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What is your favorite carry companion for doing ranch chores?

We are being run over by varmits. Armadillos, feral dogs, opossums, coons, etc. I usually keep a .22 rifle behind the seat of the truck but it is almost never handy when I actually stumble onto critters. It is too light for putting down stock too. I have done it, but it is never the best option. The wife has a Glock 26 she carries when working on the farm. She does alright with it at close range, but it is too small for me. I'd like better accuracy too, and better sights. I use to have a Ruger Blackhawk in .45 that did a pretty good job, but I don't have it anymore and I am not sure it would be the best option today. Any ideas?

I was thinking a TC Contender would be the thing for the truck and tractor, but even with a 10 inch barrel it is likely too much to carry when mending fences and the like.

An alternative would be an older 4 or 5" S&W in .45 or .44, but I am not sure if I could use them for the odd small game opportunity. I have looked through the .44 thread and noticed lots of folks take rabbits with a handgun, but we don't have many of those. I could definitely see trying a shot at a grounded squirrel while deer hunting, would the big revolvers be up to that? A K-38 might be a better choice for small game but I don't believe it would be ideal for putting stock down or even a small deer.

Not sure how to get one handgun for all of the various jobs. And one gun is much preferred, I don't want to try and convince the boss I need her milk money for both a new Smith and a Colt Match Target too

Thanks for your time,

-Rex

Getcha a Glock 10 mm, and put a fast fire on it. Or 6 inch 357 mag.

The two I use the most while doing chores are Ruger's 4.2" SP101 in .357 and a S&W Gov. The Gov is mainly for shooting rats while bush-hogging.

Smith Governor 410/45lc

3" to 4" double action revolver or 4 3/4" or 5 1/2" single action revolver of your choice in brand and caliber.
or if you prefer a auto a Glock 19 or 23 size auto. you could go a little bigger to a full service size like the great new HK VP9. Can't go wrong with a government model or commander either. I also like the previous 10mm idea too. let us know what you pick.

A beater Ruger Security Six or GP100 in .357 would cover damned near all bases and affordably so.

Is that what you carry on your ranch, Sean?

I carry my old S&W Model 66 .357 service revolver all the time since I moved to the toolies. It would be good medicine if a wolf decided to try to eat my German Shorthair while we are out roaming the woods and fields together.

It rides in a full flap holster, loaded with Winchester Silvertips that I got free when the department went to semiautos a few years before I retired..

Agreed!
Ruger Security Six would be hard to beat, or a RUGER BlackHawk in just about any caliber would do.
My two favorites fro when I'm working at the Ranch is either my old model Ruger Vaqeuro in 45 Colt, or my Glock 32 in .357 sig caliber.

A 38+p a 44 special a 41 or a standard pressure 45colt should do it.

Good advice here. I'm not a Glock guy but I'd use any of the others in a heart beat. I already have them.

Interesting, I would not have thought a semi-auto would be a good choice when working off of either equipment or horse.

Anyone know about the Taurus .44s? A friend recommended one today. I gave a small Taurus .38 to my father years ago for a carry gun, but I am sure he has never actually fired it outside of running off some birds from his fish pond.

I admire that model a bunch. Are you confident in the .357 for putting down stock or deer?

The Taurus may nt have the class f a smith or be bomb proof like a ruger, but it should work for what you're doing. And they're cheap.

I put an elk down with a 380, I think a 357 will work for deer and stock.

How accurate are you with the fast fire? I have thought of something similar for other purposes.

Good to know, thank you. I like the medium frame Smiths a bunch, just thought they were too light.

Ive been planning on hunting antelope with my 357 and 158 cast bullets. Fwiw.

I've packed numerous SA revolvers for farm chores but these days, I just carry my main battery CCW gun; a Sig 229 in 40 S&W.I keep a couple mags of Perfecta Flat Point FMJ for that purpose and I make it a point to know exactly where it shoots with that load, from snake-kilin' distance to about 75 yards.

I've killed more varmints around the place with one of the kids' 94-22's than anything else. Both kids have identical 94-22's so I don't know if one has killed more than the other or not.



When actually in the tractor cab, I carry a Smith Governor.