What sidearm to purchase while afield?

[iRem]

I have been contemplating purchasing a sidearm for archery hunting. I've looked into the 45/410 Judge or .44 revolver. I know all about the .44 but have heard mixed reviews about the .45-410 Judge. Just not sure what to purchase just for being afield while archery hunting. I like the idea of being able to rotate a .45 long and a 410 shell for grouse that always get me to jump when I spoke them up and the .45 for bear and cougars at close range. I know I want a revolver but am torn on which one.
I would like to get some opinions on what to purchase and what you carry while archery hunting?
The main reason is that I have come across more bear and cougar the last couple of years at close range and I go out alone most times and would like to be able to have some advantage if something would occur while alone. 

[724wd]

so with the judge, how are you going to rotate the shells to ensure you're shooting grouse with the 410 when they jump up and 45 for the sneaky cougars?   

i carry my .357 or .45 1911 usually, but will rotate in my airweight S&W .38 if weight's an issue. 

personally i'd forget trying to shoot grouse with the 410.  you pop one of those off, the animals you're bowhunting will know you're in the area, the accuracy isn't great from them, and the likelihood of you downing a flying grouse with a pistol is about nil.  pick a pistol you like in a caliber you like and pack it!   

[elkslayer99]

I carry a S&W 329pd in .44mag very light to carry. 

[washelkhunter]

IMO the magnums are what is needed for BC carry.  38s dont have enough density or oomph for bears, same with 45acp. Run with 357 mag on up. Trying to find a rev with an acceptable wt to pain to pack ratio is the problem. I settled on a 41. 28oz empty.  Its ok. The lcr in 357 is 17oz i believe. That s&w 329 pd is real nice, spendy, but nice.

[D-Rock425]

Forget the whole grouse thing.  Carry an extra arrow for grouse if you get a good shot at one n the ground shoot it if not dont worry about them.  The only time I carry my side arm is while bear hunting.

[Bob33]

"It is unlawful for any person to carry or have in his possession any firearm while in the field archery hunting, during an archery season specified for that area, except for modern handguns carried for personal protection."

[buckfvr]

I chose the Taurus  Titanium .44 mag  28oz empty, and it hangs close to hand in an ALaskan Guides Choice holster.  In the event you were to decide to hunt modern at some point, be sure if you decide to finish an animal with the hand gun, it has to have atleast 4 inches of barrel, per manufacturers specs.

[iRem]

Thanks everyone. Should I be concerned of an auto getting all junked up because of all the stuff that I walk through and  jamming vs. a revolver being able to take some abuse and being able to work when needed? I think I want to go light and yet powerful. I'll diffenittly will be pick up a judo head for those pesky grouse. 

[Mudman]

22 for cat and birds.  Bear spray for bears=lightweight.

[buckfvr]

I went revolver for that very reason......not many, but a few incidents of failure helped make my choice.

[Axle]

"It is unlawful for any person to carry or have in his possession any firearm while in the field archery hunting, during an archery season specified for that area, except for modern handguns carried for personal protection."

I know this was reversed in Oregon due to the vast number of archers getting attacked by cats, but didn't this get rejected in this state too?
Or was it just rumor? 

[ghosthunter]

Not the popular choice.
But I carry a Judge. I like the choices it gives me. And I have killed grouse out to 40 ft with it. But I am not a bow hunter. When you cannot find ammo in some little remote town, someone always has .410 rounds.

[coachcw]

when I carry it's a px4 with 185grn ssts

[Bob33]

"It is unlawful for any person to carry or have in his possession any firearm while in the field archery hunting, during an archery season specified for that area, except for modern handguns carried for personal protection."

I know this was reversed in Oregon due to the vast number of archers getting attacked by cats, but didn't this get rejected in this state too?
Or was it just rumor? 

That is a current Washington WAC. It provides protection from cats etc. It does not allow for anything else like grouse hunting.

[fly-by]

Bought a Judge just for protection Plus grouse. Found that it didn't shoot very well for me as either a pistol or a shotgun.  There are lots of threads about the Judge, most arrive at a similar conclusion. 

Sent it off to Ahlman's in MN for a choke installation.  A little better but still not great.  Sold it and got a scoped Ruger Mk I for grouse and a .45 for a general purpose sidearm.