Lone_Gunman
Member
I usually carry something, and its often just a Glock 19 (9mm) in case I run into humans up to no good, but where I live there arent a lot of animal predators to worry about.
Do you carry a handgun while hunting with a rifle or shotgun, and if so what?
- Thread starter Lone_Gunman
- Start date
- Status
Mannlicher
Member
I always take a handgun when hunting. Usually a .44 Mag Mountain Gun, or a .44 mag Ruger Vacaro, or a .357 mag Model 19, or Ruger Flat top three screw .357, or a Smith 25-5 6 inch .45 Colt, or a Ruger BlackHawk .45 colt, or maybe a Smith N frame in .44 Special, or, well you get the picture.
Jack T.
Member
I just carry the same thing I always carry. Glock 23.
Which made me feel kinda goofy last weekend when I took my 7Mag (for long shots), my 44 Anaconda (for short shots - never had the chance to shoot a deer with a handgun) and my standard G23 carry gun. Talk about loaded for bear!
Which made me feel kinda goofy last weekend when I took my 7Mag (for long shots), my 44 Anaconda (for short shots - never had the chance to shoot a deer with a handgun) and my standard G23 carry gun. Talk about loaded for bear!
If I'm hunting deer/elk/bear I'm packing a big game legal 44 magnum. (Ok in my case 7.5 inch Vaquero)... why? Last time I was helping someone pack out an animal, with NO rifle I ran into a cow elk.. all I had was a .22 cal pistol. Vowed I'd never do that again.
If I'm antelope hunting I always carry a pistol, but it could be just about anything, once in a while you might need to make a "coup de grace" but you never get caught without your rifle. Anything from .380 to .44 has gone antelope hunting.
Ran into a bear while grouse hunting more than once, again minimum of .357 on hip. (cuz #6 even up close would likely just annoy the bear)
Colorado law allows hunters to carry handguns for 'self defense' as long as they are not concealed.
I also don't have iron sights on my rifle. If my scope fails/fogs I'm sort of stuck with a pistol until I can get to my back up rifle.
I never carry slugs/buckshot while bird hunting, as Mr. Murphy is just asking for an accident there, so a pistol always rides along.
If I'm antelope hunting I always carry a pistol, but it could be just about anything, once in a while you might need to make a "coup de grace" but you never get caught without your rifle. Anything from .380 to .44 has gone antelope hunting.
Ran into a bear while grouse hunting more than once, again minimum of .357 on hip. (cuz #6 even up close would likely just annoy the bear)
Colorado law allows hunters to carry handguns for 'self defense' as long as they are not concealed.
I also don't have iron sights on my rifle. If my scope fails/fogs I'm sort of stuck with a pistol until I can get to my back up rifle.
I never carry slugs/buckshot while bird hunting, as Mr. Murphy is just asking for an accident there, so a pistol always rides along.
Last edited:
P95Carry
Moderator Emeritus
Well - carry piece will be there - by default!
If out with rifle tho - tend to strap on something a tad bigger as well . using a conventional belt and open carry rig ... so probably a .357 revo.
This year ... next week in fact .... even tomorrow if I can escape this damn office! ........ I intend to leave the rifle behind.
For a change it'll be a hand cannon .... probably the 9 1/2" SRH .44 with my handloads of 300 grn XTP's ...... or maybe even the ''Raging Lunatic'' with the hot Hornady 300 grn XTP's .. I'll see how I feel at the time. Both have just been sighted in so ... damned if i can choose!!
If out with rifle tho - tend to strap on something a tad bigger as well . using a conventional belt and open carry rig ... so probably a .357 revo.
This year ... next week in fact .... even tomorrow if I can escape this damn office! ........ I intend to leave the rifle behind.
For a change it'll be a hand cannon .... probably the 9 1/2" SRH .44 with my handloads of 300 grn XTP's ...... or maybe even the ''Raging Lunatic'' with the hot Hornady 300 grn XTP's .. I'll see how I feel at the time. Both have just been sighted in so ... damned if i can choose!!
El Tejon
Member
Animal predators? Shoot them and not with a silly handgun. Handguns are like seat belts. Wear them.
I carry but only to avoid becoming a "forest bride."
