Tools in a Toolbox (Field Revolver Choices)

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Scott B.

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I have worked for quite a while completing my selection of revolvers for field use. I have other handguns for social work, but the below list is what I use when in the field. Each one serves a different purpose in the lineup (although they can overlap if needed). All of my field revolvers are stainless steel for weather protection.

Taurus 970 6.5" Stainless .22 (Primary small game hunting revolver)
Ruger SP101 4" Stainless .22 (Utility farm/camping tool)
Ruger GP100 3" Stainless Wiley Clapp TALO .357 mag (Utility camping/hiking revolver in areas with boar/black bear/mountain lion)
Ruger GP100 6" Stainless Unfluted TALO .357 mag (A hunting 357 that can handle the hottest Buffalo Bore 180gr. rounds for black bear and big pigs)
Dan Wesson 7.5" Stainless Ported .357 mag (A hunting 357 that is used with 158gr. JSP - mostly for coyotes and deer)
Smith and Wesson 629 Classic 5" .44 mag (Utility camping/hiking revolver for Big Bear/Moose medicine)
Smith and Wesson 629 7.5" Performance Center Stealth Hunter .44 mag (Hunting 44 for bigger critters than deer or black bear)

I found the hunting length revolvers were a bit long for utility work so I added a shorter .22, .357, and .44 to the mix for utility/camping/critter defense as needed). What are your choices in the field and what made you choose that particular tool in your toolbox?
 
Scott B.

For utility work and small game hunting I would use my Ruger Single Six with both cylinders. For general use and somewhat larger game hunting I might choose between my Ruger Blackhawk .357 or my S&W Model 686. For anything larger right now I have a Ruger Flattop Blackhawk in .44 Special but would love to find a decent used Ruger Redhawk in .41 Magnum to add to the mix.
 
I'm surprised you don't have a SA revolver or more in your lineup. I like to carry a SA Ruger Revolver and a Marlin levergun, both in .38/357 when in the woods.
 
Scott B.

For utility work and small game hunting I would use my Ruger Single Six with both cylinders. For general use and somewhat larger game hunting I might choose between my Ruger Blackhawk .357 or my S&W Model 686. For anything larger right now I have a Ruger Flattop Blackhawk in .44 Special but would love to find a decent used Ruger Redhawk in .41 Magnum to add to the mix.

Nice collection.
 
I'm surprised you don't have a SA revolver or more in your lineup. I like to carry a SA Ruger Revolver and a Marlin levergun, both in .38/357 when in the woods.

I have owned Ruger single actions in the past and they are fine tools for a variety of outdoor tasks. I also own two Marlin 336 rifles in .30-30 so I am with you there as well. As a LEO my duty weapons are Glocks so I chose my revolvers utilized for potential defensive purposes in the double action variety. Draw and squeeze the trigger. Keepin' it simple. Thousands of draws of the Glocks programmed me for muscle memory in my draws and I just didn't feel like adding an extra step. When hunting with revolvers I shoot in single action, but if I need to defend myself or someone else I am already programmed for the draw and squeeze method no matter what I am carrying.
 
I have dozens of handguns to choose from, but for woods walking, and I try to do a little of that three or four times a week, not far mind you, just a couple of hours worth. My favorite companions are either a model 66 or a model 15. The .38 spec. with a wad cutter load is a much better small game load than a .22. If I am hunting larger game, I much prefer the .44 magnum over the .357. I have a model 29 with six inch barrel and a SBH. Either get's the job done. None of my handguns are scoped. If I need a scope then I need a carbine or rifle.
 
Good thread...

I have very similar choices to what you have made, but lately my choice has come down to exploring one revolver to handle most or all of my needs in the woods... My Ruger Super Blackhawk Bisley Lipsey's Special Edition with the 3.75" barrel.

Reasons for this are as follows...

1. Versatility - This revolver can handle, light kicking 44 Special loads for small game/plinking (round nose bullet), 200 gr Gold Dots for 2 legged threats, Snake Shot, 240 gr SWCs for bigger game, and if needed, 300 gr HC Bear stoppers. Mostly, I carry 240 gr HC moving at 1100 to 1200 FPS. Very controllable but powerful round.

2. Portability - This revolver rides in a Simply Rugged Sourdough Holster on a Ted Blocker Leather Gun Belt...very easy to carry around and have with me all the time. Btw, not travelling long distances... This holster can be used strong side or cross draw for vehicle carry.

Since I Handload, ammo is much cheaper so I can practice more, which I do, and craft all the loads I need.

What I need to do next is to start working up loads in each category that hit to similar points of impact which will limit the amount of sight adjustment needed when changing loads.

I wonder if anyone, besides Ol' Elmer Keith and I are thinking along these lines...:)
 
I have dozens of handguns to choose from, but for woods walking, and I try to do a little of that three or four times a week, not far mind you, just a couple of hours worth. My favorite companions are either a model 66 or a model 15. The .38 spec. with a wad cutter load is a much better small game load than a .22. If I am hunting larger game, I much prefer the .44 magnum over the .357. I have a model 29 with six inch barrel and a SBH. Either get's the job done. None of my handguns are scoped. If I need a scope then I need a carbine or rifle.

I forgot to mention that none of my handguns are scoped. When it comes to handguns I am an iron sights kinda guy. Thanks for bringing up this point.
 
For the stated field gun purpose, the revolvers I have are either .357 or .22 Long Rifle.

The 3" guns are a pleasure to carry.

The 4" (or thereabouts) guns are easier to shoot well.

The heavier single actions soak up recoil nicely.



That's what it boils down to for me. Any of them will work, honestly.
Just depends on what I want to go with that day. It's good to have choices!
 
