An all around handgun

bobcat charlie

Adventurer
I am pleased with my Taurus Tracker 4" 5 shot .44 Mag. Use .44 Special or Cowboy loads for plinking or small game, .44 Mag for serious issues. This ported handgun and ribbed rubber grip handles full loads without punishing the shooter. .44 Specials are creampuffs! All in a very compact and light weight package, I can carry it all day without even noticing it!
 

Wyowanderer

Explorer
I carry a S&W 629 with a 5" barrel. I can shoot 44 specials out of it, or just about any other 44 mag ammo. It isn't little, but it's effective.
I prefer a revolver for a carry gun, but I'm partial to good quality 1911's. I'd have a hard time having just one.
 

Bult4mud

Observer
im not sure how this turned into a discussion thread think the guy found what he is looking for.
HOWEVER

I love talkin guns...

For my AO i feel a 44 mag may be a bit large. However i do have a smith 629 mountian gun that i have carried.. 44 spls for plinkin 44 mag for game time

I love the idea of a .357 wheel gun for a woods gun. snake shot/ 38wadcutters/38spl/357 mag plus the nostalgia of carryn a wheel gun

my preference is for large bore autos. I carry a G21 at work and that is my normal woods gun. 13 rounds of 230 grain 45's is hard to argue with. and i train with this gun alot so im comfortable with it.

i just ordered a 10mm slide and bbl for it for a little more oomph..

:wings:
 
I am pleased with my Taurus Tracker 4" 5 shot .44 Mag. Use .44 Special or Cowboy loads for plinking or small game, .44 Mag for serious issues.

Nothing less than .44 Mag if you are concerned about bear.

A .357 wheel gun is a very simple way to go. Some good prices on S&W and Taurus these days.

The Sig P220 line remains my favorite.

The best firearm is the one that you can shoot reliably and accurately. Better to hit the target with a .25 auto than miss with a .45.
 

Metcalf

Expedition Leader
In general, most people will not practice enough with a bear-caliber handgun to be very proficient. Its just too brutal for most people.

If your worried about bears, and that is your 90% motivation for a handgun, I would buy a rifle instead, or pair it with a more useful sidearm.

My choice for said 'bear' rifle would be a straight stock lever action in .44 mag ( or 45-70 if your willing to shoot it ), shorten the barrel to 16-18", rugged ghost ring sights, big loop lever, and a mag tube to the end of the barrel.
 

AndrewP

Explorer
fishing guides in Alaska generally carry 12ga shotguns for bear...

This is my experience too. I go up there every year and the locals you meet in the real backcountry have a 12ga. The forest service guys have a 12ga,

However, if you are flying up from the lower 48, a shotgun is a pain if you also have fishing rods, food for 10 days and all the crazy stuff you need, then a 12ga is too much. I take a .44mag revolver. It's not fun to shoot, but I've shot it a lot and feel comfortable with it. It's much easier to carry while fishing than a 12ga.

For everything else, for everywhere we go, I take a 1911 .45 ACP. It does everything well, and ammo can be had anywhere. While not the round to have in Grizzly country, it's OK everywhere else. Plus, there's just something about a 1911 that is just right. Nothing fits in your hand and is an extension of your arm, like a 1911.
 

case

Observer
Ruger SP101 in .357 Mag.
Carry a Speed strip loaded with .38s and one loaded with .357s.
-Less than $500, sometimes in the $200-$300 range used (look for police trade ins).
-Small enought to be comfortably carried.
-Shoot .38 or .357 out of it.
-RELIABLE

You can add a good front post nitesite or CrimsonTrace lasergrips.
 

Wyowanderer

Explorer
In general, most people will not practice enough with a bear-caliber handgun to be very proficient. Its just too brutal for most people.

If your worried about bears, and that is your 90% motivation for a handgun, I would buy a rifle instead, or pair it with a more useful sidearm.

My choice for said 'bear' rifle would be a straight stock lever action in .44 mag ( or 45-70 if your willing to shoot it ), shorten the barrel to 16-18", rugged ghost ring sights, big loop lever, and a mag tube to the end of the barrel.

I'll agree with the above excepting the last paragraph. If you shorten the barrel of a rifle to less than 18", you're in violation of federal law. Rossi's new Ranch Hand (useless, IMHO) gets by the rule by being classified as a pistol.

The rest of your advice is first class.
 

Forum statistics

Threads
188,342
Messages
2,905,815
Members
229,959
Latest member
bdpkauai
Top