General HG Caliber For Field Use/Handgun Hunting/BUG For Bow Hunting/Hiking/Rural

[Browning]

Which caliber do you think is the better all around choice for handgun hunting, back up handgun for bow hunting, general field use, handgun to have with you when you're hiking or out in a rural area?

.357 Sig

.357 Mag

.40 S&W

10MM

.41 Mag

.45 ACP

.44 Special

.44 Mag

.44-40

.45 Long Colt

.454 Casull

.475 Linebaugh

.480 Ruger.

.500 S&W

I'm kind of thinking that two of the better all around good choices would be either the 10MM or the .44 Mag, but if I HAD to pick one I guess I'd pick the 10MM. It's got a broad range of bullet weights to choose from and for what I hunt (hog or deer) it would do the job just so long as I did my part. Plus it's pretty flat shooting for a handgun cartridge.

What do you guys think and what would your favorite field use handgun caliber be?

 

[Browning]

Damn, I left the .45 ACP option off the poll. :banghead:

Maybe a friendly mod passing by or commenting would put it up there if it's possible?

 

[Majic]

Any of the big bores would work. A lot could be based on the availability of the correct ammo needed. Another big decision would be in the handgun and barrel length. While a heavy long barrel would work the best for most people hunting, a lighter shorter barrel would be better for the other listed uses.

 

[gunman42782]

As mentioned, any of the ones that begin with 4 should be fine, but ammo availability is an issue if you don't reload, therefore I voted for the .44 Magnum.

 

[Fumbler]

For a general walk-around-the-woods/hunting sidearm I think 357mag is perfect.
A 10 mm would be nice if you need it in a semiauto.

BUT, if you want to use it as a primary hunting weapon then I'd pick 44mag.
357 will work on deer and hogs, but you would have little room for error.
A 44 mag would provide better penetration in case you hit a shoulder.
45 Long colt would be just as good as 44 mag.

So...get a 44mag and load it with 44 special for walking around and 44mag for a primary hunting weapon.

I have a 9mm compact auto, a 6" 357, and a 7.5" 480 Ruger.
When I hunt with a rifle or shotgun I find myself carrying the 9mm most often because it's lighter, more compact, and carries twice the shots in case i run accross some unfriendly humans. It's my IDPA gun and I can shoot it real fast.

The 480 is mostly carried as a primary hunting gun. The gun itself is too big to be a general carry gun. I actually made a chest holster for it because hip holsters are combersome.

I don't carry the 357 at all anymore. I would carry it more if it had a shorter barrel. It's a pain in the butt to sit and hunt with a 6" barrel on your side.

A good personal denfense handgun shouldn't be combersome and shouldn't have too much recoil.
A good hunting handgun should have a longer barrel for better sight radius and should be a larger caliber. Also, many states have minimum barrel lengths for handgun hunting.

The real answer to the question is to get two handguns.

any of the ones that begin with 4 should be fine

I hate cliches

 

[ugaarguy]

I'm kind of thinking that two of the better all around good choices would be either the 10MM or the .44 Mag, but if I HAD to pick one I guess I'd pick the 10MM. It's got a broad range of bullet weights to choose from and for what I hunt (hog or deer) it would do the job just so long as I did my part. Plus it's pretty flat shooting for a handgun cartridge.

I see that you're in Texas. Unless you have plans to head further Northwest - as in Alaska - where the larger bear species are a concern I'd stick with .357 Magnum or .44 Magnum. With the .357 Mag there's a huge selection of both factory loaded and component bullets of varying weights & types for almost any application. With a heavy bullet of proper construction it's plenty for deer and most hogs. Revolvers chambered in .357 Mag will be easier find and less expensive than something in a larger chambering. In terms of guns, loaded ammo, and components 44 Magnum will be the next most available chambering that does what you're looking for. You'll pay a bit of premium over .357 Mag for the gun, ammo, some components; and the gun will be larger & heavier so it may not carry as well in the field. Depending on how large the deer and hogs are which you regularly hunt (the hogs especially) a .44 Mag may well be worth that small price premium and weight/size sacrifice to you. 45 Colt would also work well if you're a fan of the cartridge.

.41 Magnum is a great middle ground caliber wise, but guns & ammo aren't too common in this chambering. 10mm is similarly afflicted; with only Glock, Tanfoglio, and Dan Wesson offering new guns in the chambering.

