What revolver do you carry as backup in rough country?

[wyomingnimrod]

Those Trijicon sights seem like they’d be great for their intended purpose, Kevshell.
And Snyd, thanks for the info about how you carry your Redhawk in the Pancake. I just ordered one the other day with the retention strap and plan to use it as you’ve described. Also got a NW Mountain Companion crossdraw with hammer thong for my FA 97 .45 Colt coming to try and experiment with carrying that that way.
On another note, out of curiosity, it would interesting to see what the “classiest” or nicest (subjective designation, I know) revolver is that someone on here chooses to carry into rough country with regularity. Surely it would be blued and have a beautiful custom handle and possibly be quite old as well…

[bushog]

My Bowen built L frame .41 Special mountain gun is my favorite w/200gr large HP cast at about 950fps. Light, accurate and easy to shoot. It rides in an Ringler Wyoming Combo shoulder rig. Otherwise it’s a Bowen mid frame flattop in 5 shot 45 Colt with 3OOs at about 1100fps in whatever it’s in… Both are more than enough for Northern NM. Worst thing I’m likely to encounter has 2 legs or if there’s a freak lion attack….

[gnappi]

I haven't been afield for a while but when I do it will likely be a Ruger .41 or .45 Colt.

[kevshell]

Sometimes it just depends on what mood I'm in. Last time it was this 44 stoked with copper solids. Next time it's going to be a Ruger Bisley 45 Colt stoked with heavy LBTs. And then there's the 500 vaquero I had built. That's what I carried last fall.

[mk70ss]

Uberti 3 1/2 inch .45 Colt single action. Buffalo Bore hardcast solids.

[Lee Martin]

I'm hardly ever in 'rough country', but in the woods I carry a .414 Razorback (loaded with .41 Magnums, 240 gr LFNs @ 1,200 fps).



We don't have much big in the way of threats here in Virginia. If I lived in someplace like Alaska, it would be the 5-shot .45 Colt at the top of this page loaded with my 380 gr LFN.

-Lee
www.singleactions.com
"Chasing perfection five shots at a time"

[leftysixgun]

Rough country around here and to me....aggressive stray dogs would be my biggest problem. But I guess I also have the rare chance of a cougar or charging wild boar. But for woods carry as back up I have a Alaskan in 454 and 480. Even though I have full confidence in the 45colt, I dont have confidence in a SA in a defensive type scenario.

[shorty500]

It varies somewhat for me here in the mid south due to location and/or time of year- but typically most all carry some size of .45 slug

[MackaySagebrush]

What gun really depends on a few things.

Part of the decision process is how far I intend to hike, how much weight I am carrying, other activities, etc.


If I am going for a short hike, I may just carry a 4-5" Model 29.





If I am covering ground and weight is important, I am likely to be carrying a lighter weight pistol, like a Colt LW Commander .45 ACP, full of 250 grain +Ps.



Another factor is if I am traveling. I live in ID, but travel and hike in Montana a good bit, and want to minimize the amount of guns and gear carried, so often I will try to find one pistol that will serve both a "Trail and Town" function.

That could be a 1911, or an S&W Performance Center 4563, which has very similar features to a Colt LW commander, but is a traditional DA/SA pistol.




I have however recently been carrying and using a Glock 22 with RDO quite a bit lately. I worked up a load that is essentially a +P 40. It is a 170 grain Poly-Coat SWC that runs 1200 FPS from my G22.


It is superbly accurate and gives me a lot of firepower in a standard (9mm/40 frame) and is easy enough to conceal when not on the trail.

[parallaxbill]

Love the old Schrade Sharp finger.

[MackaySagebrush]

I spend a good bit of time hiking, and use a Hill People Gear Kit Bag. The Recon version with Molle attachments. Instead of the traditional method of putting the handgun inside the zippered pouch, I attached an old M4 double mag pouch to the outside, using the Molle webbing. I then use one of the mag pouches as a "holster". The flap is simply tucked in, unless the terrain or something else dictates more security, then I can fold the flap over and provide extra retention.




This gives me MUCH fast speed in presentation of the handgun, vs using the zippered pouch.

Then, if I get near a trailhead or around people where I prefer for the handgun not to be seen, I can simply put it in the main zippered pouch and it is out of sight, out of mind.

This has proven to be an extremely effective method for me. The pouch fits most semi auto pistols well enough, and if you attach a weapons light to the bottom of a Glock for example, it is almost like a custom fit, which works extremely well. I always have a headlamp on me, night or day, when on a trail, but redundancy is a great thing.

[James]

When hunting brown bear I always had a stainless Dan Wesson 44 with four inch vent heavy barrel on my hip. Was loaded long with 300gr Punch bullet...

[James]

It is superbly accurate and gives me a lot of firepower in a standard (9mm/40 frame) and is easy enough to conceal when not on the trail.








nice shootin at 27.....................

[rjm52]

.41 Magnum...prefer a DA over a SA simply because I'm faster and much more accurate with it close up over a SA. When I stayed with Mackay I carried a 4" 57 and was all I ever needed.
S&W 57, 657, 657MG in 3", 4" and 5".
Taurus Tracker SS or Titanium 4"

Loads are 210-250 all in the 11-1200 range for better control and followup shots.

Also like the 10mm in a 1911 and have 200 hard cast loads at 11-1200 just like the .41...

But usually it's a DA...Bob

[MackaySagebrush]

Jun 30, 2023 23:15:10 GMT -5 James said:

nice shootin at 27.....................

Thanks,

I have a special gift when it comes to shooting.

Normally I shoot a good group of 4-5-6 rounds. Then I have to throw a flyer. Almost every time. It is a gift to remind myself that no matter how decent I think I may be, I still suck.

This is a perfect example.



Rested, sandbagged groups of .44 Special ammo. The ammo itself is very accurate. The gun is one of the most accurate revolvers I have ever used. A M29 Classic. 

The weak link is the dummy who has to throw a shot and mess things up.





Lighter, .44 Special loads or heavy .300 grain Mags, it is a gift..