Rifle/Handgun Combos?

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lizziedog1

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I live in the high desert. I really enjoy exploring it with my dog. I like going on hikes into middle of nowhere. I always take two firearms with me, a rifle of some sort on my shoulder and a handgun on my hip.

Sometime I'll carry a .22 rifle and some sort of .357 handgun. Other times I'll carry a larger caliber long arm and a rimfire pistol. Which pairing makes the most sense to you guys? Having a small caliber rifle and a large caliber handgun or vice-a-versa?

The areas I explore are quite isolated. You hardly see any people, an occasional alien, but no humanoids. ;) I suppose anyone can have a run-in with a BG anywhere at any time. But, around here that is not exactly ones main worry. Not getting lost and having enough water, yes, other folks, no.

Wild animals? We have plenty of coyotes aound here but they don't bother anyone. Feral dogs on the other hand can be worrisome. Mountain lions do inhabit our deserts, again the odds of an encounter with one are remote. There are plenty of jackrabbits, so picking one or two off is fun. There are also plinking opportunities aplenty. Seeing an old abandoned car in the distance tests one long range shooting abilities. We have rattlesnakes, but I am not paranoid of these creatures. The way I look at these is that if they are about to sink their fangs in you, your gun won't help. If you are offered a shot at one, they are too far to cause any harm, besides they do kill vermin. Rats have killed more humans then all the snakes in the world combined.

Anyway, back to the original question. What makes more sense to you in the above described situation? Which should be the "big" gun, the rifle or the handgun?
 
I'd be more likely to carry a rimfire pistol and larger caliber rifle.

I look at pistols at compromise guns, they are what I carry when I cant carry a long arm, which, like most of you, is most of the time. However, when I have a rifle and handgun at my disposal, the rifle is my primary. More power, capacity, and range.
 
I guess it depends on how worried you are about wild dogs and big cats. What do you usually find yourself plinking at? Rifle range targets or pistol range targets?

If you have to worry about dog packs or a big cat I'd want to carry something that would deal with that threat as a primary concern. If you aren't worried about it that much then I'd carry a .22 in whatever weapon you tend to plink with the most.

Why not just get a pistol rifle combo in matching caliber and try that? .357 lever/pump with matching pistol sounds like it would cover most of your needs. Or if you want something semi-auto you could use a 9mm or .40 carbine and matching pistol. Then you'd be set on plinking AND dog defense.
 
I always liked taking a lightweight lever action with me when going into the woods. Personally I would take my 94 winchester in 44mag and a highcap 9mm. The 44 is big enough to handle pretty much whatever you come across and the 9mm for multiple threats/plinking fun.
 
I'd probably take a typical "carry" piece (whatever that means for you: .357, 9mm, whatever) and a rimfire rifle, since the idea of plentiful long distance plinking sounds great.

Plus, a .22 in a long arm still has a modicum of authority when it comes to defense while the idea of a .22 in a sidearm strikes me as less-than-ideal if it's needed.

I'd probably opt for a .22 mag lever gun and 9mm Tupperware to save weight, myself. That would also provide two weapons that are each nothing to sneeze at.

JMO.
 
Usually I do carry a rimfire rifle and a centerfire handgun. Actually the dangers I mentioned above are real, but very rare, except for the feral dogs. The few encounters with dogs were detered by firing a round towards them from my .22 rifle.

Weight and portability are a factor. It warms up fast in the desert and I need to carry an adequate water supply. Rimfire ammo doesn't take up much room and besides, that is what I fire most.
 
Sounds like a job for .22wmr to me, in both guns.
Click to expand...

Not a bad idea. Except I don't have a WMR in either configuration. Not too long ago I saw a Marlin chambered in .32 H&R magnum at a gun store. I have a revolver in that chambering. That might be an interesting combo?
 
^^ Sorta what I was thinking ...

That said, I'd be just as comfortable with a 9mm or .40 semi-auto and a .22 rifle,
or a .22 semi-auto pistol and a carbine-length bolt action in .243 or .308.
 
I've not heard of a lever-action/revolver combo in .32 h&r magnum. It sounds fair enough for plinking & small game, and might have enough knockdown power for protection from larger critters. It doesn't sound like the desert has a lot of large animals. .22 wmr is also doable; Ruger & Charter Arms chamber their revolvers in it, and Kel-Tec makes an automatic that holds 30 rounds of that caliber. .22 wmr rifles are easy to find.

I grew up in Alaska, so a .30-06 bolt-action and a .22 lr revolver have always made the most sense to me a as a combo. Now that I live in Washington, I've thought of switching to a .22 lr rifle and a .44 magnum revolver. The Marlin Papoose and S&W model 329PD are the lightest ones I know about that would fit that configuration. Browning's Buckmark rifle might be lighter, but I haven't looked.

As an alternative to a rifle, there are also rifles that have been turned into handguns to make them little easier to carry. The ones I know about are the Thompson Contender, Ruger Charger, and Henry Arms Mare's Leg. They either need a great big holster or a sling to carry.
 
