Backpacking/Backcountry Hunting Sidearm

[scottfrick]

smith and wesson 629 .44 classic!!! Awesome gun

[MikeWalking]

smith and wesson 629 .44 classic!!! Awesome gun

I'll never forgive myself for selling mine, they're about $300 more now.

[high country]

I got my 629 as a hs graduation gift......back in 93'. I still have and shoot it, but its way too heavy for backpack hunting....it weighs almost as much as my rifle.

[UptheCreek]

Same on the G20.  Can't beat 16 rounds at that caliber.  Try the compensated.

[high country]

I strongly advise AGAINST any compensated or ported gun for backcountry protection. You greatest odds of a bad encounter are in the dark of bad light. If you get flashed by your gun......you just lost the option of using the remaining ammo in your gun.

[UptheCreek]

Never thought of that high country.  Good point.

[JackOfAllTrades]

When I'm not packin one of my 44mags, (7 1/2" RSBH Bisley or 5" SS RRH -300gn Sierra SP pushed by 21gns of win296), a SS Kimber in 45acp (Home/Hard lead cast 265gn TC pushed by a whopping amount of Win231),  I'm packing a SS 2" Ruger SP101 in 357mag with Black Tallons.

-Steve

Steve, I like your style!   

Go deadly.  Or don't go at all! 

-Steve

[JLS]

Kahr CW40.  If I'm overly worried about bears, I'll also carry spray.

[fillthefreezer]

329 became my wifes everyday carry gun once i bought her one kinda hurts the hand with the 305gr though

[MikeWalking]

I strongly advise AGAINST any compensated or ported gun for backcountry protection. You greatest odds of a bad encounter are in the dark of bad light. If you get flashed by your gun......you just lost the option of using the remaining ammo in your gun.

My first serious trail gun, bought about 1994 was a Ported .357  A Taurus 608. Large frame, 4in bbl, 8rds.  It will be the first, last and only Ported pistol I will ever own.  (unless I buy one strictly for range use)  I bought it for trail use so the first time I shot it, no ear plugs, after all I don't hike with ear plugs in...  The first round hurt so bad I was afraid I was going to feel some kind of fluid running down my cheek.  Like a fool I shot the whole 50rd box.  The ringing didn't stop for 2+hours..

The flash at night was pretty cool, but I couldn't see worth crap after..

[follow maggie]

HK .45 for me

[high country]

329 became my wifes everyday carry gun once i bought her one kinda hurts the hand with the 305gr though

X frame grips are the answer.

[44 Flattop]

Ruger Flattops in .44.  For a couple decades now

44

[Shoffy]

S&W 686 .357 stainless w/4" barrel

[Cascade_fisher]

I carry a revolver - either 629 or a 686PP.  They weigh as much as a rifle but still allow you to move through the blacktail jungle quite well.  You can shoot far enough that there is really no disadvantage in the brush.