I can appreciate a spirit of whimsy which drives a post like this, but there's a reality, for any Republic State in the USA, we're really not able to carry a belt gun and opportunistically hunt anything more than small game, even in the most remote of areas. So I typically have the same recurring practical thoughts whenever I see this type of thread on "utility guns" or "belt guns." If you're hunting big game, it makes sense to have your side arm suitable for your target quarry - in which case it's a hunting piece, not a utility piece. If you are backpacking/hiking/camping in bear or cat country, then your sidearm should be suitable for the defense it may be called to provide - and in that case, it's a defensive piece, again, not utility. Then whenever I hear someone talk camp pistols, I can't help but wonder how they camp such they have invasive varmints coming in, and then think it's unfortunate they feel the need to shoot said varmints simply because they were sloppy with their food or garbage management. So then the only paradigm which makes sense to me is opportunistic small game hunting - where you're planning to be in the wild, and planning to take SOME legal quarry if an opportunity arises... And of course, that's hunting, so revert back to the top - the side arm is dictated by the quarry.

So for me, when I think of a working field pistol, I think of those "go-to" pistols which I reach for when I'm intent of going into the wild and taking whatever protein might be legal upon the day.

For small game, I'm somewhere between a Ruger Mark II 6" 22LR, an SP101 .327FM with a Burris FastFire III, a Single Six Vaquerito .32H&R, or a Taurus Tracker 17HMR with a Bushnell 2-6x scope. Maybe sneak a Converted Glock 34 in .357Sig in there for good measure.

When larger game like deer or hogs might be on the menu, in addition to the small game, then a custom RedHawk in .357/44 B&D mag with a 2-8x Leupold, a Super Blackhawk 44mag with a Simmons 2-6x, or a 5.5" Super RedHawk Toklat 454c with an RMR are the choices to which I'm drawn.

Most of that list are pretty big, pretty long, pretty heavy, and pretty powerful for their respective quarry, which I prefer for ethical hunting at the ranges I favor.

And of course, I have frequent "odd mood days," during which I might throw on a 1911 or Mountain Gun or one of a myriad of other options with no other intention than hunting hedgeapples.
 
I can appreciate a spirit of whimsy which drives a post like this, but there's a reality, [...]

It's a message board. Just people chewing the fat, especially in a case like this.


I've seen much more whimsical stuff discussed around here... and that's even with THR not allowing SHTF/TEOTWAWKI.
 
I am not a hunter, and I don't hike (if I lose enough weight I may get into it though), so my field guns are for camping and kayaking. My camping is usually in conjunction with sightseeing/vacationing somewhere, so it is usually a blend of what is best for what may come through my campsite and what I want for CCW in the area I'm visiting.

If I'm camping in MD, no guns allowed. I will have a nice fixed blade knife in addition to one of my folders, and bear strength pepper spray if in bear country.

Out of state, my intended camping guns are currently a .45LC S&W 625MG and I have a 3" Rossi 461 (once I shoot it enough to trust it). I soon hope to get a 3" 686 Plus or 4" K-frame .357mag and the 3" Kimber K6 once it is released, all of which would be terrific camping guns. However, depending upon whether I'm in bear country, and how much I'm in the woods and how much I'm sightseeing in "civilization" I am as likely to bring one of my CCW autos with my camping as I am one of my revolvers. In the past I had a S&W 57 for those duties, but it was too nice to holster and I eventually sold it for various reasons (I wish I didn't), I had a P&R S&W 19 that was too nice to holster (I wish I didn't sell it) and a 6" 586 that I shouldn't have sold (I'm seeing a pattern here, no more selling nice S&W revolvers).

When kayaking, if I take a gun it is an auto since it needs to be weather resistant (there is always that chance when kayaking that I, and the gun, may go for an unintended swim). So, it is usually a polymer auto. My stainless revolvers are a S&W 65LS (too nice) and the 625MG (also too nice, and too big for what I wear kayaking). I may need to get a 4" Taurus or a 3" snub specifically for that purpose (maybe the Kimber K6).
 
My primary field and outdoor guns are;

Taurus M-85 Stainless Steel 38 Special – Primary use is for carry when fishing, Stainless steel is great for rust protection. I load two or three shotshells for snakes followed by lead semi-wadcutters for tougher critters.

Taurus M-941 22 Magnum – 8 rounds 22 Magnum, Very useful for pest control and small game.

Ruger Vaquero 4 3/4” barrel 45 Colt – Carried on saddle when horseback riding.

S&W Model 29 4” and 6” 44 Magnums, S&W Model 27 4” 357 Magnum – Hunting.

On the farm my most useful handgun is a EMF Single Army Army 32-20. Big medicine on skunks, opossums, feral dogs and coons. However it's 7 1/2" barrel makes wearing it when doing chores difficult.
 
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Here is what I normally carry when I am out and about playing round in the desert or the woods.

I know this is a revolver thread, but...
In the deserts I like my Glock 17 or 31. They shoot pretty flat and handle the blowing dust, dirt, and even talc very will. They are easy to clean up at the end of the trip as well. When I bring revolvers, I like my Single Six with 22M cylinder, GP100, or Blackhawk .357. These guns give me all the power I need out there and are fun to shoot as well.

In the Sierras I like my Ruger Bisley .45 Colt, Smith 69 (new addition, but growing on me!), or my Glock 20. All of these have what it take to handle the various critters up there and then some. I like the two revolvers best because I can shoot my target handloads for fun and then load up some heavier stuff for keeping an eye on camp.

In Wyoming, Montana, and Alaska I like my Ruger Bisley .45 Colt, Clement Custom Bisley .475, Ruger Redhawk .44M, or my Ruger Super Alaskan. I haven't had the 69 out there yet, but that would be a possible addition.

In all locations I also take my GP100 in .22lr and my K-22 for just plain fun.
 
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