearing protection first. That's why I prefer using lower pressure cartridges like the 45 Colt and 44 Special whenever possible. (The 357 is a loud barker producing twice the sound level of the 45 Colt.)
So I'd go with a convertible Blackhawk in 45Colt/45ACP, a S&W629, or if you wanted super light weight - - at high cost - - a S&W 329PD in 44Mag. Of course you can shoot 44 Specials in the 44 Mag guns. The right loads in these two cartridges will shoot right through a deer or hog with not a lot of fuss while doing it.
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I would get a ruger blackhawk or superblackhawk, somepeople have posted and said that the 357, 45, or 44 mag is over kill for deer but realy its not and I don't want to be crawling thru brush after a big boar with a 22, that's y I have a ruger super black hawk in fourty four mag you can use full house fourty fours for hogs and specials for deer if ur afraid of over kill