I went with the 329 for my backcountry gun this year. Love a 44 mag and the weight of the 329 makes it a great choice. It’s a handful with full tilt loads but very manageable with reduced recoil handloads or just softer factory loadings.
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Back country carry gun
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I went with the 329 for my backcountry gun this year. Love a 44 mag and the weight of the 329 makes it a great choice. It’s a handful with full tilt loads but very manageable with reduced recoil handloads or just softer factory loadings.
I cannot comment on the 454 Alaskan. I have not found the 480 Alaskan to be painful with the 410 gr Buffalo Bore loads. They chronograph'd about 1025 - 1050 fps from my Alaskan.
Schüler Jumbo
AH fanatic
I find the .480 Ruger to be one of the most efficient, practical, and packable engineered cartridges designed over the last 25 years. 410/420 grain, .475” caliber hard cast pills at 1050-1100 fps are user friendly serious medicine. Ruger did sportsmen a good turn with the Alaskan. The limited production Super Blackhawk is also a good home for the 480.
I carry a 4 5/8 Ruger Blackhawk in 41 mag here in AZ. 1st 3 are homemade snake shot next 3 are 220 or 225 Keith style swc. I usually just walk around the rattlers but have been in a situation where that was not possible. This homemade stuff works very well. I've never had to think about using the Keith's.......yet. Almost everyone in the AZ back country is packing so that keeps everyone at least semi-friendly. But it seems the mountain lion population is growing.
So there's that concern.
Woolley Bugger
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At my property in PA, a scoped Ruger Super Redhawk with hard cast .44 magnum loads that I make myself, in a chest rig.
Totally overkill and slightly ridiculous in my neck of the woods, and the scope makes it less useful for defense against nonexistent threats. But now that I have a brand new to me scoped Weatherby .30-06, I am starting to hunt deer in PA, where it's legal to take them with a revolver, I figure it's good if a close shot presents itself. Kind of like very loud bowhunting.
Plus, I get to pretend I'm in Alaska, facing the threat of big, mean grizzlies.
Where I mostly hunt in NJ, nothing. I have a concealed carry permit, but the environment is so hostile, and our legislators are constantly sneaking in gotcha laws, the violation of any of which constitutes a felony. Not worth the legal risk to a law abiding citizen here. Which I suppose is the whole purpose of the constantly evolving thicket of regulation.
Totally overkill and slightly ridiculous in my neck of the woods, and the scope makes it less useful for defense against nonexistent threats. But now that I have a brand new to me scoped Weatherby .30-06, I am starting to hunt deer in PA, where it's legal to take them with a revolver, I figure it's good if a close shot presents itself. Kind of like very loud bowhunting.
Plus, I get to pretend I'm in Alaska, facing the threat of big, mean grizzlies.
Where I mostly hunt in NJ, nothing. I have a concealed carry permit, but the environment is so hostile, and our legislators are constantly sneaking in gotcha laws, the violation of any of which constitutes a felony. Not worth the legal risk to a law abiding citizen here. Which I suppose is the whole purpose of the constantly evolving thicket of regulation.
You bring up a good point. Like a fight with a human, most bear attacks end up being taken to the ground in a brawl or wrestling match. It more often happens before you can you can Quick Draw McGraw your way out of it.
So since you are now rolling around on the ground with your human or bear attacker. There is a group of trainers that believes in a revolver for those situations. Calling them an ENT weapon.
Cramming the muzzle of your revolver into the ear, nose or throat as you pull the trigger.
You may want to rethink the semi auto for that reason. If you carry with one in the chamber that will be your 1st and only shot. It won’t chamber the second round with the muzzle making contact of any kind.
So there is a whole camp out there reconsidering small 5 shot revolvers for humans and bears.
I’m too ingrained in the semi to change now. But food for thought if you already carry a revolver
Gerald Boyd
AH senior member
Altitude sickness is on the right path, revolvers always go bang! I will always have my S&W Mod 25-5 on my hip. Buffalo Bore lead free pills work great, 225gr or the 300gr. My Trapper doesn't shoot the 300gr too good, but will sling the 225s with great (for a lever gun) accuracy.
cwpayton
AH fanatic
Never shot the 10mm ,hear they kick hard so that would be like the44 mag, but faster. I have short pumped the 12 ga, hunting chuckar so chance of that too. thinking GRENADE maybe...and I have experienced revolver fails , one too hot of loads and not crimped allow the bullet to unseat and slide forward stopping cylinder and any hand load with a not seated primer same results . like the 45acp because mine always seems to go bang.
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cwpayton
AH fanatic
I haave heard about short chambering, Im going to try holding it against wet newspaper and try it too see, thanks for the reminder.
Ray B
AH ambassador
Back in the day, self-defense training included the scenario where the bd guy had a 1911 pointed at you. Either by pushing your body against the muzzle or by grabbing the slide you pushed against the gun. If you could push the slide back even a little bit the breech would be unlocked and the gun wouldn't fire. In actual use I suspect you'd still end-up getting shot, but it sounded good in theory.
Forrest Halley
AH legend
Short chambering is something different. Final reaming of a chamber is done to the customers specs for load OAL. Common in custom competition 1911's in .40 and 9mm.
