So far I've only hunted whitetail deer with my crossbow but black bear numbers are growing where I hunt. I could easily get a shot at one. The deer I've shot with the crossbow have all run out of sight before going down. I've waited an hour or so and tracked them. I've never lost one but some still had the strength to stand when I approached. The idea following a blood trail from a large black bear into a thicket armed with a crossbow is unattractive. I've been toying with the idea of getting a backup gun for emergency use. I'd also shoot it at my club range and might want to try it for deer so I'd want some accuracy. Double action? 4" brl? I want light. I've got small hands. Maybe a Taurus 444 Multi in 44 Mag? Going down to 38+P would open many revolver options but is it adequate in the unlikely event that I might need it? With a concealed carry permit I could legally carry a pistol while hunting in VA. Could a MD resident get a VA concealed carry permit for use in VA? Suggestions?

Since you stated it might be used as back-up for black bear I would set the .41 mag. as a sensible minimum.
And you stated you wanted it light, and might use it for deer I would suggest a Ruger Blackhawk in either .41 or .44 and go with a 6" barrel, it will give you a better sight radius than a 4" will. The single action is a natural pointer if you need a fast shot in less than ideal situations. It will carry very nicely also.
There are of course several different double actions out there that will fit the bill just as nicely. But for the money I think the Blackhawk will be hard to beat.

I can agree with the blackhawk, and have a few myself. But if weight and ease of carry is important, one of my favorite "back up" guns in the field is my Cimarron Thunderer in 45 Colt, carried inh a Mernickle holster. And the Mrnickel can be used either on ytour gith or left side. Light, accurate enough for those close encounters, and a wonderful cartridge.

A 44 mag would be the best choice.41 mag or hot 45 Colt are good options.You might even think of a light weight 44 mag and use 44 special loads for general shooting and use mag loads for emergencies.

if its only going to be used in emergencys a 4" s&w 500 would work rather nicly and far more effective than a 44 mag.

A LE friend who works and lives in Idaho wanted a long barrel Ruger Blackhawk in 45lc but his dealer talked him out of it suggesting the 4 5/8" barrel that's easier to carry. His rifle is a 7mm mag.He bought the 4 5/8" barrel along with Hogue rubber grips and Buffalo Bore 300gr Speer jacketed flat point ammo with a MV of 1300 fps which he used on a wounded Cow Elk shot it thru the head at 65 yards.I have 2 blackhawks with 4 5/8" barrels which I prefer .

You probably should check the hunting regulations of your state. At least in Ohio, it's illegal to carry a firearm when bowhunting during bow season.

It actually takes a bit of practice to shoot a handgun well in an emergency. Get one you'll enjoy target shooting. When getting into the heavier recoiling rounds like the 500 S&W, 460 S&W, 50 AE, etc. it hardly matters whether you get a single or double action weapon since recoil will prevent a quick accurate second shot anyway and a single action weapon will be about as fast. I would also recommend a 41 Magnum as the minimum for your purposes.

I guess I would set the minium a 357 and above.

Taurus makes 6 inch Ti trackers in both 357 and 41 the 357 is 7 shot the 41 is 5 shot. They are light weight easy to carry.

Any good 357 41 44 45 well work for what you need.

quote:

You probably should check the hunting regulations of your state. At least in Ohio, it's illegal to carry a firearm when bowhunting during bow season.

As it is in most if not all states....
I agree, and a CCW will not make it legal...

Va game law specifically states that a hunter with a concealed carry permit may carry a handgun during archery season. That's the only place I consider crossbow bear hunting with one. MD is so hostile to gun ownership in any form I that wouldn't think of carrying a handgun here.

Thanks for the suggestions. Keep them coming. I stick with the .44 or .41 as a minimum. I'll probabloy go with about a 4" brl. I think target shooting with light loads might interest me but hunting deer with the handgun for me is a long shot...no pun intended. I have a slight tremor. It doesn't affect my rifle shooting but my effective range with any pistol is unlikely to greatly exceed my effective range with a dagger. I guessing a 4" circle at 20 yrd.s would be very good for me.

Iwould use an SW muntain gun 44mag ,or a glock 40sw with fmjs major factor bullets its handy ,ligth ,and with fmjs at short distance i killed a lot of full speed carging wild boars.juan

quote:

Originally posted by juanpozzi:
Iwould use an SW muntain gun 44mag ,or a glock 40sw with fmjs major factor bullets its handy ,ligth ,and with fmjs at short distance i killed a lot of full speed carging wild boars.juan

I had never thought of the Glock in 40 S&W, but there is no better recommendation than one backed by experience.

