I do a lot of hiking and I would like, at some point, to pick up a sidearm that is dedicated to personal defense in the field. So far I've been carrying my .357 Blackhawk, but the 6" barrel makes it a bit too bulky for extended and strenous hikes. I need something a little more compact, but poerful enough to deal with all potential threats. Around here those could be: 1. Smaller rabid/feral animals (coyotes, etc.) black bear, and two legged predators.

I'm considering a compact D/A revolver in .357 mag or possibly an auto in 10mm or .45 acp.

I'm not sure that the big bore magnum revolvers are for me. I've fired a .44 mag on a few occasions and kind of found it to be miserable.

Any advice?

take a look at the ruger gp100 in .357 mag with a 4 inch barrel it will stop 2 leg or 4 leg and is a nice carry. just my 2 cents

Ruger Alaskan. Worlds most powerful compact doubleaction revolver. I have one in the .480 Ruger. here is the other offering available in a .454

http://www.ruger-firearms.com/Firearms/FAProdView?model=5302&return=Y

I don't think I'm quite enough of a manly man for that thing.

Look at the Taurus Titanium 7 shot 357. It weighs only 16 oz. Carry it with whatever load levels you can handle best from 38 wad cutters to full bore 357 loads. I looked at one and was really impressed with it. I have a four inch Taurus 357 revolver and have found them to be great shooters and very dependable. The 44 Mag with 44 special loads would also be pleasant to shoot IMO.

Another gun that caught my eye is the ESS Witness in 10mm. Some people on the greybeard forum were singing its praises. Ballistically, it looks like the 10mm packs a little more punch than the .357. Although, the Witness does have a safety which might be one more thing to fumble with if the SHTF.

Anyone have experience with the 10mm?

My cousin swears by his S&W .357 magnum. But I really like my 500 Magnum. It's a bit more to carry, but I'm a bigger guy anyway, so it really doesn't bother me.

I gotta start toting my Sig Sauer 40 cal. Saw a small one when listening for turkeys till dark last week, and walked back in the pitch black on an adrenaline rush as I heard stuff rustling the leaves.

I've liked the .40 s&ws I've fired (the sig was very user friendly) but I question it's effectiveness against black bear.

VT Hunter..how about a 41 remington mag?