New Handgun for Outdoors

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Since the OP stated that he was looking at the chest style holsters it`s probably best to stick with those options. I can see why that may be the best option for carrying if I lived in that area. Some, (most?) of us wouldn`t be able to waltz around with a handgun in a chest rig and not have to be concerned about others.
With that being said, I`d go with a S&W 686 w/ a 4" or 6" barrel. Weight wouldn`t be a consideration with the chest rig and neither would the 6" barrel if that`s what he wanted. It could be "loaded down" w/ 38`s if he wanted or stoked w/ full power 357`s in 180 or 200 grains. A couple of reloads via speedloader and he`d have either 18 or 21 rounds on tap. Simple, reliable and with a wide range of bullet weights would be just the ticket, IMHO.
 
Since it doesn't sound like you have a .44 Magnum handgun that fits the bill but do have the .44 Carbine...what about a older S&W 629 Mountain Gun... They can be had on GunBroker usually in the $850-1000 range. I have one in .41 Magnum and it rides very nicely on the chest in a Hill People Runners Pack. If you bought a Simply Rugged holster with the Chesty Puller straps you would be able to wear the gun on your chest while working and if you needed to on the belt for concealed carry.

The Mountain Gun can also be had in .45 ACP but is usually quite a bit more money....

Bob
 
I'd like to try one of these one day.

http://www.blackpointtactical.com/shop/outback-chest-system/

As for the firearm, it would be hard to beat a 10mm. Maybe a Glock if you are short on cash, or a Dan Wesson or Sig if you are not.

I've gone back and forth on chest rigs, but ultimately moved away from the notion for hiking. While it is a convenient location to draw from, it can get in the way of a backpack and would end up getting sweat all over. I've been tempted by the Hill People Gear rigs because they're discreet, secure, give some room for tools, and will keep the sweat off your gun. Ultimately though I've settled on a Tactical Tailor Lunar Pouch. It's away from the sweat drizzle, isn't immediately obvious as a holster, doesn't interfere with backpacks too badly, and keeps the gun clean and snag-free. This design is best with short-barreled pistols (because a longer pouch becomes more obvious) and I use it with a compact 1911.
 
I have always carried a 10mm for woods/hiking, since the cartridge came out. Bought my new Delta Elite back in 1987 and carried it faithfully until the early 2000s, when I supplanted the Delta with a Glock 29. The Delta is still beautiful and I wouldn't let it go for anything, but it is basking in the safe, now. For me, the 10mm bridges the gap between huge and powerful, and light and rapid-fire controllable.
 
I'm thinking about getting a new handgun, something maybe more dedicated for woods/outdoors. I have a hunting property that I go to a lot. I like to hike my property, I’m out there a lot checking trail cameras, doing various projects, etc. I’ve been looking at those guide style chest holster like the Galco Alaskan and Guides Choice as they seem to give a lot of freedom of movement. I’ve tried belt holsters and shoulder holsters and they get in the way, get caught on branches, and are more of a hinderance when it comes to working.

I’m open to any kind of handgun at this point. But obviously personal defense would be a big consideration. My property is very rural, has zero cell service, and is also a very poor county. I don’t ever expect to, but I would not like to run into someone trespassing and doing something illegal on my property such as a meth lab or weed patch. Next consideration would be to dispatch unwanted critters. Possums, skunks, armadillo, crows, stray dogs, coyotes, etc. I’m not much of a small game hunter, so they would not be much of a concern for me. Feral hogs have just been sighted in my county, but no sign of them on my property. There has been one lone black bear caught on a trail cam in my county, but no real danger of bears. Any likely threat would be more 2-legged than 4-legged.

I already carry a 1911 in a shoulder holster at times, but the shoulder holster tends to flop around and get my shirt bunched and twisted, especially when I’m working on projects. Bending down to saw limbs and pick up brush and stuff tend to have me just taking my shoulder holster off completely. I’m just looking for another style of holster to try and it also gives the opportunity to try a new pistol!

Looking forward to hearing new recommendations.

I do what you do, except almost every day since I live on my property. On and off a tractor, sometimes for hours on end, cutting firewood, fixing the fences that mine and my neighbors bulls destroyed, working cattle, or just pricking around the pasture. Seeing a coyote in the yard or after the chickens is a very real possibility (happened Saturday before last), as is walking up on a bunch of hogs or having a stray dog wander up and mostly the ever presence of rattlesnakes. I used to carry a 4 3/4" SA .44 Special in a full belt/holster rig. But a year or so ago I renewed my acquaintance with one of my 4 3/4" SA's in .357 and have been carrying it in a holster on my pants belt. If I'm going to be a ways from the house I might drop a half dozen extra cartridges in my back pocket. Now if I'm going to be a fair distance from the house, which increases the likelihood of seeing some of the swine nature, I carry the .44 Special or a 45 Colt.

That said, sounds like a .357 would fit your needs perfectly. I'm not quite sure how a hip holster is getting in your way unless your revolver has a long barrel. For a "handgun of opportunity" I find 4 3/4" to be just about ideal as it never gets in the way.

35W
 
I do what you do, except almost every day since I live on my property. On and off a tractor, sometimes for hours on end, cutting firewood, fixing the fences that mine and my neighbors bulls destroyed, working cattle, or just pricking around the pasture. Seeing a coyote in the yard or after the chickens is a very real possibility (happened Saturday before last), as is walking up on a bunch of hogs or having a stray dog wander up and mostly the ever presence of rattlesnakes. I used to carry a 4 3/4" SA .44 Special in a full belt/holster rig. But a year or so ago I renewed my acquaintance with one of my 4 3/4" SA's in .357 and have been carrying it in a holster on my pants belt. If I'm going to be a ways from the house I might drop a half dozen extra cartridges in my back pocket. Now if I'm going to be a fair distance from the house, which increases the likelihood of seeing some of the swine nature, I carry the .44 Special or a 45 Colt.

