Smallest caliber you routinely carry

[giblett]

S&W 329pd here loaded with a few snake loads and then some 240 gr hollow points but it's fixin to go back to the mothership for a cracked frame. So I put my Springfield 10mm osp in a shoulder holster and currently using it while filling feeders and bumming around. If they can't fix my 329 might look into the model 69 44 mag.I sure like that light weight 329 you can wear it all day in a tanker rig.

[Deleted]

I take a 44 special, magnum or 45 colt when fishing or creeking. Usually with 250s around 1000ish fps. Takes care of anything that might show up and doesnt bust ears if shot without plugs. Usually my Harton om 44 special, TLA improved #5 he built me or my Gallagher bisley. Dont really fool with much smaller than a .40 bore.

[cas]

I used to carry my .32 H&R mag and my .22 Long Snapper woods bumin' or as a sidearms small game hunting.

Then a large black bear tore a hole in the side of the cabin. And we started having lots of coyotes and the neighbor got pictures of a large cat (that we're not supposed to have) on his trail cam. After that, .45 ACP is the lightest thing I'll carry power wise. Sometimes 10mm, usually .45 Colt.

If I'm going out with the intention of shooting something with the small calibers, I'll still have a big one on me.




For deer season, anything goes. My record is five handguns at once.

[bula]

CAS, I do believe 5 is a record ! A story there. One Oct day I opened the door wearing 3, armload of ammo to find a Jehovah Witnesses crew about to knock. Without a word, they turned around and left ! But yes, with the larger number, and larger sizes of predators now roaming where I roam, the smaller bores stay home or are backed up with a bigger bore. If not hunting, subsonic velos wanted. 

[44guru]

My every day farm gun is a Ruger Old Model Single Six in .22 Magnum in a cross draw holster made by a friend of mine. It has dispatched ground hogs, coyotes, squirrels, rabbits, a dang black vulture trying to kill a newborn calf and one cow that had to be put down. During deer season I switch to a Ruger Bisley .41 Magnum 5 1/2" in a chest rig.

[bigbrowndog]

May 3, 2021 14:25:47 GMT -5 44guru said:

My every day farm gun is a Ruger Old Model Single Six in .22 Magnum in a cross draw holster made by a friend of mine. It has dispatched ground hogs, coyotes, squirrels, rabbits, a dang black vulture trying to kill a newborn calf and one cow that had to be put down. During deer season I switch to a Ruger Bisley .41 Magnum 5 1/2" in a chest rig.

Might want to remove the vulture part, I believe they are federally protected.

Trapr

[rangersedge]

Yeah. Don't mention any accidents befalling vultures, cormorants, herons, and other bad critters.

I've heard multiple reports over the last few years of buzzards pecking the eyes out of newborn or very young calves.

[rhino]

Smallest caliber I carry in the field is a 4 inch S&W 66 .357 Magnum but mostly a .44 Magnum or .45 Colt Ruger. I am becoming quite fond of a .41 Magnum Ruger though.

[45MAN]

I HAD A $35 OR SO SHOOTING BAG ON A BENCH REST UP AT MY RANCH, READY FOR USE ON HOGS THAT MIGHT COME IN TO THE CAMP FEEDER, AND SOME VULTURE STARTED HANGING AROUND THE CAMP AND TORE THE BAG APART.

[44guru]

May 3, 2021 19:45:30 GMT -5 rangersedge said:

Yeah. Don't mention any accidents befalling vultures, cormorants, herons, and other bad critters.

I've heard multiple reports over the last few years of buzzards pecking the eyes out of newborn or very young calves.

[cas]

5 guns... had been hunting all week with my .44 Mountain gun on my right hip and .22 Bearcat on my left. I used to like to sit on the edge of a large field with my 16" .308 JDJ contender, but would carry it in my pack and still hunt my way to the field for an hour or two with my 11" 300 Whisper contender.

One afternoon I realized I hadn't had my .44 Bisley in the woods all week. Running latei , I didn't feel like taking the Mountain gun off my belt and just stuck the Bisley in my front pocket. Some time later in the woods it hit me... "Wait.. do I have five guns on me?"

[foxtrapper]

May 3, 2021 19:45:30 GMT -5 rangersedge said:

Yeah. Don't mention any accidents befalling vultures, cormorants, herons, and other bad critters.

I've heard multiple reports over the last few years of buzzards pecking the eyes out of newborn or very young calves.

To add , I’m watching a you tube video of a shooter in Europe taking out crows and magpies. Hired by sheep farmer because the birds kill their newborn ewes! Guy lays on a hill with a surpressed centerfire rifle ! Dang small targets.

[bigmuddy]

Smallest “caliber” I carry is a .40..,, in a 38-40 Colt SAA.

Dan

[redberens]

I live on the high plains of Colorado. When I go for a walk in the pasture I usually carry a .22 lr Bearcat, or a .22 Magnum Bearcat. I’ve always felt safe and protected with them. I’ve enjoyed the responses to this thread. I think it’s completely dependent on your location. Out here, the largest predator is the coyote, followed by the occasional rattle snake. If given a chance, both will avoid people at all costs. I think everyone has a pretty good handle on what’s out there and what it’d take to protect them.

[Markbo]

I used to carry a .22 routinely until a conversation with a game warden about a killing shot on a dying deer with a .22 is still illegal. So when small game or Deer hunting I always carry my Harton .32 H&R. If purposely hog gunting at least .45 acp minimum or one of the bigger boys. A do love the .45 Colt 😉