semi or revolver for carrying while hunting

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jrbaker90

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I am interested in buying a pistol for self defense while I'm hunting I have to have a permit to carry so I want something I can conceal which out it being to bigger I been looking at several different semi because I like a semi but I like the idea a revolver in 357 with a 4in barrel just wanting ideas and advice thanks
 
The .357 is hard to beat for woods carry. I actually shot a black bear at about 5 yards with my S&W Combat Mag (mod 19) 4" barrel - some 40 years ago while solo backpacking in the MT Cabinet Mtns. The .357 is the most versatile handgun I can think of. Load some 'whisper' loads with 2 ea. 000 buck over 3 grains fast powder and you have the perfect grouse load, and carry B/B cast for defense. Werks fer mee.
 
A 3-4" barreled 357 or 44 mag is a good choice. But I prefer a Glock in either 40 or 10mm with the revolver a close 2nd choice. I think the revolver is a better choice as a pure hunting option. The better trigger combined with a longer barrel makes for better accuracy and bullet speed. The smaller, more compact semi holding 2.5X more rounds makes a better SD option. My G-20 is 3/4 lbs lighter and 1" shorter than my 3" 357 and 44 mag revolvers.

While the magnum revolver rounds look much more powerful on paper, when fired from 3-4" barrels they don't come close to the published speeds taken from 8" test barrels. When fired from a 4" semi auto barrel a 40 S&W with 180-200 gr bullets will match anything you can do with a short barreled 357. A 10mm will beat it and come closer to 44's fired from short barrels than most believe.

Even in the woods my primary reason for having a handgun is from human threats. Large predator protection is really an after thought, but I feel the 10mm is a very good compromise. A magazine loaded with lighter 40 S&W level loads is about perfect for human threats. A full load of 16 rounds of 200 gr hardcast bullets leaving the muzzle @ 1300 fps is comforting in the extremely rare chance of larger prey. http://www.doubletapammo.net/index.php?route=product/product&path=125_178&product_id=594

If the hassle of 10mm isn't for you, hot loaded 40's are not that far behind. About 1100 fps with 200 gr bullets. http://www.doubletapammo.net/index.php?route=product/product&path=125_182&product_id=108 And if you're comfortable with 357, the 40 will match it.

The 44, even from shorter barrels wins the power contest. It just doesn't win by nearly as large a margin as a lot of folks think. But for most uses I'd much rather give up that power for a more compact gun with less recoil. At least most of the time.
 
I see I'm not the only one who thinks a 357 is a great woods carry gun. In my case it's a 4" S&W 686 or a stainless 4 & 5/8" Ruger Blackhawk 357. Although when deer hunting I've been known to carry a 9mm at times. A German 9mm Luger pistol to be exact, for finishing off a wounded deer at close range (measured in inches) where a 9mm to the back of the head /neck area works just fine, (I call it the 9mm coup d'gras). I do that because my late uncle that I inherited it from,and who brought it home in 1945, thought that would be an excellent use of it. It's not mint but it's all matching numbers except for the magazine and it just plain works. He put a lot of rounds through it in the 1950's at an old dump in the evenings when the rats began to come out. When I'm big game hunting my primary gun is either a slug gun or a centerfire rifle depending on where I'm hunting but I often have a handgun with me also. I'd have to classify a 357 as my primary woods carry pistol but as a tribute to my late uncle, when I'm in the deer woods his old Luger is with me because he wanted it that way.
 
Even in the woods my primary reason for having a handgun is from human threats. Large predator protection is really an after thought, but I feel the 10mm is a very good compromise.
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I am in the same camp as jmr40. It is comforting to know if a cougar or black bear is interested in inviting me for lunch I've got something a little better than my .40 with which to R.S.V.P. my No Thank You.
 
I prefer a revolver to a semi for woods carry. In 357, you can load different rounds in the chamber (I alternate mine between 125 grain HP, 158 JSP, and 180 HC). I also carry a speedloader with .38's on it for when the .357 isn't needed. While you may be able to alter your carry loads with a semi, reliability may suffer.
 
Call me crazy but I'm less worried about having to use my firearm in self defense when hunting than when I'm in town. When I carry in the woods, it's primarily for a coup de grace in which case it doesn't really matter what I use at point blank range. If I can't walk up to the animal and put one in its head then I'm going to use my rifle to kill it. Same goes with a human threat. I will do my best to shoot a human threat with my rifle or shotgun, not my handgun.

If I had to carry concealed while hunting, I'd just use my normal CCW.
 
well the thing is, what is legal to have on yourself when your hunting game?

some laws vary by state and by season.

if you dont think a 357 is enough, get the 6 inch barrel on it and a nice crossdraw rig. you wont knowits there.
 
I just recently switched from a .357 SP101 to a compact 1911 for my ccw/woods/bowhunting gun. Heres why:

*slimmer profile for carry
*higher ammo capacity
*handy to carry reloads
*quicker reloads(for me)
*longer barrel
*longer sight radius
*better sights
*quick to unload and no loose ammo(I dont chamber a round)
*less muzzle flash and ear-splitting report
*big bore 230gr.vs. 158gr. (I have had mediocre results with .357 on deer sized critters){but that's another thread}

For me...the scales tipped heavily in favor of the auto, and I'm a revolver guy.
 
