Hunting back up

[burton]

I have a ruger M77 Hawkeye Alaskan . Me and my freind were out hunting and he had his pistol away while hunting deer. anyway he had his rifle out and he killed a deer so we go to the kill and a buck comes out of nowhere charging us. i didnt have my pistol and it was coming for me so my freind quickly took out his pistol and killed it. Anyway i now am very fearfull and relly need a back up pistol when im hunting with my rifle. What is a good hunting revolver? ive never owned one, is there alot of maintenance needed on revolvers? i owned a sig along time ago but i dont have it anymore. also why do some revolvers not have hammers? like this http://www.ruger.com/Firearms/FAProdView?model=5758&return=Y

 

[Wedge]

burton, welcome to THR. That is a great CCW but if I was hunting I would carry something different. The lack of a hammer allows for pocket carry without worry of the hammer snagging on something. Not really an issue when hunting.

I carry a Ruger Blackhawk in .45 Colt.
http://www.ruger.com/Firearms/FAProdView?model=465&return=Y

Mine is actually the convertible.
http://www.ruger.com/Firearms/FAProdView?model=463&return=Y

Here is my friends hunting gun.
http://www.ruger.com/Firearms/FAProdView?model=5505&return=Y

Basically the sky is the limit. Don't use a small snubby designed for CCW as a hunting gun though...

No maint. difference between auto or revolver. They both need to be cleaned. The both need to be lubed. They both need to be wiped down after a day in the field. Anything you would do to a gun you do to either.

 

[Steve C]

Approach all downed game from the rear with rifle at ready, you don't need no stinking pistol.

 

[Wedge]

Very true. But in this case the other buck came crashing through the brush...wasn't the downed game. It was a different deer.

anyway he had his rifle out and he killed a deer so we go to the kill and a buck comes out of nowhere charging us.

Plus having a pistol gives you a backup...a lot easier to carry a back up pistol in .44 mag than it is to carry another rifle. Ever tripped and fell 5 miles from camp and busted your scope? Wouldn't you rather finish out your day of hunting instead of going back to camp, and either having to drive into town to get a new scope or just to retrieve your other gun...

Also provides more flexibility in being able to harvest game. Some shots, like when you are in a tree stand, harnessed in place, tree to your back and a deer is coming up on your right side and then quartering away...would you rather turn your whole body or just aim with your pistol?

Ever set your rifle down when answering the call of nature? Pistol again on your belt all the time.

Though I will say that I have never been charged by a deer before...so that is probably low on my list of scenarios but again a pistol on the hip beats a rifle hanging from the tree...

 

[tcrocker]

How about an S&W Performance Center 500? Here's mine.View attachment 45-70 018.jpg

 

[Malodorousroadkill]

I personally don't see the issue with a Ruger SP .357 in 3inch for a backup gun while hunting. It can take full house .357, rugged and reasonable in the weight department. A 3inch Ruger GP-100 would be pretty compact too, and would make it easier to take the full house loads, but its a good bit heavier too. I'm certain many many deer were put out of their misery by cops with .357 revolvers in the years past on the side of roads.