Who carries a sideram when they go deer hunting? What is it? Ammo?

[miningshawn]

I carry a Ruger Alaskan .454. This is a brutal little revolver to shoot with full power loads. When I go for a range session I shoot 45LC and it is a pussy cat, but that all changes when it has a full wheel of Hornady 300 XTP.
As far as carry, it is compact and relatively lightweight. I am not concerned about scratches and dings. The action isn't silky smooth but it works just fine.
It will keep them all in a 5 inch circle out to 50 yards, and that is good enough for me. I feel confident with the stopping power, and ultimately that is what counts.

 

[Yamess191]

Rossi 22mag revolver. The middle one in the pic
View attachment 1337988

I just picked up a used Taurus just like the center one in your pick. Going to use it around the property and a hiking pistol. Any tips or tricks to keeping it reliable? I have had questional reliability from an older taurus .357 I have… had to be sent back for repair after less than 100 rounds down the pipe….

 

[Liven The Dream]

S&W 657- 41 Mag.

 

[jamesdmock]

For most of my life I have declined to carry any kind of sidearm when I go deer hunting, I considered it but always ultimately decided it was not worth the extra item to carry around. You know, got all those candy bars, and sammiches and mountain dew filling my pockets. I am thinking about it again and may change my mind, but I really dont have any handguns that are ideal for it. I have a couple full size 9mms and a compact Kahr cw45. No revolers, nothing in 10mm yet. My brother has used his carry guns in 9mm or 40 to finish off deer a few times over the years, and seems to think a handgun is worthwhile to have around.
Has anyone else seen a benefit to carrying a handgun? If so what? Or is it not needed?
If you did, between those cartridges what would you carry and what loads? Given my choices I am thinking of loading some hard cast 45s to plus p speeds.

My largest buck was taken with a S&W Model 29 with 6.5 inch barrel. For some reason I carried it along with my deer rifle. It was a cold, rainy day (12/20/78) and my brother -in-law came to pick me up to return to camp. I put my rifle in the truck and told him that I would walk to camp to scout some new territory. I traveled down a 3-wheeler trail though some "thick" briars and walked up on this 10-point buck. The 225 Speer HP did him in at about 50 yards.

 

[Doug Casner]

Ive got a 629 44 mag. kicks the heck out of ya and Im shooting 185s in it. When I want to take a pistol to the woods I take a TC encore pistol in 308 got a suppressor on it. Recoil not too bad even for an old cripple. Doug

 

[ragsflh]

carryall time

 

[Lefty2506]

I usually do. I either have my 45 Shield with me, or my 40 cal M&P full size. The shield is my EDC, and the 40 is my range toy complete with a Holosun 507 optic. Either way, I'm using Barnes DPX, or the Corbon equivalent. Most of my hunting carrier (around 35 years) I hunted with a muzzleloader. Having a side arm was convenient. For most of that time, I either had a 44 Blackhawk, or 44 contender with me. After getting the Contender, I sold the Blackhawk. I normally hunt with an AR now (6.5 Grendel/300 BO) which negates the need for a handgun.

 

[Kalitrazescapee]

I hunt with a Conender. Does it count?

What cal? One day I'll use the 7tcu

 

[Steel Mover]

I found a used 3" Smith 66, pulled the barrel off and put a 4" in it. Refinished the stainless and put round butt Packmeyer on it. Had Andrews Leather (out of central FL) build me a thumb break cross draw rig for it, fits under my jacket, on a pants belt. Keeps the hammer away from the wood stock. of a rifle in my hands. It is easy to carry with 357 Mag 125 gran JHPs and stays out of the way, by dsign. FL is a concealed carry only state and so it goes concealed even when hunting which is an exception.

 

[brokeasajoke]

I just picked up a used Taurus just like the center one in your pick. Going to use it around the property and a hiking pistol. Any tips or tricks to keeping it reliable? I have had questional reliability from an older taurus .357 I have… had to be sent back for repair after less than 100 rounds down the pipe….

I haven't had any trouble with it. It's not been shot by me a whole lot. I purchased it used. I actually traded a Tec9 for it. Just picked up an 8 3/8 44mag I hope is trouble free but I don't plan on running hot heavies through it at all.

 

[snert]

What cal? One day I'll use the 7tcu

I have both a 357 Herrett and a 7 waters. The Herrett has accounted for 23 deer, several coyote.

 

[archerforkids]

Ruger Mark 2 22/45 with suppressor. If you hold the back of the bolt with your thumb to stop cycling, all you here is the firing pin drop for the most part. Especially if I remember to put a little bit of electricians wire lube in the suppressor tube.
I've killed more hogs with that thing than you can shake a stick at. It has red dot on it. Makes me look like a better shot than I am. If hogs are inside 20 yards or so, in the eye or ear and they drop every time.
Body shot many hogs at 75 yards or so to run them off from my feeder.
Stopping power it doesn't have. I walked up on a sow before daylight a couple of years ago. I put several rounds in her before I had a chance to think. She wasn't 3 steps in front of me. Her and the little ones left in a hurry. I have no idea why I didn't pull the .308 off my shoulder and use it other than scared chitless. My damn heart didn't settle down for 2 hours.
By the way, this sure as heck isn't bear country. That would be a different sidearm.

 

[Doug Casner]

I lied to ya. My T.C. 308 doesnt have a suppressor on it, i wish it did, got a muzzle brake. Loud SOB. Doesnt kick too bad though. Doug

 

[NTHIGPEN]

I carry a Ruger Blackhawk in 45win mag a lot during center fire season. But I’ve also grown fond of my Glock 19x with a surefire on it. You can never have enough flashlights if you’re going to be out after dark.