Suggestions for hand gun to carry

kicker · Jul 24, 2006

I'm looking for a new hand gun to carry during my bowhunting. Guess i shouldn't have told my wife all my cougar/bear encounters over the years.

Anyway anyone have any suggestions on a good piece on a budget, i do not keep up one these things.

Thanks alot,

Kicker

sealer · Jul 24, 2006

Ruger Super Redhawk Alaskan...choice of .454 Casull or .480 Ruger. I do not own one but have shot it (.454). It pulls quickly and smoothly. It has some "whump" to though...

HUNT · Jul 25, 2006

Look at the Taurus tracker in a 44 mag. short acuate and powerful. I would go with the revolver less to go wrong.

http://www.taurususa.com/products/product-details.cfm?model=44Tracker4SS&category=Revolver

kicker · Jul 25, 2006

Thanks guy's i'll check 'em out.

Kicker

nochawk · Jul 25, 2006

Kimber ultra carry 45. not so worried about the critters, more worried about the Meth labs and pot growers in the national forests.

Nate

Pre64 · Jul 25, 2006

I carry a 45 as well. Mostly because thats what I have. The shot loads work well on grouse too.

RLH · Jul 25, 2006

get a 4" ruger .22 auto. less weight, real deadly.

NMHUNTNUTT1 · Jul 25, 2006

I carry a FIE Cowboy .22 LR . My dad gave it to me when I was about 11 years old and took to carrying it in the ranch and now its in my day pack when I'm out and about.
I'd look into Rugar, they make exceptional hand guns and are working man priced. The SP series are nice and small, light weight if that matters. If not they have a .357 called a GP100 that is solid , and you can get it in stainless or blued steel...

Jake_Sorensen · Jul 25, 2006

Hey maybe I should tell my wife about all the things I have encountered in my hunting days, then she will let me get a new gun.

Anyways, In my opinion what you get should depend on your overall uses for it, I have a .454 and ruger .480, both are fun guns to mess around with (like have an un suspecting buddy shoot one handed) but packing around hunting while you are carrying a Bow or rifle would pretty much suck, I would highly suggest the Taurus Tracker (I know alot of people don't like them but I really like mine.) They are small, light and accurate, I would highly suggest the .357 one of my buddy's packs a .44 in the tracker but to me its to heavy and feels like it's pulling my pants down.

Jake

kurtski25 · Jul 25, 2006

Just a suggestion, but you might just want to carry some bear spray or pepper spray. I spoke to a biologist in Dubois, WY last year and he told me a couple of stories about bear encounters. A grizzly got to close to an elk hunter and the elk hunter put a softball size hole in the bear's shoulder. The bullet broke the scapula and cracked the backbone. The bear mauled both the shooter and his wife and killed one of their horses after being shot. The bear lived for another 50 hours after being shot.
He told me about several encounters with people using bear spray and it seems to work.
I'm certainly not going to tell you which way to go, but just some things to think about I guess.
Kurtski

RLH · Jul 25, 2006

i've heard that bears really like the flavor that pepper spray adds to humans. in all fairness, unless you're in an area with grizzlies, i don't see a lot of reason to be scared. i've been around countless black bears and lions and all they want to do is get away. only black bears to worry about are welfare bears that hang around campgrounds and creeks. only place you need to worry about lions is in california. i've killed many a bear and lion with a .22 pistol. as well as with a bow and rifle. they aren't any harder to kill than any other animal their size. and they don't want anything to do with a man. grizzlies are a little different, but even then, a well placed .22 is gonna deep six one. just like about any other cartridge will. i can't see wanting to carry around a redhawk or any other of these hand cannons they make nowadays. if i feel like i'm in danger, a .22 would still be my choice.

kicker · Jul 25, 2006

Yeah i've been around bears and cats alot over the years and never thought twice about wishing i had a firearm. But over the last couple years in the areas i hunt i've had some run ins that were a little too close for comfort. Mostly bears stealing my game and not backing down and the place i horn hunt i've had a couple of cats working as a team that wouldn't back down. Mostly i got my wife to agree and who can own too many guns right???

Kicker

Ultra2man · Jul 25, 2006

.357 Ruger GP-100.

BlackTimber · Jul 25, 2006

If you are worried about weight you can't beat the S&W mountain light series. .357, .44mag etc.

kk · Jul 25, 2006

I like the Sig, P239 .40 with night sites. And the Rugar SP101, .357 with the 3 1/4" barrel. I carry a .22 most of the time.

