Deer Hunting Sidearm

[Bull Elk]

What sidearm do you carry when deer hunting in CA?

[Fjold]

I carry a rifle.

[LikeAllGuns]

.357 mag....

[Red Devil]

G23 or a High Standard Sentinel .22LR 3" revolver.

[CSACANNONEER]

Haven't hunted deer with a handgun yet. If I do, it'll probably be with my old contender.

[gun toting monkeyboy]

None. I normally have a rifle with me. That is far more effective for just about everything. I have carried a revolver or a large frame automatic when I go out hiking. And occasionally when I go pig hunting in another state. But for deer here in California? Heck, half the time I don't even bother bringing an extra clip. (Yes, clip. It is often a Mannlicher or a Carcano. Don't make me troll the clip police again.)

-Mb

[CSACANNONEER]

None. I normally have a rifle with me. That is far more effective for just about everything. I have carried a revolver or a large frame automatic when I go out hiking. And occasionally when I go pig hunting in another state. But for deer here in California? Heck, half the time I don't even bother bringing an extra clip. (Yes, clip. It is often a Mannlicher or a Carcano. Don't make me troll the clip police again.)

-Mb

I just picked up a bubba'd Carcano in 7.35 as part of a package deal. I was going to get rid of it but, I'm thinking it will make a great loaner deer rifle. Is yours 6.5 or 7.35?

[gun toting monkeyboy]

I just picked up a bubba'd Carcano in 7.35 as part of a package deal. I was going to get rid of it but, I'm thinking it will make a great loaner deer rifle. Is yours 6.5 or 7.35?

I use both. 7.35 is more of less the ballistic twin of the old .300 Savage. The 6.5 is almost identical in terms of ballistics to the 6.5 Mannlicher rounds (rimmed and rimless). Either one would make a great loaner or back-up hunting rifle for here in California. Remember they both use oddball bullet sizes. But if you go through the trouble of reloading them right, those little carbines make potent brush guns. And are fully capable of taking deer out as far as you can reasonably hit them. I have a really handy 7.35 that somebody restocked with a sweet semi-pistol grip stock. That is a joy to carry. I know exactly how often those bubba'd guns end up tossed into deals. I have picked up several over the years for $25-35 when they got tacked on as "afterthoughts". Everybody always underestimates how danged useful they can be.

-Mb

[drunktank]

I carry a GLOCK 19 but it isn't really there for deer or most 4 legged critters. This is in So-Cal though.

[glockman19]

I have carried both a S&W 686+ 4" and 629 Classic 5".

[223Dude]

.44 Mag Ruger Redhawk. Good for 4 or 2 legged critters. Also good to throw if you run out of ammo!

[Bull Elk]

I meant what sidearm do you carry "in addition too" a rifle? For both 2 and 4 legged creatures! Almost walked into a pot growers farm 2 years ago. You need more than a rifle for protection. I thought about my Glock 17 9mm, S&W 686 or even ???

Sorry about not being clear about this.

[WTSGDYBBR]

460 mag

[ckprax]

4" 686 or my 2.25" SP101 both in .357Mag

[Munk]

I'd probably carry a 9mm or .40 with some hornady all-copper expanding bullets (If I'm hunting in condor territory, otherwise it's the XTP). Good enough for a pissed off boar, and anything else you may encounter.

Apart from people, boars are the most worrying thing I believe I might encounter while hunting in CA.

460 mag

be more specific.

There's two .460 magnums. One's s&w, the other's Weatherby. (Pistol vs. Shoulder cannon rifle.)