Backup handgun for surprise close hunting situations.

[Rick_W]

Born and raised 20 miles north of "Red Stick". Spend all available time when not in scholol, in Evangeline Parish! memtb

Born and raised in Natchez, MS.

Spent 18 years trying to get out and the next 20 trying to get back.

Try to shoot over in Sorrento every couple of months - they shoot the 1st & 3rd Saturday of every month.

 

[Hoss50]

Where are you and what are you trying to knock down?

I used to carry big Ruger wheel guns in the woods in AZ. In reality a 45 Colt or 44Mag is plenty of gun for AZ black bears, cats, deer, etc. Overkill really.

I switched to carrying my 1911 in 38 Super loaded with stout loads. I am also really thinking about a 10mm. 1911 or Glock. Not sure yet.

The 1911 is easier and lighter to carry, and packs plenty of punch with quicker follow up shots. The only thing I would feel under gunned for is elk. For elk i would be stepping back up to a wheel gun if i was thinking about trying to dump an elk with a pistol.

 

[entoptics]

Where are you and what are you trying to knock down?...

There's nothing dangerous where I hunt beyond other hunters and the quarry itself. The OP was about "snap shooting" in close quarters during an elk hunt, with the idea that a pistol would be your "holy crap!" rig, when you stumble across a shooter in a gully, and your long range gun is strapped tightly to your back and hard to access.

...The 1911 is easier and lighter to carry, and packs plenty of punch with quicker follow up shots. The only thing I would feel under gunned for is elk. For elk i would be stepping back up to a wheel gun if i was thinking about trying to dump an elk with a pistol.

A G20 full of 15 bullets is about the same weight as an empty 1911. I agree that 10 mm is also marginal for elk.

 

[just country]

morning, I have owned and hunted with 5 44 magnums.
REMEMBER 1 thing. the RECOIL of the big rev. calibers
take time to recover from. the 10mm can b
obtained in semi-auto. I have 3 10mm's
3 40cal's in glock's very accurate.
a hunter can change the barrel length
of the glocks. I have 6" wolf barrels in my 3 10mm's.
a hunter can get hard swaged bullets for the 10mm.
the velocity and bullet weight is comparable to the
41 mag. which has been passed over for some reason.
the larger caliber rev. have 6 rounds. the glock has
13 rounds and a quick reload. the person on TV
that uses the 10mm for hunting is from Australia.
killed a water buffalo with the 10mm.
justme gbot tum

 

[VLD Pilot]

It's no trouble killing large game with a 10mm and proper bullet given it's within the effective range of that round. I'm a huge proponent if that cartridge. I'm also a realist and think that there ARE better hunting cartridges out there. Guns that offer better optics mounting and have better ballistics for use as hunting pistols. No doubt IMO that the 10mm with it's fast acquisition and faster reload, along with very accurate shootibility, makes it an ideal woods defense gun. It offers much better firepower than any wheel gun does and packs( Carry's) easier. I do think for a backup deer, elk or game pistol where defense isn't it's purpose, a wheel gun offers Superior accuracy and ballistic advantage. One disadvantage tho is it's heavy, bulky profile for carrying.

 

[Hoss50]

A G20 full of 15 bullets is about the same weight as an empty 1911. I agree that 10 mm is also marginal for elk.

The weight savings of my 1911 is vs the big old ruger wheel guns I used to tote around.

I like the idea of the G20 and would not have a problem using it on elk in close quarters with hard cast bullets. The problem is I am a 1911 shooter so a G20 has wrong grip angle for me.

I actually handled a G20 recently because I am seriously considering one anyway and learning to shoot it.

 

[Methow Packer]

Back up handgun for surprised target game animals OR back up handgun for surprised dangerous game animals ? Huge difference. For intended game animals the big bores fit the bill as you'll have plenty of time for the shot to be on target and if not, the worse case scenario is, the animal walks off. Recoil and follow up shots aren't a consideration. For the Mama bear protecting her Cubs or and angry territorial bear, the manageable auto pistol is a consideration. Certainly not saying a 400 corbon, 10mm or heavy 45 acp is good bear hunting medicine. I believe they'll kill a bear easily with good shot placement BUT much better options for hunting bears. For a bear in attack mode, the fast, accurate follow up shots from an auto with heavy penetrating bullets IMO Trump's a heavy recoiling revolver with 5-6 shots. Bears move fast so shots will need to be fast. Don't see the big revolver putting shots out fast AND accurate. The auto will put out 3 times the shots twice as accurate as the big bores. These are my opinions only. I've carried a 44 mag in bear country back packing mountains on elk hunts. Never had an issue. I now carry a 10mm with heavy loads. I Hope to never have to prove which gun would have been best. I think either choice is good but everyone has a choice and not all ours are the same. Another consideration is carry location. Chest carry is my choice but some still prefer waist carry. Lots of variables to consider.

