wheele gun for hunting & some carry

The many tasks that you propose for a single handgun mean that some compromises will have to be made. Let me suggest that you take a look at the S&W 629 "Trail Boss".

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A three inch barrel in 44 magnum which will more than adequately perform the tasks you require. Good shooting;)
 
Brian41,

I own the very Taurus you were looking at - the M607 seven-shot .357 with the four inch tube. It would be good for the back country duty, but you can find lighter - it's built on the .44 Mag frame after all. For that same reason it is a bit bulky for concealed carry. It's best used as a car or nightstand gun, or riding in the duty holster of someone insensitive to it's weight. As for deer, it's good to remember with that gun and some others like it, that only about three of those inches are rifled barrel; the remaining inch is dedicated to what is essentially a built in compensator. If you want something smaller than a six inch for deer, I'd at least make it an unported barrel to get as much zip as you can out of it. You might try to find a five inch Smith & Wesson. They've never made as many of them, and I don't know off the top of my head if they currently catalog it, but they can be had used if you can find somebody willing to give it up.
 
Option to Wheel Gun Dilemma

All this conversation on wheel guns for hunting makes an irrestible opportunity for me to spew my preferences too. While I have loved my DW 715VH 6" for over 24 years, I wasn't too excited about using it as my only gun for hunting but I love the 357 mag cartridge. From squirrels to personal defense to medium game it works pretty d#@m well. I wouldn't hunt big game with it because I'm too lazy to drag that much weight out of the woods.

A couple years ago I decided my wheel gun needed a good companion. The only choice my preferences allowed was a Marlin 1894C. It's 18.5" barrel provides much greater fps from the same cartridge I carry for the DW. I'm not into reloading so my choices are limited to factory rounds. The DW is great to carry when I am using a .410 or .22 for squirrels in areas where you may find feral hogs or feral meth cooks.

I was a revolver nut for a long time until I held and shot the lever gun in the same cartridge. I know this is a wheel gun forum, but don't leave out a good mate for it in the same chambering. A revolver and lever carbine will love it when you take them to the woods together. That way you have the carbine for long shots and the revolver for short ones. You never have to think about pulling more ammo out of your fanny pack. It's all the same. Carbines for deer hunting and revolvers for those times when you are squatting with your pants around your ankles or when the carbine's sling is on your shoulder.

FYI - If your wife likes your 357 revolver don't let her touch your lever gun. She'll want one of them too. Experience speaking. :eek:

My $.02
BFPGW
 
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