KTMpilot
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I am not sure if this has already maybe been asked and answered on this thread, but can anyone maybe give advice on bullet choice for 10mm as a big animal defence gun in the field please? I read a lot about "hard cast lead bullets" heavier than 180 gr being required, but I cannot find any examples of such for sale in South Africa. Other sources say that an expanding bullet followed by FMJ's in the magazine is recommended. In South Africa I can see Hornady XTP's for sale, as well as Speer Gold Dot, and we do have several locally manufactured FMJ bullets in 10mm. Once again apologies if this has already been dealt with elsewhere.
the s&w trail boss is my smallest in 44 mag, shooting a 240 gr solid,if that cant do the job,if im still alive ive always got the 454 cassul with 320 gr punch bullets or the 475 linebaugh with the 390 gr punch bullets,or the 500 wyoming with the 400 gr + punch bullets,etc,etc,all means nothing unless you can put the bullet where it is supposed to go,and assuming it is a well constructed bullet,and you can handle your gun!!!!!!! sorry for the soapbox.
Gomer
AH veteran
1: ALL pistol calibers suck. ALL OF THEM. Humans are relatively fragile and most people shot with a handgun will survive. But, handguns are a lot more convenient than always having a rifle. That said, if I am going to have a rifle in my hands, that’s definitely the primary option.
2: Semi-autos can be pushed out of battery, but this can be prevented for 1 round if you use your thumb to keep the slide pushed forward in battery. Rack the slide to eject the empty and load a new cartridge.
3: Revolvers DO MALFUNCTION. When they do, it’s not usually something you can’t fix right away. They also run out of bullets fast. They are my absolute last option. However, they do have their niche. In my line of work, almost every incident will end up on the ground. I set up my gear so I have one lethal, and one less-lethal option for each hand. My primary handgun on my strong side, and a S&W 642 on my weak side, hidden. If the person I’m dealing with is fixated on the gun in my holster, I will find an opportunity to surprise him with the other one.
2: Semi-autos can be pushed out of battery, but this can be prevented for 1 round if you use your thumb to keep the slide pushed forward in battery. Rack the slide to eject the empty and load a new cartridge.
3: Revolvers DO MALFUNCTION. When they do, it’s not usually something you can’t fix right away. They also run out of bullets fast. They are my absolute last option. However, they do have their niche. In my line of work, almost every incident will end up on the ground. I set up my gear so I have one lethal, and one less-lethal option for each hand. My primary handgun on my strong side, and a S&W 642 on my weak side, hidden. If the person I’m dealing with is fixated on the gun in my holster, I will find an opportunity to surprise him with the other one.
I've built a few 45 ACPs over the years and I do love the 1911's design. Aren't you guys concerned in a back-country situation that the complexity and quantity of non-stainless parts is likely to fail?
I would think the very first consideration for back country would be something 100% rust resistant down to the last component?
I would think the very first consideration for back country would be something 100% rust resistant down to the last component?
HankBuck
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@rookhawk - I see your point and if “living” in a back country area (Alaska) stainless/rust prevention would be one of the considerations for a back-up handgun (and it’s Never a bad idea to have stainless). On a 7 to 14 day hunt my main concerns for a handgun would be:
1). Can I draw & fire quickly & accurately under extreme pressure?
2). Above average reliability ie: S&W 629 or Sig P227/P226 (there are many others).
3). Proper ammo: Hard cast or deep penetrating controlled expansion.
Many bear attacks have been successfully deterred with 9mm & 45 ACP so extreme calibers are Not needed But if you can handle them - no downside. There was a detailed study done (possibly posted on AH?) documenting 50+ Bear attacks and handguns used for defense - almost ALL types & calibers were successful…I wish I knew how to ‘post/attach’ this study——it was surprising how effective handguns are to “Defend” against (NOT Hunt) Bears. Since it is a personal decision and many good options exist (and also in the rarest occasions a life might depend on it) - everyone needs to decide for themselves….my opinion.
I won't be doing much back country hunting or fly fishing, just a touch of it. However, My family carries our 44mag 5x a day on our property for bear/lion protection when walking our pointing dog. Do I think the odds of a human wildlife conflict is likely by ourselves? No. Do I think I could have a bear on my back if my dog is off leash and I'm trying to save my dog that is instinctively very protective of us and hostile to bears? Sadly yes.
We picked a 100% stainless weapon knowing it is carried rain or shine by many people and it needs to go bang if its drawn and fired.
That being said, I've heard very complimentary things about the 10mm and I'm certain a high-end 1911 surely exists with 100% rust-resistant components if someone was willing to pay whatever was required. Using a 1911 requires a lot more training than a wheelgun, so I didn't investigate this option too much for my family.
Schüler Jumbo
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Hedge774
AH elite
I live very close to the beautiful Smoky Mountains. We have plenty of black bear that are sadly desensitized to humans, mostly by tourists feeding the "Teddy". (I won't rant on a Saturday) That being said, I carry something that could help me get out of harms way with one of these awesome creatures. (I mean the bears, of course) A Taurus DOA 5 shot 357 with hard cast slugs in a Bianchi IWB rig rides light and doesn't chafe when hiking or fishing. The full sized "combat" style grips keep muzzle flip down to a very reasonable level. At business range, it is MOBear if I do my job. Oh, and my bear (bad human) repellent is on the small of my back. Safe, and happy trails, Y'all!
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30-06Ken wrote on ftothfadd's profile.
I'll take the Vortex scope cover you have listed in the Pay it Forward thread.
Ken [redacted]
Ken [redacted]