RACKMASTER · Jul 25, 2006

.seems to me this is what your little sister should carry because your afraid .....

p.s. check local laws before attempting to take your cannon toting sister along!!
RM

kicker · Jul 25, 2006

LAST EDITED ON Jul-25-06 AT 11:36PM (MST)[p]LAST EDITED ON Jul-25-06 AT 11:35?PM (MST)

I get your joke Cackmaster, but my little sister died when i was ten #####!

But funny, really really funny.

bobcatbess · Jul 25, 2006

I'D GET THE .50 SMITH!!!

ITS NOT FOR WUSSIES THOUGH!!!

THE ONLY bobcat SUGGESTING A BIG BORE TO GET THE JOB DONE,FISH COPS JUST LOVE PEOPLE LIKE YOU PACKING HIGH POWERS DURING BOW SEASON!!!

Triple_BB · Jul 26, 2006

If you'll be hunting in Wyoming, maybe you'll be fortunate enough to have it holstered when you get checked by a warden. Otherwise, go with the bear spray...

dleonard3 · Jul 26, 2006

I don't know what state you'll be hunting in, but in Utah you can't have any firearms with you on a bowhunt. Well, I guess you could have a shotgun with bird shot during an upland game season as long as you have a license. And I guess you could have a concealed weapon if you have a CCW. If neither of these apply, just poke them in the eye with that sharp stick. That'll stop 'em.

kicker · Jul 26, 2006

I think i'll just carry a picture of BOBCAT with me and if i'm attacked i'll show it to them. If that doesn't stop em' nothing will.

Besides i am too big of a wuss to carry the .50 smith.

But when the wife say's go get a gun, you don't argue you just do it happily.

Kicker

IAhunter · Jul 26, 2006

Just show them a life-size picture of Chuck Norris. I heard it'll make them drop dead of fear!

rost495 · Jul 27, 2006

Kicker

Its not that much on a budget, BUT what value do you place on your life?

Lots of good suggestions. If you were a gun nut and an 1911 freak, 460 roland hands down.

Revolver, nothing touches the compromise made in the 329 PD from smith. 44 mag and very light. That means it kicks but odds are it won't get shot much. I never realize mine is on my belt. My wife carries it a LOT when she goes along hunting as she doesn't hunt much anymore but has the peace of mind for 2 or 4 legged critters.

Sure there are bigger calibers BUT will you carry a 460 or 500 all the time. I took a redhawk one year to CO. Left it in the tent most of the time due to its weight.

Have a buddy that has the taurus version of the 329PD in 44mag. Titanium also. A bit cheaper. Not as accurate, plenty accurate for close range self defense, small enough, good trigger and sights etc...

Remember if shooting hard cast heavy bear bullets any gun may have to have the front sight replaced with a taller version. Just the nature of the beast. Easy to do though.

Best of luck! Awareness is the best bet, but sometimes ya just stumble into the wrong situation. I'm more scared of lightning myself

BTW there are articles on a cheap bear fence for camp if you are worried there. C or D cell fence charger, elec. fence rope and attached to surrounding bushes by plastic cable ties for insulators. Works great from what I read and I'll have 2 in Alaska next fall. One for the tents, another for the game pole.

Jeff

no_draws · Jul 27, 2006

If your looking for a good shooter on a budget you might consider onr of the CZ models from stores like J&G Sales in Prescott. The CZ's are an imported Czech police pistol that shoots the makarov 9mm (9x18) or a 7.62x25. The ammo is dirt cheap and the gun itself can be had for under $150 (CZ-52). They just started carrying a CZ-82 that looks pretty nice and it's only $229 or something like that.

Maybe not the best option, but definately one of the cheapest.

All the budget stuff aside, I'd get a Glock 23.

JG >>-------->

cobowhunter · Jul 27, 2006

I just bought a S&W M&P .40cal semiauto. It's fairly light and should provide good knock down power. Kind of looks like a Glock, but cheaper. $425.00 off gunbroker.com.

Mark

ddy58 · Jul 30, 2006

Id suggest getting a bigger set of NADS to start with.

But seriously, when buying a sidearm for hunting think of what youll be shooting. Personally Id carry a 454 it will shoot through the motor of even the biggest quad.