side arm opinions

[underone]

I have a .357 i carry as a side side arm ( I have heard all the stories of .357 "bouncing" off hogs). Thew wifey wants to know what to get me for xmas sooooooo:

.44mag
10mm Glock 20
or ???????

The 10mm seems like the best opiton in terms of capacity, stopping bp[ower and overall comfort (.44 mag is a boat anchor in my option)



So lets hear it, what do you think?

 

[Lurediver]

Are you rifle huntingor bow hunting?

Carrying a heavy gun such as a .44mag up and down the hills chasing pigs gets old fast.

 

[hntboar]

Underone-
Just to clalify, will the sidearm be used to hunt hogs or just to carry just in case?

Personally, I think a .44 mag would be a nice gift. I carry and hunt with a .454 Casull.

Hntboar

 

[Speckmisser]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div>

(.44 mag is a boat anchor in my option)[/b]

Sounds like you've made up your mind already. Personally, if I wanted to shoot hogs with a handgun, the .44mag would be (and is) my first choice. The .41, .454, or .460 are great choices too. The 10mm really doesn't rate real high on my list. It's a self-defense gun, not a hunting gun... in my opinion.

There are a couple of pretty lengthy threads on this topic, mostly falling back to the argument about whether it's worth the weight to carry a sidearm at all. You can read those to get more info...

 

[underone]

Rifle hunt, its a just in case weapon. belly crawling with the model 70 doesnt do it for me. Forgot to metion the option of a .45, but a buddy had one a a hunt recently and I wasn't impressed. dont really want to carry a big gun. Couldnt find non-lead ammo for the 10mm, does it exist?

 

[Speckmisser]

Check Cor-Bon for ammo. Not for sure, but it seems like they were loading for the 10mm.

 

[m57jager]

If it's a just in case gun the 357 will do just fine. Anything will go into the side of the head, even a 9mm. Don't get that one. Gamo shot one in the eye with a pellet rifle. Wait for the shot like a bow hunter. Personally, if you have a rifle you'll probably never use the pistol. It does it get old fast. If you must, I second the 454 casull and drop two or three instead of one.

 

[Rancho Loco]

When I carry out in the field, it's a Taurus Tracker in .44 mag.

My 10mm stays at home or in the truck.

Take it FWIW.

 

[Cold1nhand]

If you are carrying a rifle the chances of you actually using the sidearm are pretty slim. Are you going to drop your rifle (which is a loaded gun) to whip out a pistol? Doesn't make much sense to me. As for crawling around in the brush and looking a ticked off tusker in the eye, well more than likely won't happen either. The only real argument for carrying a side arm, now this is just my opinion, is if you had to go in the brush after a wounded hog. The best way to avoid that is learn to be a better shot with your rifle and you should have no need for a sidearm. Pretty much just dead weight. I have only been charged by a hog twice in 20 years. My rifle stopped both just fine. Soooo if the wife is looking to spend a little coin, perhaps putting that toward a hunt on private property might be better.

 

[NatureDriven]

S&W Model 29 .44 "Mountain Gun". Great stopping power and pretty light weight for a .44 revolver. I carry it every hunting trip and it never feels heavy to me. Using a rubber non-slip gun sling for your rifle, you won't need to drop your loaded rifle if you ever have to reach for your side arm. Though I'm right handed, I carry it on my left so I can just reach across and pull it out with out any interference.

 

[bux-n-dux]

I used to carry my Blackhawk .41 Mag as a sidearm. After 4 seasons of never needing it, I stopped. Generally for pigs I have carried my Marlin 336 in .35 Remington. With that gun I can make as easy "finishing" shots or even quick snapshots as I could ever with a big pistol. And a 200 grain core-lokt will do just fine in any case, properly placed. I practiced with this gun at the range, offhand in various positions, and now don't feel the need for the hand cannon. If you must have one, I second the nomination of the S&W Mountain Gun.

bux-n-dux

 

[One Track]

I carried a .44 SBH 4.5" for about a total of four hours. If you are hiking and climbing and crawling, it's a pain the....hip. It's heavy, it snags, it's no fun to carry when you are wearing a backpack. I haven't carried one in years. 20 hogs later, I've yet to be charged. However, I do like the S&W 29 Mountain Gun .44 in Titanium. If I were going to carry a back up, that would be the one.

 

[Flatbroke]

44 Mag,

Nuff Said

 

[weekender21]

I doubt you'll ever "need" the just in case weapon. If you do decide to carry one, get one that will get the job done. A .357 will work if you choose the proper loads.

A .44 is far superior. You can find back-up style .44's that aren't too bad to carry. There are quite a few .44 loads designed for hunting and penetration.

The .45, and 10mm glock shouldn't be on your list. You'll have a hell of a time trying to find a load that's meant to penetrate a tough critter like a hog.

 

[hatchet1]

chris, i feel i must jump in on this one,as you know ive been a licensed guide here in california for 11years,many hog
have been stopped with my 10mm, i personaly shoot the glock 20 ,awesome gun and corbon loads a great
round for it {even though its copper}but up close and personal it does the job,i also shoot a mdl29 44mag. most
hunters will have this as a{back up} its very rare that you will need the backup unless you are nick who cant shoot worth
a damn!!!anyways, either one will do it,as always make the first shot count,what the heck was nick doing shootin the 45?
figuered he would have learned his lesson many years ago!

 

[superduty]

I know through personal experience that if I wanted to kill a hog with my side arm then I would have to leave the rifle at camp. For some reason even though I would love to have taken one with my pistol I just get too excited and love the table fares so I will slam dunk them with the rifle and beat myself up later that I could have done that with my pistol.

Oh ya, no one has mentioned what I carry. Ruger 480 Super Redhawk.

I have my wife carry the 357 blackhawk mainly because it's lighter and it will still do the job.

 

[bigworm]

I run dogs. I am shooting my pistol every time I kill a hog. I started out with a 357 mag. In most situations shooting from 10 feet or less it was fine. There have been times when I could not get close enough, and needed to finish the job quick. I now shoot a Ruger super redhawk 44 mag. From a distance, needing a well placed shot, I can shoot it as a single action. Up close if I need a second shot, I can shoot it as double acting. A 357 will not bounce off hogs. I have killed my share with one. When the dogs need help fast, a 44 mag will stop things dead in their tracks the first time every time. I do not like carry the weight on my hip. I also hate fighting with the brush. A shoulder holster solves these problems. I can carry the gun all day and don't realize its there until I need it. Being in adverse conditions all the time I prefer the stainless steel. As with any caliber, the shot placement is most important.

 

[jaehunt]

I'll join the chorus for the S&W Mod. 29 Mountain Gun in .44. NatureDriven and I got ours at the same time and we both love them. The reduced weight makes it a very comfortable gun to carry.

Jason

 

[NikolaKangrga]

Ruger SuperRedHawk 44 mag, SuperRedHawk 454 cassual, or the .480 are my personal favorites. But for me, There is no need in carrying anything bigger then a .44. My GF carries her 4" .357 and has killed a 100-120lbs hog with it. Perfect heart shot, never took another step.

 

[underone]

Thanks for the opinions. I think I will be purchasing a new hand gun likely the Glock 20. As for the sidearm business, I'll continue to carry my .357 and endure the heckling in camp. It's like a security blanket in close quarters. Thanks for all the opinions and advice.
Chris