What's Your Go-To Sidearm While Hunting?

[bhawley76]

Pmr 30 its lite, holds lots of rounds, and even I can hit with it.

[JakeLand]

Grizz winter green long cut

[skeeter 20i]

G20 & chest holster

+1


I was resistant to the idea of a chesty, but now I've joined the club having tried just about everything else.

Yeah right there with you.  It's the only thing that worked for me after a number of different attempts.

[bornhunter]

One thing to think about with the bear spray is, one normally hunts into the wind. So when you spook that resting bear.  That spray will becoming right back at you! We do hand it out to those that hunt our land but I personally would not want to depend on it without proper back up. When you do buy Bear spray always buy a extra can to practice with so you know how to use it and how it sprays out.
For those hunting up in N.C. Montana if you stop in at the Blackfoot Fish and Wildlife Office in Browning they sell it there for $5.00 a can.

And with the practice can make sure you inhale a bit of it yourself. Its nasty stuff and you need to know how bad it is and how it feels in case you do get blowback in an actual attack. You dont want to be rolling around on the ground like a baby when it gets in your eyes with mr bear coming after you. It hurts like hell but you will survive it.

[Bluemoon]

 

[lee]

Dan Wesson 944, 44 Rem Mag .... 4 inch tube, with HSM 305gr "Bear Loads" plus 2 speed loaders..... Heavy? Yes.... To heavy for you then stay in the truck.   😉

[Cougartail]

Can of pepper spray for humans because they will fall to the ground and cry like babies when sprayed. Hardcast bullets in a 10mm, 45acp or 44 magnum as they can kill deer/elk and provide protection against bears/cougars that are really attacking you.

Spray makes people feel good against bears because most attacks are "false charges".

Ammoland has an article on the effectiveness of handguns against bears. They looked for every verifiable attack and caliber used. 73 cases in total and a 96% success rate. Good read.

 

[Jingles]

depends on the species being hunted
Small game/4 legged predators  Ruger single six in 17/HMR 2 legged Springfield XD 45ACP
Larger game  S & W 686 in 357 Mag
Bears Ruger Black hawk 45LC

[pickardjw]

Can of pepper spray for humans because they will fall to the ground and cry like babies when sprayed. Hardcast bullets in a 10mm, 45acp or 44 magnum as they can kill deer/elk and provide protection against bears/cougars that are really attacking you.

Spray makes people feel good against bears because most attacks are "false charges".

Ammoland has an article on the effectiveness of handguns against bears. They looked for every verifiable attack and caliber used. 73 cases in total and a 96% success rate. Good read.

Pretty sweet article, here's a link for others https://www.ammoland.com/2019/08/handgun-or-pistol-defense-against-bear-attack-73-cases-96-effective/#axzz6Hj7vUaP7

[kselkhunter]

If I'm rifle hunting, I don't carry a handgun.  As my rifles are all more powerful than any handgun.   


If I'm archery or muzzleloader hunting, I carry a S&W Performance Center Model 627 in a Diamond D chest holster with 180gr hardcast bullets in the 8 round moonclip and a backup moonclip on the chest holster holder.   That gun is so much fun to shoot.  Granted, I don't archery or muzzy hunt in griz country....I'd only ever rifle hunt in griz country and all my rifles are plenty powerful for griz so my choice of handgun was for lower 48 hunting.  If I were to archery in griz country, I'd have at least a 44Mag for handgun.

[Dadofive]

M&P .40.

[KFhunter]

One thing to think about with the bear spray is, one normally hunts into the wind. So when you spook that resting bear.  That spray will becoming right back at you! We do hand it out to those that hunt our land but I personally would not want to depend on it without proper back up. When you do buy Bear spray always buy a extra can to practice with so you know how to use it and how it sprays out.
For those hunting up in N.C. Montana if you stop in at the Blackfoot Fish and Wildlife Office in Browning they sell it there for $5.00 a can.

And with the practice can make sure you inhale a bit of it yourself. Its nasty stuff and you need to know how bad it is and how it feels in case you do get blowback in an actual attack. You dont want to be rolling around on the ground like a baby when it gets in your eyes with mr bear coming after you. It hurts like hell but you will survive it.

If anyone needs help with training, look me up, I'll spray you all in the name of safety!   (and youtube it for you, so you can critique your response and take notes) 

 

[bornhunter]

One thing to think about with the bear spray is, one normally hunts into the wind. So when you spook that resting bear.  That spray will becoming right back at you! We do hand it out to those that hunt our land but I personally would not want to depend on it without proper back up. When you do buy Bear spray always buy a extra can to practice with so you know how to use it and how it sprays out.
For those hunting up in N.C. Montana if you stop in at the Blackfoot Fish and Wildlife Office in Browning they sell it there for $5.00 a can.

And with the practice can make sure you inhale a bit of it yourself. Its nasty stuff and you need to know how bad it is and how it feels in case you do get blowback in an actual attack. You dont want to be rolling around on the ground like a baby when it gets in your eyes with mr bear coming after you. It hurts like hell but you will survive it.

If anyone needs help with training, look me up, I'll spray you all in the name of safety!   (and youtube it for you, so you can critique your response and take notes) 

 
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That could be a money maker!

[tgomez]

Glock 36 chambered in .45
I love this pistol because it's light weight and so accurate. I shoot 180 grain Grizzly ammo rated at 1200 fps.

[BigGoonTuna]

4” Ruger Redhawk .45 colt with 325gr HSM bear loads, currently use a man gear Alaska chest holster. I’d really like a diamond d belt holster for hunting, I use this mainly while hiking/fishing