Oh, man, what a great espisode that was. The butterflies as snack chips, oh, man, that's great! Yet another THR-inspired "Simpsons" episode.
I carry but only to avoid becoming a "forest bride."
Oh, man, what a great espisode that was. The butterflies as snack chips, oh, man, that's great! Yet another THR-inspired "Simpsons" episode.
nemesis
Member
Ruger Super Redhawk .454 Casull in a Bianchi X-15 shoulder holster.
P95Carry
Moderator Emeritus
nemesis ... hey you gotta be usin iron sights cos hey ... my X-15 will only cope with my P95 or P97!!
My Taurus or SRH both have scope or red dot .. and I need to use a monster rig!! I put up a thread a while back ... danged if i can find the URL. But it's a large rig!
Obviously there is a lot more to this than expecting your handgun to make up for the inadequcies of your rifle.
Here in where I live, big game hunting involves more than waking up and walking or driving a short distance to my hunting spot. I hunt several hundred miles away, and this is out in the middle of nowhere. I am usually camping by myself. I have been out for 14 days at a time. After hunting I put the rifle in the truck since I sleep in a single man tent. When I am sitting around the campfire, walking around looking for firewood, taking a crap or whatever, it is nice to have a handgun on my belt.
When I am driving around back roads to and from the area I intend to hunt I also like to have a handgun on my belt and my rifle unloaded and cased.
If I am on an ATV, I have my rifle unloaded and cased and a loaded handgun on my hip.
If I need to finish off a game animal, I would much prefer shooting it at close range with a handgun rather than putting a .30-378 into it.
If a good close range opportunity presents itself, I will transition to my handgun just for the opportunity to take a head of big game with a handgun. This has never happened, but it might someday. Of course it has happened when I didn't have a handgun with me because the law didn't allow it.
I have used my handgun to bust a coyote or a jackrabbit. I could have used my rifle, but felt the handgun would be more fun.
I buy these handguns and like to carry them even if they had no real purpose.
I have also carried light loads such as .38 Special wadcutters loaded to target velocities for small game camp meat. Shooting a cottontail or a chucker with a centerfire rifle wouldn't be a real good move.
I have told this story several times, but I used my handgun two years ago when deer hunting. I shot a nice mule deer buck at about 50 yards with my .30-06 (150 grain bullet at 3000 fps). As soon as the trigger broke the deer vanished. It was standing with a group of four other deer. They were still standing there, but he was gone. Knowing I made a good shot I walked about halfway to the where I last saw the deer. I took off my pack, took off my coat, sat down my rifle, rolled up my sleeves, got out my knife and some paper towels.................... I walked up to the deer at which point it jumped up and began running after the other deer at top speed. I drew a Ruger P89 from a shoulder holster and shot the deer twice bringing it down once and for all. Now I know that the deer would have went down eventually anyway. In fact, in hindsight if the deer would have run about 200 yards I could have driven the truck right to it. But, I did use my handgun and it was pretty cool.
On the other hand I went down to Arizona, right on the Mexican Border southeast of Tuscon. It was HAM (handgun, archery, muzzleloader) season for javelina. I took my muzzleloader and my Ruger Super Blackhawk on my belt. Either gun was legal to take an animal. Right off the bat I missed a very close, easy, broadside shot with the muzzleloader
The javelina just stood there for perhaps five seconds. I thought to myself, there is no way it is going to stand there and wait for me to reload. Eventually it ran off. 10 minutes later I was kicking myself in the behind because I forgot I had the handgun and might have got off another shot if only I didn't have my head in the wrong place. As I continued to hunt I realized that the desert was FULL of illegals running the border. In a couple hours I probably saw a hundred of them. I was then VERY happy that I had a handgun on my hip instead of only a single shot muzzleloader.
Here in where I live, big game hunting involves more than waking up and walking or driving a short distance to my hunting spot. I hunt several hundred miles away, and this is out in the middle of nowhere. I am usually camping by myself. I have been out for 14 days at a time. After hunting I put the rifle in the truck since I sleep in a single man tent. When I am sitting around the campfire, walking around looking for firewood, taking a crap or whatever, it is nice to have a handgun on my belt.
When I am driving around back roads to and from the area I intend to hunt I also like to have a handgun on my belt and my rifle unloaded and cased.