Last, from your poll:

.357 Sig (same ballistics as the .357 Mag right?)

.357 SIG can push bullets up to 125-135 grains close to .357 Mag velocities. The heavier the bullet gets the further the .357 Mag pulls away, and a good heavy bullet is what most folks desire for handgun hunting deer & hogs.

 

[Browning]

ugaarguy : I see that you're in Texas. Unless you have plans to head further Northwest - as in Alaska - where the larger bear species are a concern I'd stick with .357 Magnum or .44 Magnum. With the .357 Mag there's a huge selection of both factory loaded and component bullets of varying weights & types for almost any application. With a heavy bullet of proper construction it's plenty for deer and most hogs. Revolvers chambered in .357 Mag will be easier find and less expensive than something in a larger chambering. In terms of guns, loaded ammo, and components 44 Magnum will be the next most available chambering that does what you're looking for.

I've always cared for autoloaders a bit more. I've never been a real big revolver guy.

Some of the offerings in 10MM are pretty stout and are offering near .44 mag levels of energy. The 10MM isn't going to have the same grain weights at the higher end end of the spectrum like the .44 Mag, but for around here 180 or 200 grains at 1200 to 1400 FPS for between 650 and 725 foot lbs of energy is good enough.

Just so long as I plan ahead and buy ammo in bulk availability isn't a problem.

.41 Magnum is a great middle ground caliber wise, but guns & ammo aren't too common in this chambering. 10mm is similarly afflicted; with only Glock, Tanfoglio, and Dan Wesson offering new guns in the chambering.

Yep, that's the one I like the best.

Just so long as it has an aftermarket barrel with a supported chamber.

I was just interested in what other people were carrying for the same purpose.

.357 SIG can push bullets up to 125-135 grains close to .357 Mag velocities. The heavier the bullet gets the further the .357 Mag pulls away, and a good heavy bullet is what most folks desire for handgun hunting deer & hogs.

I just more threw that one up there for .357 Sig fans.

I like the .357 Sig myself, but personally I'd like something a little bigger than the .357 Sig or Mag for hogs.

 

[The Bushmaster]

A general handgun for all occasions. Any of the better grade 4" .357 magnum wheel guns. Ruger, Taurus, S&W, Colt, etc. They carry well. Not too light, but not too heavy. More ammunition can be carried. Less recoil so a second shot can be accomplished rapidly. Most good quality revolvers are almost indestructable. Because of their design less dirt and crap can get into the clock works compared to a semi-auto...

 

[Majic]

Some of the offerings in 10MM are pretty stout and are offering near .44 mag levels of energy.

Sort of a misleading statement as the .44 has a wide range of power levels. The 10mm rivals the very upper level .357 magnum loads. The .41 and .44 outclass it at the standard loads. It may seem stout till you touch off one of the high powered big bore revolver rounds. My M610 seems rather pleasant to shoot compared to my M57 or M29.

 

[10-Ring]

For hunting, BUG to bow, hiking etc, I would go 44 mag.

 

[19-3Ben]

.357 mag is one of the most (Arguably THE most) versatile rounds you can own in a handgun.
With any semi-auto, you rely on the ammo being within a certain pressure spec in order to cycle the gun properly. Therefore, up-loading and downloading semi-autos is much more difficult than a revolver which does no rely on pressure.
You are not in a self--defense scenario, so the extra mag capacity and quick reloads of a semi-auto are useless.
Might as well go with a revolver. Now you are talking .357mag, .41mag, and .44mag.

.357 mag is BY FAR the cheapest of the three to shoot and get used to. it has the lightest recoil, and can be used to throw anything from mouse-fart/powder-puff .38spl wadcutters, all the way to crazy magnum loads that will do FINE for any back-up duty you could need apart from defense against brow bears or griz bears. And they have lighter recoil than the .41 or .44mag. You give up the top end in power, but practically, how much of that top end were you using anyway?

 

[Crunker1337]

It really depends where in the country you are, and what the primary threats are where you go.
For instance, in Pennsylvania, you would be set with a .357 SIG, .357 Magnum, or 10mm.
But if you live in Alaska a large bore handgun would be necessary. (>.44 Magnum)

Since you live in Texas, anything below or equal to a .41 Magnum in power would be adequate. .357 SIG, .357 Magnum, 10mm... great choices.