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lizziedog1 said:
Not a bad idea. Except I don't have a WMR in either configuration. Not too long ago I saw a Marlin chambered in .32 H&R magnum at a gun store. I have a revolver in that chambering. That might be an interesting combo?
Click to expand...

I think it's all in wether you want to buy any new guns and how much you want to spend. The number of potential combos is almost endless and all of them would be the "right" answer. 32 mag is a reasonable little round, 22 mag is a great choice, pistol caliber carbines would work wonderfully. Basically it's all good. I don't think you've got a "wrong answer" to chose from.

Maybe approach this from a different direction. Do you want to do more shooting while you are walking? Do you need a less expensive caliber? Is there a certain kind of gun, like a lever action or semi-auto, that you want to use? What kind of ranges are you looking for? Instead of starting out considering caliber try starting out considering your tastes, range requirements, ammo costs, and shooting volume. Let that narrow down your firearm selection and that should also help narrow down your caliber options as well.
 
Not a bad idea. Except I don't have a WMR in either configuration.
Click to expand...
Confused.
Are you looking for a selection of guns you already own, or looking for a new toy?
Because if you want to go with what you already own, I need a list.

Until then, I recommend the Henry Mare's leg in .22LR coupled with the matching long gun or the lever carbine.

Or a semi-auto 9mm pistol coupled with the Kel Tec sub2000, you might even be able to share magazines.
 
Do you want to do more shooting while you are walking?
Click to expand...

I don't do a lot of shooting when I am exploring around here. But 99% of it is plinking at impromptu targets. I'll see a dirt clod on the side of a hill and try to hit it, sometimes at ridiculous distances, just for grins. Like I said, there are dangers here, but they are very rare. However, you never know.
 
My personal favorite is a .22magnum. I love my Winchester 9422M and Ruger Single Six. However I carry an array of rifles. M1, M1 carbine, AR, AK, FAL, ect.. Handguns, .22, .22mag., or .45. Whatever you wish!
 
I'd say .22 in the rifle, maybe even go upto a .22 WMR or .223 and a handgun in something like .357.

The .22 is going to be more usefull in a rifle than in a handgun, and the added acuracy will make it more effective if you need to use it for hunting. If it was me, I'd be looking at a .223 rifle, and some cartridge conversion sleeves so I could have the option of using .22LR for plinking/really small game and the .223 for the feral dogs.

I'd think that it might be a good idea to keep the handgun in the larger calliber - you may set down the rifle for a number of reasons, but the pistol will allways be close at hand.

Chris "the Kayak-Man" Johnson
 
I think a handgun and a carbine both in the same caliber, and a fairly large caliber at that would be my choice. A .357 revolver and corresponding lever gun, 9mm pistol and semi-auto carbine, .40 cal pistol and semi-auto carbine would probably be on my list. Or I might opt for a .45 Long Colt revolver and lever gun.
 
I have been playing around with some of my guns to come up with a carrying combo. I have a New England Handi Rifle in 357 Maximum. I am thinking of teaming that up with a 22 revolver.

It gets quite warm here in the summer, so weight is a consideration. I am thinking with these two guns I will get the most bang for the pound. I cna carry some max roounds for extreme circumstances, and some 38 Special rounds for plinking. The revolver would be for added plinking and a backup if the rifle should malfunction.

So, what do you guys think of this combo?
 
You could carry a .45LC combo...Lever action rifle and single action pistol in both calibers. Plenty of punch, and you can learn to slip fire (NOT FANNING) a SA pretty fast. In Rugers, a free-spin prawl can be installed and be even quicker. 6 rounds of .45LC from a SA or up to 12 rounds (maybe 10 if you get a carbine version) from a lever action rifle is enough to ruin anythings day...
 
.357 in lever and revolver. You can plink all day with .38s, and never go broke. And you can load a hot .357 for real work.
 
Think I'd carry whatever combo would allow me to deal with the worst threat, be lightest and provide the most fun for hte area I was heading into.

Used to do as you when I lived in a remote area. Carried different things different times, generally just a pistol as nothing larger than a wild dog to worry about. Somtimes had a 12 ga.

Pistol was along for fun - plinking mainly - and was anything from a .22 to 44 mag. Mainly .22 though, as that was most fun.
 
Since weight is a consideration, Id go with one of the Glocks with a 22lr conversion. And a rifle in 22lr. That way you can use the Glock for protection but can plink with both. The G19 might be good as 9mm ammo is lighter than other rounds. If you ran out of 9mm you still have a rifle and pistol. A lightweight version of the Ruger 10/22 would make a fine rifle choice. A couple of 25 round mags from Tactical Innovations would help. Just my .02
 
Your out west right?

A Colt or USFA SAA in .45 Colt and a lever gun in the same is the ticket.

If you're a semi auto gut a Colt 1911 and Thompson in .45 ACP. :)
 
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