I to carry a 10MM Auto in a 1911 5". Incredibly accurate to 50 yards. I reload and have magazines full of 180XTP and the new Lehigh Extreme defense bullet. My Labradar clocks them @ 1300 FPS. With 10 round mags I feel pretty confident for close range hunting. Hate the idea of having to use it on a ****ed off griz but you never know if you're in that country. I hunt and pack by horse a lot . I carry it cross draw style and if a good close range deer happens to be spotted from horseback, being able to jump off and get a kill shot with my pistol is way quicker than my scabbard rifle. I've got some big bore revolvers but to carry them is heavy unless your setup with like a Diamond D chest rig. Problem with those is recovering from recoil to get a second accurate shot placement. Nice to have choices. If I was strictly hunting I'd chose the big bore. Occasional shots while doing something else my Kimber 1911.

 

[VLD Pilot]

The weight savings of my 1911 is vs the big old ruger wheel guns I used to tote around.

I like the idea of the G20 and would not have a problem using it on elk in close quarters with hard cast bullets. The problem is I am a 1911 shooter so a G20 has wrong grip angle for me.

I actually handled a G20 recently because I am seriously considering one anyway and learning to shoot it.

Hard to beat the 1911s. They are the best fit autos available. They shoot phenomenal and look even better. I've shot and own several. Retired now from LE, my duty gun and personal carry guns both were and are Glocks. I own several Glocks and i agree that they don't fit like a 1911...UNTIL you get used to shooting them and getting proficient with them. My Glock 20s are strictly for carrying while bow hunting bear country. I'm not a huge fan of many of the 1911s being completely dependable. Really auto loaders worry many in that area. Nothing as dependable as a cylinder gun. You have to shoot and get confident with an auto loader. Especially if it's for your personal safety in life threatening scenarios. My Glock 20 has a 6" custom bbl and has additional upgrades. It carries 20 Rd mags of 220 Hardcast ammo that feed flawlessly. Some didn't at first but finding and shooting various brands, you will come up with the best recipe.

 

[VLD Pilot]

180 bonded core Corbon ammo is very good for hunting deer or larger size game animals. Very accurate and the bullets do there job well

 

[Methow Packer]

The weight savings of my 1911 is vs the big old ruger wheel guns I used to tote around.

I like the idea of the G20 and would not have a problem using it on elk in close quarters with hard cast bullets. The problem is I am a 1911 shooter so a G20 has wrong grip angle for me.

I actually handled a G20 recently because I am seriously considering one anyway and learning to shoot it.

You know I bought a G20. Replaced the barrel, trigger assy and did a trigger job on it. The shooting angle is wrong for my extra large hands. I didn't like the trigger even after all the work I put into it. Sold it and bought a 1911.Did a trigger job to get a 2.5 Lb trigger. Its got the shooting angle that fits me better. Super accurate.

 

[VLD Pilot]

You know I bought a G20. Replaced the barrel, trigger assy and did a trigger job on it. The shooting angle is wrong for my extra large hands. I didn't like the trigger even after all the work I put into it. Sold it and bought a 1911.Did a trigger job to get a 2.5 Lb trigger. Its got the shooting angle that fits me better. Super accurate.

Use what fits best and gives confidence. My Colt Delta Elite in 10mm gives me confidence and is very accurate. It simply lacks firepower. Something I cannot live without when needed.

 

[Hoss50]

You know I bought a G20. Replaced the barrel, trigger assy and did a trigger job on it. The shooting angle is wrong for my extra large hands. I didn't like the trigger even after all the work I put into it. Sold it and bought a 1911.Did a trigger job to get a 2.5 Lb trigger. Its got the shooting angle that fits me better. Super accurate.

I am only considering the Glock for 3 reasons. Price point, easier to operate, and reliability. Glock beats the good 1911 in those areas. I have never had a problem with my 1911 in 38 super unless it is dirty, but I believe the glock would have functioned perfectly in the same dirty condition as my 1911.

That said I just make sure the 1911 is clean when I take it out as my side arm.

The last thing I think about for the glock is what if it isn't you who needs to pull it off your injured body and use it to fight a bear off. Does everyone know how to disengage the safety on the 1911 and operate it? The glock is as close to a wheel gun as you can get. Point and pull.

 

[Hoss50]

Use what fits best and gives confidence. My Colt Delta Elite in 10mm gives me confidence and is very accurate. It simply lacks firepower. Something I cannot live without when needed.

Unless you are in a state with griz I would feel under gunned with a 10mm. Even then I am not sure I would have a problem taking it as my backup.

 

[del2les]

I've been handgun hunting and IHMSA shooting since the late 70's, and for those close encounters with things with large teeth and claws, a 44mag with 300gr hard cast WFN, a strong 45 LC with 310 or 325 hard cast WFN's, or of course the 454's and up with hard cast FN's (watch out for the JHP's as they expand on thick muscle and bone too quickly). Personally for an animal defense carry, I do not like the heavier recoil of the modern hand cannons, as they do not allow for up close quick follow up shots, but that is just me.

Here in my home state of CO while hiking, back-country fishing, camping and scouting, the past several years I have carried a 45 Super in a modified 1911 with a comp, that drives 230FMJFP at 1,100fps and 230LCFN at 1,200fps. It is very sufficient to handle the blackies and cats up close and allows for fast followup shots, and the hard FN's will drive fairly deep through bone/muscle and reach through the vitals.

Even the standby 357mag loaded with 180gr hardcast WFN's does a decent job