 

[Jorg Nysgerrig]

Since you live in Texas, anything below or equal to a .41 Magnum in power would be adequate. .357 SIG, .357 Magnum, 10mm... great choices.

These are interesting suggestions. What animals encounters in Texas are you basing these off? I'm also interested in your experience with carrying guns and shooting guns in these callibers. How do you find carrying a stainless .357 mag while hiking vs. a polymer .357 Sig? I've found the longer barrel revolvers tend to get in the way when hiking, especially if you're wearing a pack. What kind of holster have you used for this?

Also, you recommend 10mm, how have you found the 10mm to shoot? Many folks complain about the grip dimensions due the length of the shell. In the 10mm pistols you've shot, did you find the ergonomics acceptable? I've only shot 10mm in Glock and a S&W 610. I typically don't like the feel of Glocks, and 10mm version was no different. I found the S&W 610 to be easy enough to shoot, but the clips were a bit of a hassle if you planned on an extended range session? Have you found a 10mm that is a bit more friendly to shoot?

 

[S&Wfan]

General Hiking? 3" aluminum frame .45ACP . . . or even a lightweight J frame in .38spl.

Bear Country Hiking? .44 Magnum or a hot loaded .45 LC

Hunting? .44 Magnum.

There are plenty of other calibers that would do the trick pretty well too . . . especially if "nothing happens" . . . which is almost always the case!

T.

 

[RPCVYemen]

It depends a lot on what you are hunting. Most of the auto-loader rounds are pretty wimpy when compared with their revolve compatriots. According to hunters, 10mm is a wimpy version of a 41 magnum.

I'd probably go with a 45 colt w/hunting loads, or a 44 magnum. They both have fun light loads - the 45 colt can be loaded from "cowboy action" up "hunting anything in lower 48", and the 44 magum can shoot 44 specials for fun. I imagine that 44 magnum is the most well established hunting load.

If you are bow hunting bear in Alaska, I would buy a 454 Casull, and make sure you always hunt with someone who runs slower than you do.

This is all stuff I have heard from hunters - not from experience. I hunt pieces of paper with concentric circles on them.

Mike

 

[mnw42]

If you want an auto, I'd also consider the .38 Super. It can be in the low to mid .357 range as far as power, and a 5" 1911 isn't hard to carry. Colt even makes a LW Commander in .38 Super

 

[22-rimfire]

Which Caliber Is Best For HG Hunting/Gen. Field Use/Hiking/Rural/BUG for Bow?

Can't answer that question with one handgun. Most hunting handguns are too heavy to carry bow hunting (if it is legal at all) and it depends in what part of the country you are talking about. One caliber for me would be 41 or 44 mag in a 4" Mountain Gun if I had to pick just one. It is too heavy for a "bug" while bow hunting and many would believe it too heavy for hiking any significant distance where weight is a concern. Skip the hunting part and it would be 357 mag without a doubt as long as you aren't in the portions of the Northern Rockies or Alaska where there are common BIG bears.

 

[PhrankKastle]

Anytime I'm in the woods or mountains my 3" GP100 .357 which I feel is more than enough for anything I might come across in NH backcountry.

 

[Autolycus]

I am an autoloader fan...so I said the 10mm. I want one myself. Real badly.

 

[Browning]

Jorg : These are interesting suggestions. What animals encounters in Texas are you basing these off? I'm also interested in your experience with carrying guns and shooting guns in these callibers. How do you find carrying a stainless .357 mag while hiking vs. a polymer .357 Sig? I've found the longer barrel revolvers tend to get in the way when hiking, especially if you're wearing a pack. What kind of holster have you used for this?

To me it kind of depends on where you're hiking. If you're just walking along an actual trail then having a holstered long barreled revolver wouldn't be that big of a deal. If I was walking through alot of brush and trees then I would probably want something else or carry it in a different way (a shoulder holster or a chest holster perhaps). Most of the hunting in Texas is done on private land, so there's no problem with open carry if you're on your own land or lease.

Also, you recommend 10mm, how have you found the 10mm to shoot? Many folks complain about the grip dimensions due the length of the shell. In the 10mm pistols you've shot, did you find the ergonomics acceptable? I've only shot 10mm in Glock and a S&W 610. I typically don't like the feel of Glocks, and 10mm version was no different. I found the S&W 610 to be easy enough to shoot, but the clips were a bit of a hassle if you planned on an extended range session? Have you found a 10mm that is a bit more friendly to shoot?