I'd go with a smith Mt. gun, a Ruger Alaskan, or Taurus Tracker. Personally, 44 mag, 45Colt, or larger like 480 0r 454---2MG

Of course the 44 magunm has better stopping power i even killed some buffalos with it ,but the glock is very ligth and you have 16 shells in it ,besides that you can point very fast with it at running targest using the front sigth like a shotgun ,Juan

quote:

The deer I've shot with the crossbow have all run out of sight before going down. I've waited an hour or so and tracked them. I've never lost one but some still had the strength to stand when I approached. The idea following a blood trail from a large black bear into a thicket armed with a crossbow is unattractive. I've been toying with the idea of getting a backup gun for emergency use. Suggestions?

The best way to avoid the emergency use of a pistol is by killing your bear outright instead of wounding it. Sounds like some of your deer were poorly hit. Perhaps there are opportunities to tuneup your marksmanship, equipment, or shot selection. I recommend you not loose a bolt in the direction of a bear until all your whitetails are dead by the time you find them. All that said, my holster it and forget it backcountry beltgun is a S&W M629 Mtn Gun. I'd buy the 329 if I were shopping for such a gun these days.

I'll throw another vote in for the 4" 41 mag in a Taurus Titanium Tracker. I absolutely love mine. They are light weight, fairly compact, and pack decent stopping power. I feel that it's more manageable than a light 44 like a S&W 329. If I wanted a gun that was carried a lot and shot a little, I'd get the Smith. But I carry and shoot my Tracker all the time. It's actually my concealed carry gun.

There is also a 4" Titanium Tracker in the 45 Long Colt but is much harder to find. I shoot mine with 250gr XTP's at 1100 fps and it's a great carry gun. The 41 mag. version is very good as well. A 357 is just a little light for Blackies unless you handload and could use the heaviest premium bullets.

quote:

Originally posted by jwp475:

quote:

You probably should check the hunting regulations of your state. At least in Ohio, it's illegal to carry a firearm when bowhunting during bow season.

As it is in most if not all states....
I agree, and a CCW will not make it legal...

WV is legal as well.

I wish it were legeal in Louisiana but around here you canot pack a firearm while archery hunting either. But if I could I would carry the 329 S&W.

My hunting buddy killed the second largest of the black bears he's been seeing in the woods behind his house. No official wt. yet but the lady at the checking station said it was easily over 400 lb.s and the taxidermist called and said it is easy Pope & Young. I don't have a clue what that means but it seemed to please my buddy. Measured 7'4". He'll probably post his own pictures. Now do you see why I want an emergency back up .41 mag if I should shoot one with the crossbow?

quote:

I've been toying with the idea of getting a backup gun for emergency use.

quote:

if its only going to be used in emergencys a 4" s&w 500 would work rather nicly and far more effective than a 44 mag.

I bought a 4" 500 S&W for this exact same reason. I almost went with a lightweight 44. I'm glad I didn't!!

I've been reading about the S&W PC 327 TRR8. It seems to have several advantages over the .357PD. Reduced recoil, 8 shots, longer sight radius, more readily avaiable ammunition, .38 Spec. +P an easy practice option, rubber handgrip std etc. By the time I'd get the 357PD ported and the grip replaced there would be little difference in the price.

But of course it is a .357 mag. Most of you pistol hunters seem to believe it is inadequate for the purpose and the .41 mag minimum. Some of the bowhunters carry them.
Does anyone think a heavy load in 357 might do?
Or am I just over analizing this.

A .357 is better than a stick. The .41 is even better, the .44 is too, and so on. Choose the caliber you want to DEFEND your life with. If that's a .357, then buy it. I chose a .500

Also, don't put too much emphasis on capacity. In an emergency situation, you'll do good to even get one shot off, even luckier to get two. Eight? No way... Make the first shot count, again, that's why I carry the .500

My buddy got the word from the taxidermist yesterday. The field dressed carcass of his bear weighed @450 lbs. That thing must have been 525 lb.s whole. Holy freakin wow Batman! .41 is sounding better than a .357. Something came up at work today and I won't be able to hunt Fri Pm or Sat. Maybe next weekend.