If I am on an ATV, I have my rifle unloaded and cased and a loaded handgun on my hip.
If I need to finish off a game animal, I would much prefer shooting it at close range with a handgun rather than putting a .30-378 into it.
If a good close range opportunity presents itself, I will transition to my handgun just for the opportunity to take a head of big game with a handgun. This has never happened, but it might someday. Of course it has happened when I didn't have a handgun with me because the law didn't allow it.
I have used my handgun to bust a coyote or a jackrabbit. I could have used my rifle, but felt the handgun would be more fun.
I buy these handguns and like to carry them even if they had no real purpose.
I have also carried light loads such as .38 Special wadcutters loaded to target velocities for small game camp meat. Shooting a cottontail or a chucker with a centerfire rifle wouldn't be a real good move.
I have told this story several times, but I used my handgun two years ago when deer hunting. I shot a nice mule deer buck at about 50 yards with my .30-06 (150 grain bullet at 3000 fps). As soon as the trigger broke the deer vanished. It was standing with a group of four other deer. They were still standing there, but he was gone. Knowing I made a good shot I walked about halfway to the where I last saw the deer. I took off my pack, took off my coat, sat down my rifle, rolled up my sleeves, got out my knife and some paper towels.................... I walked up to the deer at which point it jumped up and began running after the other deer at top speed. I drew a Ruger P89 from a shoulder holster and shot the deer twice bringing it down once and for all. Now I know that the deer would have went down eventually anyway. In fact, in hindsight if the deer would have run about 200 yards I could have driven the truck right to it. But, I did use my handgun and it was pretty cool.
On the other hand I went down to Arizona, right on the Mexican Border southeast of Tuscon. It was HAM (handgun, archery, muzzleloader) season for javelina. I took my muzzleloader and my Ruger Super Blackhawk on my belt. Either gun was legal to take an animal. Right off the bat I missed a very close, easy, broadside shot with the muzzleloader
The javelina just stood there for perhaps five seconds. I thought to myself, there is no way it is going to stand there and wait for me to reload. Eventually it ran off. 10 minutes later I was kicking myself in the behind because I forgot I had the handgun and might have got off another shot if only I didn't have my head in the wrong place. As I continued to hunt I realized that the desert was FULL of illegals running the border. In a couple hours I probably saw a hundred of them. I was then VERY happy that I had a handgun on my hip instead of only a single shot muzzleloader.ACP230
Member
I have carried the following while grouse and deer hunting,
Ruger Mark 1
Ruger Blackhawk .357
Colt 1911
Colt 1911 with Colt Conversion Unit installed.
Now I usually carry my "almost always gun" a Smith 649 in .38 Special.
While fishing I've carried some other guns including a FM Hi Power, a Colt Officer ACP in .45 ACP, and a Colt Combat Commander in 9mm and the 649.
I have come to like having a handgun along while hunting.
There have been times when it was comforting to have a handgun with me while fishing also.
Ruger Mark 1
Ruger Blackhawk .357
Colt 1911
Colt 1911 with Colt Conversion Unit installed.
Now I usually carry my "almost always gun" a Smith 649 in .38 Special.
While fishing I've carried some other guns including a FM Hi Power, a Colt Officer ACP in .45 ACP, and a Colt Combat Commander in 9mm and the 649.
I have come to like having a handgun along while hunting.
There have been times when it was comforting to have a handgun with me while fishing also.
gbran
Member
22 WMR + 454 Casull
I have a great area up in the mountains where I can hunt quail, squirrrel, varmints, deer, bear and turkey....... When hunting birds with a shotgun, I carry a Taurus 4" 941 revolver in 22 WMR for squirrel and other small game. I have a JPoint red dot on this and it is pretty accurate. I also carry an iron sighted 454 Casull SRH for wild and domestic predators. I've never had to shoot a charging animal, but once was stalked by a couple of ner-do-wells who did mean to harm me.
I have a great area up in the mountains where I can hunt quail, squirrrel, varmints, deer, bear and turkey....... When hunting birds with a shotgun, I carry a Taurus 4" 941 revolver in 22 WMR for squirrel and other small game. I have a JPoint red dot on this and it is pretty accurate. I also carry an iron sighted 454 Casull SRH for wild and domestic predators. I've never had to shoot a charging animal, but once was stalked by a couple of ner-do-wells who did mean to harm me.
