quote:

Originally posted by The Senator:
I carry a Hamilton Bowen Ruger N.M. Super Blackhawk 7 1/2" barrel in Stainless Steel, with a 2 lb trigger pull, tanker holster in 45 Colt with cast bullets.
Senator

I have a couple of threads on the subject of "sidearms while hunting with a rifle" at two other Alaska forums (one of the threads a poll), and both show over 50% of hunters carrying sidearms. The main difference between the others and this forum is that a lot of hunters post in the former, while just a few in here.

Naah...this will do the trick...a bit more expensive though 12/70 and 9.3x74...2 of each

Little bigger than a hand gun.

quote:

Originally posted by p dog shooter:
Little bigger than a hand gun.

I thought it was the gun on an A-10 Warthog

Guns not heavy...but the tripod gets cumbersome

If I can't kill it with a rifle, a pistol won't be much help, well maybe to shoot yourself when you realize its all over but the sad singing!

quote:

Originally posted by Atkinson:
If I can't kill it with a rifle, a pistol won't be much help, well maybe to shoot yourself when you realize its all over but the sad singing!

I sidearm is handy if for whatever reason you can't fire the rifle.

Anyway, this year I am taking a microwave oven to my campsite. Won't carry it with me while hunting, unless I can keep both a generator and the oven on my side by side

Just kidding, Ray.

some of you might wish you had that handgun on your side when you rifle goes click instead of boom ! Just saying.

Interesting thread.

What I have learned so far:

Ray takes some beautiful pictures.




There is no need to carry a handgun, just bring Phil Shoemaker along. Anyone who can do this with his bare hands doesn't need a firearm at all!


In regards to all the extra stuff that is so absolutely indispensable to bring along nowadays, in my 20's I had the realization that I would probably not have to fight bears and went from a larger fixed blade knife to a folder. It was the first change that I did where I realized that even something that insignificant made a notable difference in comfort as I didn't have that sheath hanging up on the undergrowth any more. Sounds silly now but it really had an effect on me back then.

In regards to carrying a handgun, I'll refrain from commenting as I have never hunted in AK, but I have noticed in the past that ideas that make plenty of sense when typed out on a computer in the morning with a warm cup of coffee in hand can seem pretty darn stupid in the middle of the woods at 1:00 AM.

Thanks, Mark.

Hopefully I will see some moose, or at least birds this moose season (leaving today)

The Auroras should be good depending on cloud covers (has been raining for days, already).

Mark,

What you wrote reminded me that it only took me about one Alaska hunt where I had to pack everything on my back to get rid of everything around my waist except a multi-tool on my belt. Knives went in my pack with a lightweight folder in my pocket, rifle ammo on the rifle stock and my handguns stayed home unless I was hunting with them.

Mark

Leaving in 2 weeks. Decided to bring the G20 with buffalo bore 220 hard cast ammo. Just because I can

Make sure to try that hot ammo in your pistol for proper function. Might need a stiffer recoil spring to dampen the slide a bit to keep from damaging the slide stop. A broken pistol won't protect anything if you needed it.

Arctic grouse -- the best tasting bird there is !!

Take a Lancaster 4 barrel pistol in a good healthy cartridge !

I carry a 4" 500 smith in belt holster. Load is 450 grain @ 1200 fps by chronograph. It goes where and when I go even for the river dunking when I slipped and got a little wetter than planed. I have had bear confrontation when I lived in New Mexico 35 years ago. It ended quite quickly with each of hurrying away in the other direction.

Heavy recoil spring seems to work perfect.. I can't tell its hotter than my regular 10mm ammo but I may chrono it. Main thing it feeds and functions great

quote:

Originally posted by Woodrow S:
Make sure to try that hot ammo in your pistol for proper function. Might need a stiffer recoil spring to dampen the slide a bit to keep from damaging the slide stop. A broken pistol won't protect anything if you needed it.

I have a .454 redhawk alskan. While it definitely has the muzzle energy, I find it is almost unshootable with full power loads. But with 400 grain hardcast it will definitely do the job...Of course I will have a .375 with me so the 10mm is just to get to my rifle...

quote:

Originally posted by redale:
I carry a 4" 500 smith in belt holster. Load is 450 grain @ 1200 fps by chronograph. It goes where and when I go even for the river dunking when I slipped and got a little wetter than planed. I have had bear confrontation when I lived in New Mexico 35 years ago. It ended quite quickly with each of hurrying away in the other direction.

quote:

Originally posted by MARK H. YOUNG:
Mark,

What you wrote reminded me that it only took me about one Alaska hunt where I had to pack everything on my back to get rid of everything around my waist except a multi-tool on my belt. Knives went in my pack with a lightweight folder in my pocket, rifle ammo on the rifle stock and my handguns stayed home unless I was hunting with them.

Mark

Wisdom from experience is valuable..

Last 2 years I spent 30 days in the field on a high altitude elk hunts carrying the same gun. I feel Alaska will be no different. I did not carry a handgun last time I was there. If it's too heavy I'll leave it in the tent I guess or in my pack, but I doubt it. Very comforting in bear country when nature calls

What weight recoil spring did you switch to in your G20 to handle Buffalo Bore ammo?

I got it a glockmeister here in Mesa AZ (great store), stainless guide rod with a 22 or 24 lb spring can't remember. Works great. Also using a KKM barrel with conventional rifling. Very accurate combo with cast bullets. Can't be a sissy racking the slide now though Also have trijicon HD orange front sight set. Great setup for low light

Used one of my sidearms during moose season to shoot this one, right by my campsite. It was around 10:00PM:

Very nice Ray.

When I worked midnights I use to see a lot of them.

Most of the time now I am asleep when they are out and about

quote:

Originally posted by p dog shooter:
Very nice Ray.

When I worked midnights I use to see a lot of them.

Most of the time now I am asleep when they are out and about

Thanks.

This moose season we had a couple of nights without snow, rain, or just cloud cover. Our campsite is on a high point of a ridge at 2,000 feet elevation, thus the sunset in the photo.
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One out of five of us at the campsite didn't have a sidearm. Three were .454 Casull, and one .44 Magum.

However, we ride UTV's to each hunting spot, and one rides an ATV, so extra gear and sidearms aren't a problem. The campsite is quite comfortable, like "home away from home" in relation to foods and amenities. Probably burned 1/2 cord of firewood at the fire-pit and BBQ grill

Sounds like a great time.

quote:

Originally posted by p dog shooter:
Sounds like a great time.

Yes, a great time. None of us drinks while hunting, but we eat very well.