birddog
Member
Hey folks,
I'm headed for my 5th Maine bear hunt in '04, and this time it's going to be with archery equipment only. I am eagerly awaiting my NY State Pistol Permit application to be processed (we're up to 6 months wait now), and in the meantime, I am searching for the best sidearm to carry as a backup while bear hunting. I've twice had bears climb the trees I was hunting from for a sniff, and don't want the third time -- when I am armed only with arrows -- to be the time that a hungry bear decides he likes the smell and wants a taste! I've been looking at a variety of revolvers, and have pretty much settled on the .44 magnum S&W 329PD.
My question is this...I've shot .44 mags on several occasions, but never one with a scandium frame. The .44 mag recoil was impressive, but not horrible, in my recollection. However, the Guns & Ammo writeup on this gun said the "percieved recoil" was a lot more than a standard steel-framed 629. This is not going to be a plinking gun, it's going to be a short range, bear-defense gun, and I don't mind a handful of recoil, and with the considerable distances I'll be hiking, I like the thought of that light revolver. I wondered though, if that "perceived recoil" increase is enough to be considered unmanageable. Anyone out there with any opinion, or experience with this "Air Lite" revolver?
Thanks.
Joel Spring
I'm headed for my 5th Maine bear hunt in '04, and this time it's going to be with archery equipment only. I am eagerly awaiting my NY State Pistol Permit application to be processed (we're up to 6 months wait now), and in the meantime, I am searching for the best sidearm to carry as a backup while bear hunting. I've twice had bears climb the trees I was hunting from for a sniff, and don't want the third time -- when I am armed only with arrows -- to be the time that a hungry bear decides he likes the smell and wants a taste! I've been looking at a variety of revolvers, and have pretty much settled on the .44 magnum S&W 329PD.
My question is this...I've shot .44 mags on several occasions, but never one with a scandium frame. The .44 mag recoil was impressive, but not horrible, in my recollection. However, the Guns & Ammo writeup on this gun said the "percieved recoil" was a lot more than a standard steel-framed 629. This is not going to be a plinking gun, it's going to be a short range, bear-defense gun, and I don't mind a handful of recoil, and with the considerable distances I'll be hiking, I like the thought of that light revolver. I wondered though, if that "perceived recoil" increase is enough to be considered unmanageable. Anyone out there with any opinion, or experience with this "Air Lite" revolver?
Thanks.
Joel Spring