Chugach
Member
Depends on what I'm hunting.
I don't ever like to be "run dry". Even at the range, I'm always carrying something that's still loaded.
Hunting, I've got anything from a 9mm to a .44 Mag strapped on.
I don't ever like to be "run dry". Even at the range, I'm always carrying something that's still loaded.
Hunting, I've got anything from a 9mm to a .44 Mag strapped on.
achadwick
Member
I usually carry my Ruger Bisley .45 Long Colt stuffed full of my warm handloads while deer hunting.
Pumpkinheaver
Member
I carry my Kimber with me when deer hunting, used it this year to finish off a small buck I shot. A round of hardball is a lot cleaner than a .308 bullet at close range.
Lennyjoe
Member
Always.
Taurus PT 100 AFS in .40
Why, look where I'm at. Alot of 2 legged animals in the Sonora Desert especially this time of year.
Know a few hunters out here that had the bejesus scared out of them when they walked up into a group of illegals under a bush.
Hence the reason I carry a GPS and a cell phone with the Border Patrol number stored in it.
The desert is littered with signs of folks heading north. Blankets, clothes, shoes, canned food, water jugs, buckets used for feces and makeshift campsites everywhere.
Matter in fact, I will take my camera out next time and get some pics so you all can see what I'm talking about.
Smugglers shooting it out on I-10, smugglers and the sort out in the bush and alot of dope found out in the middle of nowhere.
Just a feeling of security to have something other than birdshot in a gun.
Taurus PT 100 AFS in .40
Why, look where I'm at. Alot of 2 legged animals in the Sonora Desert especially this time of year.
Know a few hunters out here that had the bejesus scared out of them when they walked up into a group of illegals under a bush.
Hence the reason I carry a GPS and a cell phone with the Border Patrol number stored in it.
The desert is littered with signs of folks heading north. Blankets, clothes, shoes, canned food, water jugs, buckets used for feces and makeshift campsites everywhere.
Matter in fact, I will take my camera out next time and get some pics so you all can see what I'm talking about.
Smugglers shooting it out on I-10, smugglers and the sort out in the bush and alot of dope found out in the middle of nowhere.
Just a feeling of security to have something other than birdshot in a gun.
Andrew Wyatt
Member
I carry my 1911.
nemesis
Member
Yeah, iron sights. What would I want a red-dot sight on a revolver for? I got a scope on my rifle for distant shots. The revolver is just for close up work like hogs showing up while dressing out a deer or Polleros who figure they can grab the bolillos rifle while he's busy. Thumbing back the hammer on that SOB makes a precise clicking noise that makes their eyes get real big and they get very polite.
7.62FullMetalJacket
Member
I rarely carry a semi-auto in the woods. It is the .44 mag for elk/bear or .357 mag for less serious outings (the Ruger RH .44 mag 7.5" is a load to carry).
I just carry my regular carry gun, my Makarov.
Only differance is that when I'm out in the woods it's loaded with FMJs instead of JHPs. I don't intend to shoot any game animals with it, but I have run into Mt. Lions while hunting, and I can empty a semi-auto handgun into a dangerous preditor alot faster than I can a bolt or lever action rifle...
I know you're probably thinking that it's a bit on the small side for that, but big cats have thin skin. It's also nice to have around in case you run into two-legged critters that arn't too friendly. Particularly when you are away from your rifle for whatever reason...
Only differance is that when I'm out in the woods it's loaded with FMJs instead of JHPs. I don't intend to shoot any game animals with it, but I have run into Mt. Lions while hunting, and I can empty a semi-auto handgun into a dangerous preditor alot faster than I can a bolt or lever action rifle...
I know you're probably thinking that it's a bit on the small side for that, but big cats have thin skin. It's also nice to have around in case you run into two-legged critters that arn't too friendly. Particularly when you are away from your rifle for whatever reason...
Brian Williams
Moderator Emeritus
I carry my 4" 586 that I half lugged to go along with my Marlin 1894c also in 357.
Always have backup in the woods.
Always have backup in the woods.
- Status
Similar threads
