Thank you people so much for all the replies about which handgun to carry for piece of mind. I have went back through all the tips, suggestions and concerns and cut and pasted the bulk of them here. After seeing how many ( Off of the different boards I posted) responded I thought I would post this on each board and let you see what your fellow hunters thought. I must add that the Glock was better represented then I show. I think it was suggested about 4 more times then I pasted it. Also a few were concerned about the legality of carrying a hand gun during bow season. I appreciate the fact you pointed it out, however, after talking to wardens I was told being caught carrying a handgun during season is strictly a fine. They said unless the gun was used to illegally take a deer that there would be no loss of equipment or hunting privileges. With that being the case it comes down to choice or consequences. I already have the fine money in the safe and I choose carrying the gun and risking the fine over getting chased and roto-tilled into the dirt before getting my butt hole chewed out. Anyway again, Thank you all !
WS
Handgun to carry
44 Mag use 44 special for practice. X 3. Snake shot works good.
4" 357 revolver. Look at Ruger GP100.
Ruger Blackhawk in .45 Colt with a short (4 5/8") barrel and a second cylinder for 45 acp
45 Colt in a 4 5/8 inch barrel if you are looking for something lighter, or the new Ruger Alaskan in 44 Mag
short barreled revolvers in .44mag or above.
Vaquero or Glock 20
Vaquero or Glock 20. Glock 20 carries 1 in the chamber and 15 in the mag for 16 rounds of 10mm.
Don't overlook the 44 Special. Either in a gun chambered for the Special or if you find a 4" S&W or Ruger 4 5/8" single action in 44 Mag for a good price you can always load it with Specials.
A 44 Special firing a 250 SWC at 1000 fps should give you peace of mind.
Single action revolvers are nice and most are available in 44 Spl, 44Mag (can shoot 44 Spls), 45 Colt.
Revolvers like the Ruger Blackhawk or Vaquero in 45 Colt
.357 you would have the added advantage of being able to practice with inexpensive factory reloads in .38 Special
a smith and wesson double action 357 with a 4 inch barrel loaded with the factory ammo with the heaviest bullet you can find would be about ideal for the trail and loaded with a light hollow point would do good in the bedstand.
Glock 20
.357 magnum / .38 special Double action revolver
4" barrel
Glock 29 in 10mm loaded with a 200 grain FMJ
Airlite. in like a 357
A nice 4" barrled DA revolver in .44 Magnum would be my first choice.
Get yourself a good single or double action .44 magnum or larger .480 Ruger. Stoke it with at least 300 gr. Loads
4" S&W Model 629. 44 Mag
S&W mountain gun in .41mag or .44 mag
Ruger Redhawk with the 4" barrel in .44 mag or possibly the new Ruger Alaskan Redhawk in .44mag or .480Ruger
Ruger Alaskan in 454 would be a good choice although the recoil is very aggressive and you do have the option of loading that badboy with some HOT 45colt
I've carried wheel guns and autos in the field and had less trouble from autos (Glock 23 & 27). With revolvers, dust getting in the cylinder pawl slot and hammer slot really gave me fits. More than once I had the cylinder stop freeze in cold weather, which would not allow the gun to fire even once. My Glocks have frozen too but I'm pretty sure they would have fired the round in the chamber. Just two days ago in an ice storm the bolt on my XP froze.
Desert Eagle in 44mag
45 is supposed to be the #1 one shot stopper
Glock in 40 S&W
Ruger Vaquero chambered for 45 Colt.