I like it quite a bit. I've kind of got fairly large hands though (6'4 240 lbs) and I didn't have a problem with the large and fairly wide/fat grip of the Glock 20. The Glock does a great deal to dampen any excessive recoil (not that I've shot alot of other 10MM's, I'm just going on the basis of what other 10MM owners have said in comparison between the Glock 20 and some of the others) and if fits my hand just fine. Just so long as I've used some of the heavier grain bullets everything that I've shot has just fell over dead immediately or after a short run.

 

[Browning]

Tecumseh : I am an autoloader fan...so I said the 10mm. I want one myself. Real badly.

How come you haven't gotten one then?

I traded some stuff around and got one and it was one of the best moves I've made.

 

[mpmarty]

I've got three 10mm pistols and none of them are Glocks. I had a Glock 20 and it was just not acceptable. bulged cases at six o'clock, crappy trigger, crappy grip, cheap plastic sights and the front one fell off when I shot some double tap stuff. I know, I could buy an aftermarket barrel, done a grip reduction, bought steel sights yada yada yada... Why bother? I have three real pistols in a great caliber and all three of them feel and shoot better than the Glock on its best day. Witness Elite Match w/ 10mm Tanfoglio conversion, 10mm full size all steel Witness and a compact all steel 10mm Witness. Never a failure, never a worry about "handling" hot 10mm loads. By the way, there was a post here on a Witness with a cracked slide in a 10mm compact and if anyone remembers, what was done by the distributor / manufacturer? I notice on my compact 10mm the slide is radiused differently in the area of the crack

 

[strangelittleman]

While I'm a .357 mag fanatic and I think it's perhaps the most versitile round today, I voted for the .41 mag because it is much better for the larger game one might want to hunt w/ a handgun on the North American continent and it is versatile enough to handle any chore one could ask of on the list above...A S&W 657 Mountain Gun or 4 5/8" to 6 1/2" Ruger Blackhawk in .41 mag would be a great in any clime or place!...Besides I think it's a shame such great cartridge designs like the .41 magnum, 10mm, .38 super and 9mmx23 Win have'nt been more popular. Just my opinion as a fan of underdogs.

 

[Markbo]

The question cannot be adequately addressed without perspective.
Where are you hunting?
What are you hunting?
What are you hunting with - the handgun or BUG? From my perspective, they are not at all the same.
By Rural, do you expect 2 legged varmints or cows? Or rabbits maybe?

Based purely on personal experience it has been without question the .22LR in many different guns. That has only recently changed to the .32 H&R magnum simply because it has a bit more pop when needed and carries in the same format of a 4 5/8" Ruger Single Six that is a sub 1 inch shooter.

If I am hunting with a handgun, it depends what my quarry is. If I 'hope' to use it as a backup for something, i.e. hogs or deer it will be something that starts with a 4. If I think I will run into something larger or dangerous, it might just start with a 5 or a 4 and some larger rather than smaller following digits.

 

[BlindJustice]

Depends on where you are doesn't it?

Here in SE Wash. on the eastern edge of
the rolling hills of the Palouse, dryland wheat
country ( Cougar ) which is just west of Idaho
and the beginning of the Rocky Mtns, - more
cougars, black bear & a few Gizzilies.... I'd take

1911 .45 ACP or .400 CorBon
S & W 625 - .45 Auto RIm / .45 ACP reloads
S&W 686P 4" Bbl. Len. .357 Mag. /

in that order because
1) I shoot the 1911 better than the revolvers
2) & I shoot the 625 better than the 686

However at present I'd put the 686P ahead of
the 625 since I haven't got a holster for it

Leather
1911 - Milt SParks Axiom
686P Milt SParks 200AW - "FBI Cant" with
restraining leather flap.

I should order the ALessi Field Master Shoulder
rig - it's a one handed draw and also has a
leather strap when you're climbing or encounter
rough terrain.

ALso, a couple of spare magazine carry easier than
a speedloader or loaded Full Moon Clips.

Going lightweight my S&W Mod. 60 3" barrel
.357 mag / .38 +P 135 gr. Speer Gold Dot
with a few shot shells is another option.