How many carry a 44 or similar when you are rifle hunting?

After I saw a hunter take 2 cape buffalo with a 10mm handgun that gave me a whole new outlook on the cartridge. And IMO a semiauto 10mm would be much easier to tote around than even a short barreled .44. I have two .44s a S&W 29 with an 8 3/8" barrel and a Taurus Tracker light wt. with a 4" barrel.
But I honestly don't see the need to carry a pistol for a rifle hunt unless you were going to stay the night, or a couple nights. My reasoning is that you can bring a rifle, even a slinged rifle, to "ready" position quicker that you could ever get to a holstered sidearm. Now archery hunting is a different story. I always carry either my above mentioned Taurus or my S&W M&P40. But this is mostly for 2 legged threats not the 4 legged variety.

J E Custom said:

Dangerous game is not the only reason/time I carry a pistol as mentioned. I like my 22 mag when on my fore wheeler for varmints, snakes and pest that the rifle would not be fast enough or Appropriate. It would/is also great comfort when facing people intent on doing you harm with 30 rounds in fast succession.

I hunted on the Texas - Mexico border and had more than one confrontation with less than desirable's running Drugs. the pistols made for good deterrence and fortunately I never had to use the rifle. At least Bears are more predictable than some undesirables.

J E CUSTOM

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I carry a m&p9 or 320 with extended mags 22-23 rounds of CEB PHD ammo for such a potential run in. Either one of those or I have my Gap-10 with me as an addition with now Rapid transition Iron sights mounted.

I usually carry a Glock 20 in 10mm with 200 gr hardcast wfn going through a 4" kkm barrel. When I feel the need for more power I take my 4" Taurus tracker. In 44magnum. I figure a 10mm is enough for black bear if needed

SW 686+ 4" .357 Mag (7 rds) loaded with stout 180 gr Partitions. I picked quite a few boxes of Partitions from Widner several years ago on close out at $20/box so I am stocked up for my needs. The .357 with 180 Partitions is a good compromise for weight plus having the extra round doesn't hurt.

Any side arm is good especially if you also have a rifle that will shoot from one zip code to another. If the potential problem doesn't get the message with a few shots in the ground, the back up will be there if you need it.

I wish no one harm, but intend to defend my self. once I had a large group headed my way, and after a few shots in the ground they changed direction and went on about their way.

J E CUSTOM

I carry a 45 Colt loaded HOT with Keith style bullets

J E Custom said:

Dangerous game is not the only reason/time I carry a pistol as mentioned. I like my 22 mag when on my fore wheeler for varmints, snakes and pest that the rifle would not be fast enough or Appropriate. It would/is also great comfort when facing people intent on doing you harm with 30 rounds in fast succession.

I hunted on the Texas - Mexico border and had more than one confrontation with less than desirable's running Drugs. the pistols made for good deterrence and fortunately I never had to use the rifle. At least Bears are more predictable than some undesirables.

J E CUSTOM

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Yes Sir I understand undesirables , I carry a S&W 41 mag out west and in Perry Cty , Alabama where I have had to deploy it and explain what I would do to a group of undesirables , it created a dispersion in a very short time . Daily carry is 9MM Sig P320 , it is in my pocket right now .

I carry a Ruger Redhawk 4" in 44 magnum. 340gr hardcast buffalo bore loads that I chrono'd @ 1315fps.

Chest holster is kenai model from gunfighters inc. IMO you cannot go wrong with that holster.

The Oregonian said:

Talking about areas where bears, cougars, etc can be found. Or do you just carry pepper spray, where aim doesn't have to be dead on. Moving to Montana in a month or so and curious to what people carry and what your reasoning is...whatever i decide to do I want it to be an informed decision somthe reasoning is important to me.