That said, sounds like a .357 would fit your needs perfectly. I'm not quite sure how a hip holster is getting in your way unless your revolver has a long barrel. For a "handgun of opportunity" I find 4 3/4" to be just about ideal as it never gets in the way.

35W
I remember stringing lots of barbed wire in the Texas heat more than once when one of our bulls and a neighbors bull decided to see how much fence they could rip up (and how much of the hide off their heads, too!) Well, now that I think about it it was either those big brutes showing off or the summer-storm floods that occasionally split the swinging wire-gate fence we strung over Palmer Creek...

I used to have a 10-22 sitting in the truck for rattlesnakes or other close-in varmints. (And a few fox squirrels made it into the casserole dish, too)

Stay safe!
 
My hiking/hunting sidearm is a Glock 29 10MM. It is compact and powerful enough to deal with the two and four legged predators I may encounter. It is comparatively cheap to purchase and enjoys the Glock reputation for reliability and ease of maintenance. I prefer to carry concealed even in the woods. Most often using the Glock Sports belt holster. YMMV.
 
Glock 10mm, or even the long slide in 40. I know everybody hates the 40 now, but with hot 180gr out of the longer barrel it is pretty effective.
 
My main carry weapon is a Kimber .45 ACP UCC II. But for hiking or camping in the woods or as a backup weapon when hunting I carry a S&W Mod 19 with 2 1/2" barrel.
 
My hiking/hunting sidearm is a Glock 29 10MM. It is compact and powerful enough to deal with the two and four legged predators I may encounter. It is comparatively cheap to purchase and enjoys the Glock reputation for reliability and ease of maintenance. I prefer to carry concealed even in the woods. Most often using the Glock Sports belt holster. YMMV.

Glock 10mm, or even the long slide in 40. I know everybody hates the 40 now, but with hot 180gr out of the longer barrel it is pretty effective.

Glock model 40 10mm in a drop leg holster, I love this set up, gun is out of the way but easy to get if needed

Mine is a Glock 10mm...

Guess you guys didn't read this-

Man Stops New Mexico Bear Attack with a Glock 10mm

And if you don't want to read the entire article, here's the important part-

Later, Bridger found bear hair between the guide rod and the slide of his Glock 20 pistol. The hair prevented the slide from locking all the way forward. With the slide out of battery, the firing pin could not strike the primer to discharge the cartridge.

I'll stick with revolvers.

35W
 
I'll stick with revolvers.
As always this is a personal choice but by my count he would have been out of bullets before the bear was dead if he had a revolver, the odds are pretty good that running from a bear equals death, he should have stood his ground and emptied his gun into that bear, bet he will next time, use what you like and have a good new year
 
My G29 alongside my S&W 629. The Glock is considerably smaller and I forget it is there worn IWB. Depending on the situation I can carry 200 gr hardcast bullets for 4 legged predators or milder loaded lighter rounds for 2 legged predators. The 15 round G20 magazines work as spares, or even primary mags.


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I've often carried a Ruger Bearcat or a Beretta 21 for the casual hike. But if I was thinking I needed a heavier gun for the woods, my Sp101 in 357 or my Security Six would be toted.
 
As always this is a personal choice but by my count he would have been out of bullets before the bear was dead if he had a revolver, the odds are pretty good that running from a bear equals death, he should have stood his ground and emptied his gun into that bear, bet he will next time, use what you like and have a good new year

Unless one has ever hunted with a single shot firearm, or even a double barrel shotgun, then it's probably somewhat difficult to understand making each shot count. And there's far less to go wrong with a revolver. But as you said, it's a personal choice.

35W
 
After seeing a large bear in my backyard I did a bunch of research on the perfect handgun for me and went with a Glock 20 10mm. So glad I did. Personally I do love revolvers but I shoot a semi auto much better so it got the nod over taking my Smith model 627 (357) or my old Taurus 44 mag. I like the ability to carry an extra mag and be able to reload much faster. Additionally 15+1 rounds of 10mm gives me peace of mind that I’ll have more chances to neutralize a threat under stressful conditions. It’s easy to hit paper at 15-30 yards with a revolver but idk how I’d do with a moving target barreling down on myself or my kids with one. The Glock 20 I have more confidence in after many range trips.
 
A 686, maybe in 7 shot, .357 as first choice. A 5" barrel would be a good compromise.

For me, as we do have bear and hog in my area, I have a ported, 5" 629 .44mag.

I like the idea of the 10mm as an alternative to .357mag for semi-autos, if you lean more that way.
 
If you qualify for the blue label Glock program I'd probably just get a Glock 20 10mm. My last one came out to a little over $400 with tax.

If not I'd get a police trade in Glock 22, Glock 23, Beretta 96D .40 or Sig .40 S&W and then stuff it with hot reloads or an offering from Buffalo Bore, Underwood or Double Tap.

For a woods gun those police trade in pistols are kind of perfect. It's going to get dinged, it's going to get sweat on it and it's going to get wet. Just so long as it works and it's accurate then it's fine.

.40's are cheap right now and when combining self defense and woods carry they aren't bad at all. Especially when hot loads are in it.

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Glock
https://www.sportsmansoutdoorsuperstore.com/category.cfm/sportsman/police-trade-in-glocks

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Sig 226 .40
https://www.sportsmansoutdoorsuperstore.com/products2.cfm/ID/175296

Sig 229R .40
https://www.sportsmansoutdoorsuperstore.com/products2.cfm/ID/193216

Ruger P-94's .40 aren't bad deals either.
 
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