Which side arm makes most sence

Elk97

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Feb 14, 2019
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If you aren't going to be hunting grizzly areas for at least 5 years I don't see a reason to go with a big revolver. 9, 40 or 10mm would all work well. Pick the one you shoot the best. If you do decide to hunt grizzly country bigger is better. I carried 357 until my first up close griz encounter, now I have a Ruger Redhawk in 44 mag and honestly the weight on my hip doesn't bother me, and I'm an old guy.
 

z987k

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In 44 mag the only reasonable one for hiking and backpacking is the 329. The rest weigh way too much.
The G40 is too big and makes no sense for this purpose. The G20 if you really want a 10mm, but I'm with everyone else. The 9mm you have is the best option.
 

450Dakota

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I carry the 10MM Springfield XDM 4.5” barrel. I load swift A Frame or Hornady XTP AT 1220 FPS. It’s not bad to carry all day.
 
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I love my g40. Trijicon LED RMR Type 2 and shoots 200 gr hard cast like a dream.

Carry a 9mm M&P everyday but shoot that G40 almost as much.
 
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Nov 19, 2021
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I think I could get it done with a revolver.

Having said that, I also think it would be easier with a semi auto. Particularly for fast follow up shots

I would go with the Sig P320 10mm.
 
Joined
Oct 19, 2017
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Glock G40 MOS 6" 10mm
S&W 6" SST 629 44mag
Taurus Raging Hunter 6.75" in 454 Casull

I'm not carrying a 6" gun anywhere.

I like revolvers but shoot semi's a hell of a lot better. I also seem to shoot them more, so I guess that makes sense:ROFLMAO:

If you're hung up on the 44's, I wouldnt overlook a S&W 69. They are a handy size. I've got the shorty, wouldnt mind getting the 4" gun one of these days.
 
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bgold

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Dec 2, 2023
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Missouri
I'd suggest and myself carry a 9mm if not in Grizzly/Brown country. I prefer my G19 or 17 but if you are comfortable with your P320 go with it. If going 10mm, I'd go G20 before G40, and I've had both. A G20 with RMR is a very fun to shoot.
 
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I'm a revolver guy, personally. I just like shooting them. Everyone talks about the Glock 20 being sooo much lighter than a .44 mag, but you can get a S&W 629 .44 with a 3" barrel and when both are fully loaded the revolver weighs an extra 2-3 oz.

Besides that, you don't *need* to shoot the hottest rounds out there... a standard .44 with 240 gr flat nose hardcasts is going to still be moving faster than the hottest 220 gr Buffalo Bore ammo for the 10mm. Shoot what you shoot best, which generally means pick what you will:
1. shoot a lot, or at least dry fire drill till the trigger pull is perfect every time
2. gives you the warm fuzzies so you'll actually carry it.
 
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West Slope, CO
I'm not sure you gain much from a 10mm vs 9mm or 45 and I would just stick with your P320. Maybe if you really want an upgrade get the 10mm P320. I don't hunt grizzly country but my EDC is a Sig P365XL which comes with me on all of my hikes/hunts even when I have a rifle. If I need a gun for self defense I'd rather not rely on my rifle unless its a last resort or I have plenty of time to react/take a shot. If I hunted grizzly country I'd be looking at something bigger than 10mm plus bear spray..
 

AntelopeEater

Lil-Rokslider
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Unless you want the 6” barrel to potentially handgun hunt with, I’d recommend a shorter barrel, more in the 3” to 4ish” range.

The shorter barrel is faster to draw, seriously.

Also, one of the few advantages of a revolver over a semi is that if the bear gets you by surprise and is already mauling you, you can press the barrel of a revolver into the animal and still it have to shoot whereas many semis like Glocks will go out of battery if the front is pressed hard into something like an animal hide.

If you already have a good .357 mag your are already set. The hottest .357 factory loads have more power than the hottest factory 10mm loads.

Bears run 30mph, having a lot of capacity isn’t as important IMO as having something you personally can be accurate with that has sufficient power.
 

jwpaddles

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Oct 15, 2024
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Glock G29 with the +2. On a chest holster works great for the MT mountains. Would stop anything. Fast to pull
 
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I would go with something compact and lightweight. All of those rounds are overkill for what you need. I hunt in grizzly country every year. I carry a glock 29.
 
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Dec 27, 2015
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None of them. Why tote a giant handgun when a compact will do the job? 3 1/2” barreled pistol in whatever caliber you choose will work fine and not be a giant pain to carry.

I prefer .40 or .45, but currently carry a Glock 19 because that’s what Uncle Sam issued to me. A decently hot defense round in 9mm is effective and much easier to put rapid, accurate, shots on target than the first two.


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I would keep the hot defense ammo for urban carry and use the BB 147grn +P hardcast for hunting sidearm.
It's what I carry in my P365 and don't feel undergunned.
 
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Dec 27, 2015
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agreed...unless you are hunting around Yellowstone...or in Alaska...a nine is just fine.

G19, Shield or any of the reliable compact 9mm loaded with Hard cast rounds like the Flat nose FMJ Underwood.
View attachment 788916
Glock has that unique grip angle compared to what the OP and most others practice with.
Muscle memory is your best friend in an awkward situation.
Glock shooters should stick with Glocks, other platforms are just not a natural mix and match.
 

7mm-08

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All things considered, it would be pretty hard to do better than a Glock 19 with proper bullets for this application.
 

SwiftShot

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Nov 16, 2019
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If your not dancing with the brownies a 9mm is more than enough. I have popped one nice black bear with a 9mm. Sorry but they run from you. A mountain lion, well they shoot them with small caliber all the time. So keep the 9mm.
 
Joined
Oct 3, 2022
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I would keep the hot defense ammo for urban carry and use the BB 147grn +P hardcast for hunting sidearm.
It's what I carry in my P365 and don't feel undergunned.
Not to derail...But how many of these heavy hardcast rds have you put through your P365?
I only ask because I went that route with Underwood stuff only to have cycling issues(in 3 separate P365 I own with different lots of ammo) only to be told by Underwood that despite the P365 being +P capable they DO NOT Recommend heavy +P hardcast rds in that platform.
I was getting tiny metal rings from the case mouth staying in the chamber causing failure to feed...very strange but 3 separate guns did exactly the same thing. Went to a flat nose copper jacket 127gr +P and not a single issue.

But to get back on topic...Im in the same boat as few others. I'd just keep the 320 to go to a 365 for anything other that grizzly country. I carry a G20 10mm there, but anyplace away from griz the p365 is so much lighter and easy to carry when the 10mm isnt warranted...Then it tucks right in CC holster for everyday carry. I do love the p365 platform, XL model with larger mags is nice if you've got larger hands. Standard with 12rd fits me perfectly.

I'm sure I'll catch sh$t but my hands and wrists aren't built for big revolvers so .44/454 are useless to me as I can't follow up quickly or accurately.
I think what you can shoot quickly and accurately is more important than overall knock down power in the situations your concerned with.
 
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