Question about sidearm for grizzly country
#1
Question about sidearm for grizzly country
I'm looking at getting a revolver to carry with me when I'm backpacking/archery hunting in grizzly country, but I'd also like to be able to shoot targets and maybe a doe or two at close range. Right now I'm looking at the Ruger Redhawk 44 mag with the 5 1/2" barrel. My question is this: is a 49oz gun too heavy to comfortably carry all day? And is a pistol that has an OAL of 11" going to be too long to draw quickly and carry without it getting in the way?
Are there any other pistols in the $500-$600 range that I should be looking at?
Are there any other pistols in the $500-$600 range that I should be looking at?
#2
RE: Question about sidearm for grizzly country
I have a S&W model 657 with a 7 1/2' barrell.Don't know the actual weight but it gets pretty danged heavy being on the hip all day.BTW If you are not going in alone you don't need the side arm ,just be able to run faster than your partner.
#4
Typical Buck
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location:
Posts: 809
#5
RE: Question about sidearm for grizzly country
ORIGINAL: wyotimberghost
I'm looking at getting a revolver to carry with me when I'm backpacking/archery hunting in grizzly country, but I'd also like to be able to shoot targets and maybe a doe or two at close range. Right now I'm looking at the Ruger Redhawk 44 mag with the 5 1/2" barrel. My question is this: is a 49oz gun too heavy to comfortably carry all day? And is a pistol that has an OAL of 11" going to be too long to draw quickly and carry without it getting in the way?
Are there any other pistols in the $500-$600 range that I should be looking at?
I'm looking at getting a revolver to carry with me when I'm backpacking/archery hunting in grizzly country, but I'd also like to be able to shoot targets and maybe a doe or two at close range. Right now I'm looking at the Ruger Redhawk 44 mag with the 5 1/2" barrel. My question is this: is a 49oz gun too heavy to comfortably carry all day? And is a pistol that has an OAL of 11" going to be too long to draw quickly and carry without it getting in the way?
Are there any other pistols in the $500-$600 range that I should be looking at?
I also think you should take a look at a Taurus Raging Bull. For your purposes, get a 5.5" barreled one in .454 Casull. You can practice with it using light .45 Colt ammo, and even use hot-loaded .45 Colt ammo for deer. Then when you go into bear country, load it up with heavy handloaded .454 rounds with 300 or 325-grain hard-cast flatnose (LBT type) bullets.
There's absolutely no reason for you to overlook a good used pistol.....
#6
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: West Liberty Iowa USA
Posts: 124
RE: Question about sidearm for grizzly country
I carry a Blackhawk 44 with the 5.5" barrel, when I am anywhere near bears. as stated above, you can plink with 44 special, hunt with something hotter. I also occasionally carry my Model 28 S&W, but I feel better with the bigger gun. Phil Shoemaker is an Alaskan bear guide that writes for the Wolfe Publications, did a column on the subject a while back. He said he carried a .357 for years and never felt under gunned. I also think a double action might be a better choice, but I am pretty comfortable with the Blackhawk.
#7
RE: Question about sidearm for grizzly country
The ruger redhawk is just what you need in the new 4" barreled version. I reccomend a shoulder holster as any gun powerful enough to protect you will be heavy. S7W and taurus makes ultralight versions of .44mag da revolvers but the recoil with these are horrible!!! This is coming from a guy that the .454 casull is my "go to" gun and I shoot them a LOT just for fun.
#8
RE: Question about sidearm for grizzly country
ORIGINAL: stalkingbear
The ruger redhawk is just what you need in the new 4" barreled version. I reccomend a shoulder holster as any gun powerful enough to protect you will be heavy. S7W and taurus makes ultralight versions of .44mag da revolvers but the recoil with these are horrible!!! This is coming from a guy that the .454 casull is my "go to" gun and I shoot them a LOT just for fun.
The ruger redhawk is just what you need in the new 4" barreled version. I reccomend a shoulder holster as any gun powerful enough to protect you will be heavy. S7W and taurus makes ultralight versions of .44mag da revolvers but the recoil with these are horrible!!! This is coming from a guy that the .454 casull is my "go to" gun and I shoot them a LOT just for fun.
#10
Fork Horn
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Georgia
Posts: 364
RE: Question about sidearm for grizzly country
ORIGINAL: eldeguello
IF I planned to shoot deer with it as well as carry it for contact-distance bear protection, I would NOT get anything with a 2.5" barrel! As a matter of fact, such snubbies defeat the use of magnum ammuniton, as the barrels are too short to give you any velocity advantage accruing from those heavy powder charges. Big muzzle flashes will NOT set the bear on fire, unless you load up with black powder!! 4" MINIMUM for barrel length. I definitely agree with the shoulder holster idea, too!
ORIGINAL: stalkingbear
The ruger redhawk is just what you need in the new 4" barreled version. I reccomend a shoulder holster as any gun powerful enough to protect you will be heavy. S7W and taurus makes ultralight versions of .44mag da revolvers but the recoil with these are horrible!!! This is coming from a guy that the .454 casull is my "go to" gun and I shoot them a LOT just for fun.
The ruger redhawk is just what you need in the new 4" barreled version. I reccomend a shoulder holster as any gun powerful enough to protect you will be heavy. S7W and taurus makes ultralight versions of .44mag da revolvers but the recoil with these are horrible!!! This is coming from a guy that the .454 casull is my "go to" gun and I shoot them a LOT just for fun.