I’m considering trying to get one of these, if possible in CA.
Does anyone have any other ideas on CC revolvers in 357/38? I may use it in bear country too.
I think a 2 1/2" 357 could do the job ballistically with the right ammo, but I'd look at three other things.
First, I'd make sure that concealed carry is legal where you plan to take it. Given how things are going in California, that could be up in the air sooner rather than later.
Second, ammunition. California requires lead-free ammo for hunting statewide. All-copper bullets need speed to do their best work, and a 2 1/2" barrel might not provide that. Also, it might be legal to use lead ammunition to stop a bear attack if you're camping, hiking, backpacking, etc., but it might not be legal to even possess lead ammunition (for whatever reason) while hunting, and hashing it out in court will be expensive.
Third, make sure that the gun itself is legal where you plan to take it. For example, the Washington regs state:
Big game, except cougar, may be hunted with handguns with a minimum barrel length of 4 inches per manufacturer's specification, and fire a minimum .24 caliber centerfire cartridge. The minimum for cougar is a .22 caliber centerfire handgun. Rimfire handguns are not legal for big game.
A modern handgun may be carried for personal protection. Modern handguns cannot be used to hunt big game except as described above.
I can see how a 2 1/2" 357 might be OK under the line about personal protection. But the regs also state:
DISPATCHING WOUNDED GAME
A hunter can only use a hunting method that meets the equipment requirements of his/her tag to dispatch wounded game.
To me, that says that a hunter using archery tackle or a muzzleloader cannot use a modern firearm to dispatch wounded game, which makes sense. But I also read it to say that you can only use a handgun to dispatch wounded game if it meets the definition in the first quote, which means a 4" barrel.
I prefer to avoid long philosophical discussions with law enforcement officers who I've just met, so I wouldn't carry anything less than a 4" 357 around here, and most of the time I choose a 4" Model 29-2 or a 5 1/2" New Model Blackhawk in 45 Colt. But things may be different where you hunt.
Okie John