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Hey,
When in the mountains where there are grizzlies I always carry a 4 inch barreled Ruger Redhawk double in 44 mag loaded with at least 300 grain flat nosed solids... this round will blow right through a grizzly end to end or both shoulders. I also own and have carried a smaller 4 inch 44 Taurus Tracker that just shoots lights out but only holds 5 rounds and I have shot the same 300 grain round out of it....but I wouldn't use it for anything but a serious threat as the revolver is not built like a Ruger. Got 2 Smith 6 inch 44's in the Classic DX model but I think a 4 inch revolver would stand a better chance of being used if something got on top of you versus the much longer 6 inch barrel. These are all double actions. Might be able to slip one into him without getting it beat out of my hand. All my own theory it has never happened to me. When in black bear country I will often carry a 4 inch Smith chrome 586 in 357 as it seems most black bears will run when hurt. Tons of black bear in northern MN but I only carry for them when blueberry picking, LOL. Always have something along these lines in camp though. Sometimes I carry a 1911 5 inch 10 mm in black bear country also. I enjoy seeing bear but not too darn close to me or in my camp. "They call it paranoia until something bad happens and then it becomes caution."
Semper Fi
Tens

Clem Bronkoski said:

After I saw a hunter take 2 cape buffalo with a 10mm handgun that gave me a whole new outlook on the cartridge. And IMO a semiauto 10mm would be much easier to tote around than even a short barreled .44. I have two .44s a S&W 29 with an 8 3/8" barrel and a Taurus Tracker light wt. with a 4" barrel.
But I honestly don't see the need to carry a pistol for a rifle hunt unless you were going to stay the night, or a couple nights. My reasoning is that you can bring a rifle, even a slinged rifle, to "ready" position quicker that you could ever get to a holstered sidearm. Now archery hunting is a different story. I always carry either my above mentioned Taurus or my S&W M&P40. But this is mostly for 2 legged threats not the 4 legged variety.

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Opinions spoken as fact when data is so easy to get boggles my mind. Loaded weight of G20 ~39 oz. loaded weight of my S&W 629 ~39 oz.

This is my 629 under a .45 M&P shield which I believe is smaller than a G20.


I agree the rifle should be primary, and is faster. That's why I'm a huge proponent of as much pistol as you can have, because if you're actually using it so much has gone wrong already you probably only have one or max two shots to save your life.

Clem Bronkoski said:

After I saw a hunter take 2 cape buffalo with a 10mm handgun that gave me a whole new outlook on the cartridge. And IMO a semiauto 10mm would be much easier to tote around than even a short barreled .44. I have two .44s a S&W 29 with an 8 3/8" barrel and a Taurus Tracker light wt. with a 4" barrel.
But I honestly don't see the need to carry a pistol for a rifle hunt unless you were going to stay the night, or a couple nights. My reasoning is that you can bring a rifle, even a slinged rifle, to "ready" position quicker that you could ever get to a holstered sidearm. Now archery hunting is a different story. I always carry either my above mentioned Taurus or my S&W M&P40. But this is mostly for 2 legged threats not the 4 legged variety.

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Bear spray and a Smith and Wesson 460v loaded with HSM 325 gr bear defense loads.

I wish it wasn't unwieldy to carry a 12 gauge with slugs...

45acp with FMJ flat tips 1911. or 357mag with hardcast.

I definitely carry a big bore revolver on me (note: on me , not in a pack or out of immediate reach) as a second gun when in the mountains. I live/hunt in bear and cougar country.
I bought a Ruger Alaskan in 454 Casull, which can shoot any of the 45 colt rounds, and carry it in the Kenai chest rig quite comfortably. I have a 7 1/2 barreled Redhawk 44 mag (fits in the same chest rig) I carry sometimes, as well as a cupla single action Ruger 45 Colts that I sometimes carry. They make great camp guns as well.
I've had a close encounter with both a bear and a cougar over the years, and I like the idea of having a secondary gun "just in case". The old saying "One is none and two is one" holds true. Just like having two lights and two knives along. Be prepared.
I'm lucky enough to get to practice with handguns on a regular basis and feel confident in using them.
Take good care.

I carried a S&W 357 when out west but I like my rifle in my hands as much as possible

Thanks

Buck