Back Country Revolvers

[Takeem406]

Thinking about buying a magnum revolver for grizzlies next year.
I'm a new Glock convert but I doubt a G20 will be enough for a PISSED off griz. Not sure about a long slide with cast cores...
That of course leaves the 44 and 454. I'm guessing the really big boys are too big for carrying?

Not a fan of Taurus really, my buddy just bought a lightweight 44 and it almost blew up on him.

I'd kind of like something with a decent barrel length on it that could still be accurate and fun to shoot. And be used for more than bears. Maybe weapons restricted deer. Or if I'm in a backcountry area during the general BC MT season even use it my elk.

I've shot a 44 a bit and I'm pretty good at controlling one. Not sure on a 454 with heavy loads but I shot the 44 with the Buffalo Bore 300 gainers.
You can shoot 45 LC in a 454 correct? That would be a fun to shoot!

Anyone running the Ruger Super Redhawk? How do they compare to a Smith?

Also how do you carry with a pack on? I tried it on Saturday with my G23C (for people protection, I had mace for bears) and it was an epic fail with my usual OWB carry.

Just got a new Eberlestock pack, is there any options for this specific pack? Would a vertical shoulder rig work with a pack?

I'm a big fan of mace, but I'd like to have a plan B, for BOOM. And when you conceal carry for a few years I feel naked even while hunting with a handgun. And I just want another gun, who am in trying to kid!

 

[TEmbry]

I have looked into it a lot myself as well.

I'm going Glock 20 route. 15 bullets out of an extremely easy to handle gun is much more dangerous than 5-6 rounds out of a cannon. Weight savings will be nice as well.

If I went revolver I'd go Ruger .44 mag.

 

[Ray]

A .416 may not be enough for an upset griz depending a host of conditions during the event.

That said carry what you can shoot really well.

I carry and old redhawk .44 with XS sights. I shoot it well under training stress, so I am comfortable with the idea.

 

[Takeem406]

I have looked into it a lot myself as well.

I'm going Glock 20 route. 15 bullets out of an extremely easy to handle gun is much more dangerous than 5-6 rounds out of a cannon. Weight savings will be nice as well.

If I went revolver I'd go Ruger .44 mag.

I love my two Glocks! When I'm not working I'm not fair from one or the other. There are two kinds of people, those that love Glocks and those that haven't shot them!

I see Lone Wolf has a long slide model. That should boost the performance of the Double Tap Cast Cores to be fairly adequate. Then if you could have them compensate it like a standard C model... My 23C pretty much has no muzzle rise. I can dump a mag pretty fast and accurate. Even the wife loves that. I think your right, your better with what your more accurate with. Then you could use a tactical thigh holster. Also carrying extra ammo would be a breeze. Just throw in a spare mag.
Put XS sights on it... And still be able to deer hunt with it.

 

[jmez]

This thread pretty much covers it. Some great information.

http://www.rokslide.com/forums/showthread.php?9963-Mountain-Pistols&highlight=bear+handgun

 

[Where's Bruce?]

A 329PD just went up for sale on Kifaru site: http://www.kifaruforums.net/showthread.php?t=34870

 

[MattB]

When I hunt on Kodiak I carry a Freedom Arms .475 Linebaugh, quite a bit more gun than a .44 mag. It weighs about what a super Blackhawk does.

 

[husky390]

A G20 with an aftermarket 6" barrel pushing a hot loaded solid lead bullet is no slouch. The 10mm is pretty similar to the .41 Magnum performance wise. Though I am not qualified to say if it sufficient for Grizzly bears. You will not have to swap out slides, just drop in a new barrel. To answer your question regarding Redhawks, they are built like tanks and can take a beating much better than a Smith. Though I've found Smith's to be lighter and to have a better trigger.

As far as attaching it to your pack, if you have Molle webbing on the pack belt, Kifaru sells a Molle panel that I used to mount my Crossfire Elite Safari holster too. I carry a 329PD and never really noticed it mounted to my Eberlestock Gunslinger pack.

In the past, I've carried J frame Smith's, Taurus 415 Titanium, 1911's, XD45, and steel 4" barrel N frame Smiths and have to say the 329PD is my favorite to carry. I have a Ruger Alasakan in 454 Casull and honestly, if I needed that much firepower, I'd rather carry a shotgun with slugs. They both probably weigh the same and in my VERY HUMBLE opinion, the Alaskan is too heavy to carry for back country and depending on the loads, fast follow up shots are a pipe dream. Granted, I haven't played with this revolver much and need to, and if you plan to shoot full house loads you will have to practice and practice often. But due to the weight factor alone, I'd rather carry my 329PD. YRMV.

If you plan to carry a semi-auto, I'd recommend bringing a small bottle of oil as a JIC measure. After a month of archery hunting and after a weekend of muddy atv riding during my rifle hunt, I had to strip my 329PD down to the frame to clean it when I got home. It was very gritty when cocking the hammer. I've ridden ATV's in dry, dusty conditions while wearing my XD45 once. That was enough to convince me to switch to a revolver. Good luck.

 

[trophyhill]

love my ultra light Taurus 44 mag

 

[Alaskan89]

A quick question, are you thinking about carrying a pistol while hunting with a rifle?

 

[hflier]

I only carry a pistol myself when not hunting with a rifle. If you already have a rifle with you carry bear spray.