For my mental protection while hunting Archery

***doberman 152*** · 04-29-2010, 11:26 AM

I need some sort of fire power while i'm doing my archery season. I moved deep into the NH woods and it's loaded with bear,moose, coyotes and what not.I will feel much safer with this S&W 329 PD (44Mag) packed on my hip it only weighs in at 26 Oz empty. The gun store wants $900 for it can i find something better in the .44 mag? Now for you smart asses i dont plan on shooting a moose or bear with it just a deterrent, but i would cap something if need be.

**steelerfan** · 04-29-2010, 12:35 PM

Smart move ! I would do the same thing ! The bigger the handgun the better for that ! You want to be able to put it down ! Have you ever seen a mad injured bear ??

**dpinson** · 04-29-2010, 04:03 PM

yeah no shit, a customer of mine went hunting in africa for cape buffalo
he shot one from a far and then tells the guide he thought it would be more exciting

so the guide circles the herd(in a truck) to piss the head buffalo off and then hands my customer 4 more bullets and says get out

of course hes like wtf and the guide says he is coming for you, now which one is going to die is up to you and took off

it took all 5 bullets and the animal still made it within ten feet of my customer

f-that shit,when you piss off an animal like that it is almost impossible to put them down

3 of those were head shots and the animal was dead before the laast shot but was still going

***doberman 152*** · 04-29-2010, 04:09 PM

I know this is over-exaggerating but check this situation out.

[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0kuypQYeBmo[/ame]

**tremiles** · 04-30-2010, 11:41 AM

Originally Posted by doberman 152

I need some sort of fire power while i'm doing my archery season. I moved deep into the NH woods and it's loaded with bear,moose, coyotes and what not.I will feel much safer with this S&W 329 PD (44Mag) packed on my hip it only weighs in at 26 Oz empty. The gun store wants $900 for it can i find something better in the .44 mag? Now for you smart asses i dont plan on shooting a moose or bear with it just a deterrent, but i would cap something if need be.

.44 Mag is certainly a capable trail round. Personally I wouldn't shoot it out of anything but a steel framed gun though. I've shot Airweight/TI framed S&W's in .357 and .44 mag, recoil is significant to the point that second shots were much less accurate because of anticipation. Although weight of the steel guns is a concern on the trail, if you the opposite side of the holster on your belt, it's not a big deal.

**hutch1999** · 05-01-2010, 01:39 PM

to be honest I don't blame you for wanting a sidearm. After spotting cougars in my area I won't bow hunt without one. I pack a .357 ruger which shoots great.

**slims00ls1z28** · 05-02-2010, 02:52 AM

Pick up a G29 in 10mm, get some corbon ammo and call it good still have 300+ left over.

**pajeff02** · 05-02-2010, 05:19 AM

I have never archery hunted. Is it legal to carry a firearm during bow season? Just curious.

**dpinson** · 05-02-2010, 07:22 AM

maybe in some states but not texas

***SMWS6TA*** · 05-03-2010, 12:28 PM

Don't blame you for want to carry a back up.

Long, long long time ago, me, my dad, and uncle were out bow hunting when some boar run up on us. Mommy boar didn't like us there so she charged as we jump into some trees. My uncle unloaded 15 times with his .357 in it's head and she wouldn't drop. Mean bitch...

**steelerfan** · 05-03-2010, 12:43 PM

Originally Posted by pajeff02

I have never archery hunted. Is it legal to carry a firearm during bow season? Just curious.

I may be wrong on this since I don't bow hunt but my hunting buddy does & I believe he told me once you can but only with a revolver,no semi-auto.You can't use it to hunt,only self protection except during firearms season

**INMY01TA** · 05-03-2010, 05:41 PM

Originally Posted by tremiles

.44 Mag is certainly a capable trail round. Personally I wouldn't shoot it out of anything but a steel framed gun though. I've shot Airweight/TI framed S&W's in .357 and .44 mag, recoil is significant to the point that second shots were much less accurate because of anticipation. Although weight of the steel guns is a concern on the trail, if you the opposite side of the holster on your belt, it's not a big deal.

This. That'll put a hurtin on your hands shooting it too.

**2000LS1Bird** · 05-03-2010, 06:19 PM

I just read this article at the bookstore (but I can't remember what gun mag) about a guy who had to shoot a bear while out walking his dogs.

He was carrying something a little more stout than a .44. Can't remember that either, but it was a 5-shot .450 Magnum or some shit. He lived in bear country.

Anyway he said his dogs ran off, he saw the bear, and it was already charging him and he barely had time to get the gun up and unload on it. He didn't notice any recoil because he was busy shitting his pants as he unloaded on it, and the 5th shot actually jammed (probably due to the heavier caliber and the double-action gun having never been fired so fast).

Luckily he hit it twice and dropped it.

Shooting a bear with a handgun is an iffy proposition. If I was going to spend $900, I think I'd opt for something like he had with serious power and 5 shots, because I think I'd be lucky to get two rounds popped off.

Trying to do a follow-up shot on a charging bear with an ultra-lite .44 could get you killed.

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**Nhra Firebird** · 05-04-2010, 03:56 PM

Originally Posted by pajeff02

I have never archery hunted. Is it legal to carry a firearm during bow season? Just curious.

Not in pa.... years ago you could but they changed the law.

**Willfully Armed** · 05-05-2010, 08:56 PM

That PD will be comfortable to carry, but the sonofabitches arent fun to shoot even once with full pressure ammo.

Id go for a stainless steel something with at least 4" of barrel. 357 with heavy Buffalo Bore ammo will tame the wildest of North American predators. If thats too small a bullet. 41 Rem Mag is a good one.

My hunting sidearm is a 7.5" Ruger Super duper Blackhawk .44 in stainless. I dont care if it gets wet or sweaty or bloody. Im also packing something IWB, either a 9mm or .45.

Lack of firepower wont be listed as a reason.

**0rion** · 05-06-2010, 03:55 AM

check your state laws......it's also illegal here to carry a firearm during bow season. We don't have bears here though and it'd be worth a piece of mind to have one on you if there are bears around. During the fall I'd think an attack by a black bear would be pretty slim.....they're just not an overly aggressive bear unless they have cubs with them and the fall isn't when I'd worry about that. Spring turkey season would be a different story though.