Unless you can envision a situation (with a high probability of occurrence) in which a hot .45 ACP or 10mm auto round would NOT be likely to suffice, I'd carry a semi-auto in one of these calibers. A .45 ACP loaded to the edge propels a 200 grain projectile at about 1000 f/s. The 10mm exceeds that by about 100 f/s. The .41 and .44 Mags will beat the 10mm's velocity by ab0ut 200 f/s, and will handle heavier projectiles better than either of the autos.

But the revolvers do so at the cost of more weight, smaller capacity, slower reloads, and greater bulk. If I was in a part of the world where encountering a bear, agitated moose, or creep wearing a ballistic vest, I could make a case for carrying a large magnum revolver as a reactive/defensive arm. Otherwise, I'm inclined to carry my 1911A1.
 
In a semi-auto I would feel very comfortable carrying a Glock G29 SF or a G30S while hunting. With a revolver I would go with either a S&W Model 686 with a 4" barrel or a Ruger Blackhawk .357 with a 4 5/8" barrel.
 
I used to carry revolvers almost exclusively more often than not, these days, I have a semiauto. More compact and not as much weight.
 
I don't think it really matters. Take what you are more comfortable with carrying all day.
 
I hunt mostly around a Tennessee State prison on public land and I know they have jail breaks now and again and I just don't like being out and see a prisoner heading my way. I like a semi better I have a old 22 revolver and never like it like I have a semi I like slim I cant afford a glock right now I like the ruger sr and the 9e and I looked at the s&w sd40 and I have looked at a used taurus millennium t145 and I really like it it was in 45 which I didn't care about mainly because it harder to find somewhere. I really like a 40 s&w the best thanks
 
I'm with Jake on this one; the firearm IN YOUR HAND is very close to -infinitely better- to employ than to let go of it, only to un-holster a completely different firearm.

And why would you conceal? After all, you are openly carrying a far superior firearm IN YOUR HANDS.

If attacked by man or beast... would anyone really take their had off their rifle or shotgun, only to retrieve an entirely separate firearm? I guess I could see the handgun's role as a backup to the long gun, but that's about it. The long gun wins the race in availability and power here.
I hunt mostly around a Tennessee State prison on public land and I know they have jail breaks now and again and I just don't like being out and see a prisoner heading my way.
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This violates the ADEE model from the get-go.
  • They have recurring jail breaks
  • You put yourself in the area of encounter
  • You don't like to be out in that situation
  • But you put yourself there anyway
I don't mean to be so critical, but you might want to hone the mindset and skillset portion of self defense before you go looking for tools to deal with these circumstances.

If you don't like being out, don't be out there. If the gun in your hands can't be your defense, it is not the gun's fault. I can assume your hunting area choices might be limited and this are is all you got, but from a self defense aspect, you really need to think through and then rethink through what your game plan is here.

hth
 
I carry a Ruger GP100 4" in 357 Mag in one of these tanker holsters

http://www.epsaddlery.com/c-25-shoulder-holsters.aspx

I love this holster, it rides on the left side of my belly and completely out of the way of my rifle/crossbow/bow. It also allows me to sit comfortably.


Also, I mainly use mine for pig and rattlesnake defense when bow hunting. I also carry a speed loader with shot shells....or I go with 3 leads and 3 shots.

If I have my bolt action rifle, I don't usually carry a revolver.

Also...here in OK, we have open carry...and I have a license....plus I am on private land...so it doesn't matter either way.

You should consult your state laws for sure.
 
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My regular hunting companionm is my Glock 22. In my area, I basically worry about cougars and 2 legged critters. So I guess it really depends on where you hunt. In bear country, a large caliber bullet is obviosuly the best choice. Where I hunt in the "desert" of SE Washington, we only have deer and coyotes and the rare cougars.
 
CoRoMo said:
I'm with Jake on this one; the firearm IN YOUR HAND is very close to -infinitely better- to employ than to let go of it, only to un-holster a completely different firearm.

And why would you conceal? After all, you are openly carrying a far superior firearm IN YOUR HANDS.

If attacked by man or beast... would anyone really take their had off their rifle or shotgun, only to retrieve an entirely separate firearm?
Click to expand...

Same Here.

I used to carry a 9mm when I hunted, now I just carry a .22 semi-auto for a finishing shot if necessary. There's no way I'm going to throw down the .30 cal rifle in my hands and try to get a pistol unholstered and up if something bad happens.

I will add that, in Texas, I believe that when hunting with a bow during ARCHERY SEASON it's only legal to carry a handgun if one has a concealed handgun license, and it MUST be concealed.
 
In most scenarios, your primary weapon, the hunting rifle/shotgun in your hand is your best defense, especially if it's two legged, prison break predators you're worried about. If you're out squirrel hunting with a .22 rifle and you're in Grizzly country it's different situation. In that scenario, the only auto handgun I would want, would be made by Desert Eagle. Otherwise it would be a revolver in a caliber starting with a 4 or more.
 
I am more concerned when I'm muzzleloader or bow hunting about any place I hunt in a fairly close to the prison during rifle season I wouldn't be worried. I am also wanting one for home defense like I said I only have one little 22 revolver and I like to have some better to have close by and if I felt a need to carry when I'm hunting thanks
 
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