Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Handguns Perfect Packin Pistol

The Glock 20 10mm is my constant companion. It hunts just as well as it packs.

Took me a while to find one and get it shipped in. A S&W 357PD Scandium 41 magnum. My hunting backup. walk around pistol. Big enough for what I might encounter. Had a 629, but after a week of hunting I was listing to one side. I often forget the 357PD is even there.

I’ll lean against the trend. If I’m carrying a .308, I’m packing a .22.

My favorite. Sold this one once then traded for it back. Years later, I still need to find a worthy holster.





Love that 41 mag conversion, Robb

One of these 3 (depending on where I'm going)...

Ruger NMFT 45Colt/ACP - G21SF 45ACP - S&W 25-9 45Colt

I know their strengths and limitations... I find comfort with all three when they are handy.

I have this holster for my MKII 22/45 with 5.5" barrel, it's nothing fancy, but it works and I like it for the price.
https://www.midwayusa.com/product/2375197218

very similar tastes but could add others such as a 10mm glock, 696, model 58smith, some two inch 629's or 657's a ruger redhawk short barrel, some early 45 colt vaquero's, a smith 45colt six shooter. and the list goes on.
mart and i have similar tastes i think.

I really like my new Kimber TLE.

For me it has been the S&W 696 in 44 Spcl with 3 inch barrel. Very packable and will handle anything I will run across. But given how scarce and expensive these are now becoming, will likely switch to a Sig 1911 in 10mm.

This is the other options I often carry. This Ruger is another old model conversion to 41 Special in 41 Special with an even shorter barrel from a Model 57 Smith & the Model 28 is a conversion to to 41 Special as well.

Mine is a Ruger old model Bisley Vaquero, loaded up with 325 gr. hard cast bullets at 1150 fps.

Man, I've seen a bunch of the prettiest revolvers on this site in the last couple weeks.

Bighorn, I like adjustable sights on a working handgun, but that is one fine looking piece.

Robb, I know nothing about .41 special, but your collection of squirrel-hunting deer revolvers is amazing. Love the stubby Ruger. And drooling on that Smith!

Glad I have more time lately to look at some pictures.

(270, looked at your link but they don't have a 4" model. Thanks for the recommend.)

Ella

glock 19

Have carried a bunch of guns over the years while out woods walking...1911s, .22s, .44s, semis, DAs, SAs... But one day about 10 years ago I sat down and figured out what exactly I was most likely to use the gun for...hiking here in New England...

Small game is very limited...the coyote invasion wiped them and most of the ground dwelling birds out starting back in the mid-1990s...so no .22s or .32s...

Rabid animals...skunks and coons mainly..but rare. Rabies was real bad here back in the 1990s and at one point it was 5 years before I saw another dead coon in the road...

Coyotes...they are everywhere but mostly at night... A friend was out walking his dog one day and a coyote kept following them even after being yelled at...no gun...and he is even an LEO.

Moose and black bear..attacks are rare but have happened.

Two-legged vermin...wondering the woods the pot growers and meth heads are out there...

While a semi would work (1911 .38 Super or 10mm) (Glock 40 10mm or 19/9mm) walking the woods I would rather carry a revolver...and I am a .41 guy...

So here are my three picks...

S&W 657 Mountain Gun 4" stainless .41 Magnum
212-230 grain Keith bullets (Solid or HP) with 8-9.0 grains of Unique (950-1100 fps)
Weight empty: 40.6 oz
Loaded: 45.2 oz.










Freedom Arms 97 4.25" stainless .41 Magnum
165-180 grain MP (Solid or HP) with 14.0 grains of Blue Dot (1300 fps)
Weight empty:38.4 oz.
Loaded: 41.7 oz.









Taurus Titanium Trecker 4" Ported .41 Magnum
215 grain Accurate 41-215V with 9.0 grains of Unique Magnum case or 8.0 Special case (1100 fps)
Weight empty: 24.4 oz.
Loaded: 25.7 oz.








Extra ammo is carried on Tuff Products Speed Strips... Belt case is from Dillon and the pocket case from REMORA...





Besides the pictured holsters I also use one of the Hill People Runners Packs...just excellent... Also need to get a set of Chesty Puller straps for the Simply Rugged Holsters...



Figure if I get back out to Idaho I won't need to change anything...


So that is my Waders contribution...

Bob

rest of the pics...

https://www.24hourcampfire.com/ubbthreads/ubbthreads.php/galleries/14734271#Post14734271

Mine is an old Ruger Flattop 44 Mag cut to 4 1/2" loaded with 275 gr WFN's at 1000 fps.

I end up in the woods often in low light with my dogs.

A light and a mrds are complete game changers. A g40 is my go to.

Bob, guessing you carry that 'Ti' quite often, lightweight, but look at those WIDE FLAT NOSED 215s! Lol.

Very nice pieces guys! Robb, who did the Case Hardening on that short 41? Nice Special ! Also, is your OMBH, rear sights OEM or ?

RGK, always wanted a PP, had an Astra Constable 22 and a Beretta 70S 22, both were great, the 70S was nice but could not regulate sights, your POA seems to hit POI. Had a Manurhin Walther 380 in college, messed up not getting the nickel 22 offered then. A PPK/S, like the PP a bit more.

I'm not ok stopping at the 95% line when the last 5% can kill me. I demand 100% and won't settle for less.

My two guns that fit Taffin's description are both .44 magnums, one a 4-5/8" blued super blackhawk, the other a S&W 329PD. I usually carry the Ruger on day trips where I might be likely to WANT to shoot something and save the S&W for overnight (or longer) backpacking trips where I might NEED to shoot something even if I don't WANT to. I pack the same load in both guns, the only variable is launch pad, and the only reason for having both is shifting balance between portability and shootability.

If I get that twitchy feeling suggesting the .44s are not enough, I do, rarely, reach for a Ruger Bisley .454, but it is heavier yet and a little less comfortable / convenient to carry. Again, a question of balancing size of need vs convenience.

I've never met a semi-auto that was adequate 'cept for a Desert Eagle and I'm not packing one of those boat anchors around.

Tom

The Ti is a great shooter... Have the same gun in stainless and also a 6" Ti... MUCH better guns than the S&W 3-series...had them...hated them...and gone..


It is a great bullet...ran it through my waterjug setup and went through the carton, 5 jugs and cut a nice round patch out of the ballistic vest carrier. The meplat is .37...there was rifling almost all the way up the nose...and looked like it could have been reloaded. It was also accurate at 100 yards...

Was so pleased with the way it shot I asked Accurate to add another lube groove and extend the base and it is now the 41-250F...they now also have gas-checked versions of both.