calling side arm? 10mm glock or ruger alaskan?

TripleDeuce660

TripleDeuce660

Active member
I am getting ready to purchase my first handgun.The main purpose is sidearm while calling coyote. I am definently going to call in mtn lion or bear sooner or later, since i'm usualy alone with just my .223 or 22mag I need a sidearm that can kill black bear.

This gun will also be used as sidearm upland hunting fishing and hiking.

sidearm for the tent when camping. defense from people is my last concern but it will do that too.

I have only limited handgun experience. I have fired a few hundred rounds of 22lr from a ruger markII with scope, about 50 rounds from a 9mm xd which i like and hit good with. when i was about ten I shot a 44mag S&W model 29 and couldn't hit a thing but i was only a little kid.


I'm considering the G20sf this pistol seems good to me because it has enough to kill a bear with double tap 200 grain wfn beartooth loads. (yes i know 44mag or bigger is better). My reasoning is first off I can get a AA 22lr conversion kit and practice with cheap ammo since I don't reload YET. I can also shoot regular 10mm loads and of course the double tap stuff for the field. I'm thinking its light weight has a longer sight radious which is good, i can put on 3 dot night sites for protection at camp, it shouldn't recoil too hard. I'm scared of getting something that kicks so hard I can't master shooting it or i develope a bad flinch. I can also carry the gun without one in the chamber which seems safe. I am alttle afraid of a 5lb trigger with no safety while crashing through the brush.Also I know if i ever do face a bear I'll probably be wishing I had a cannon not a 10mm!

Or my other choice is the ruger super redhawk alaskan in 454 casull. I can practice with the 45 colt loads and have the 454 casull for the field.It weighs slightly more which is bad but the revolver is more reliable, 10 lb trigger in double action seems safer, and of course MORE POWER. I'm concerned about not having the money to feed it till i reload which will be a while. Also not sure about the short sight radious and most of all not sure I can master something with so much recoil. I know the 45LC has some weak low recoil loads i can practice with.

Do you guys think the alaskan is too much for a beginner?

maybe I should start with the 10mm and then if i master that step up to the alaskan?

soo many choices!
 
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I would definitly think about the 44mag ammo is available, you can shoot 44 specials for practice or when you do reload just do light loads. If you have a full cover holster(fully covers the trigger guard) you don't have to worry about crashing through the brush. Also the blackhawk is a single action, if you want double action (my personal preference) it's a standard redhawk or the super redhawk (which is made in the alaskan model which is stainless w/ hogue grips) according to my catalog there is no .454casull in a single action.All Rugers come with rings for a scope in case you ever decide to handgun hunt. Both of these Ruger hand guns are very accurate and reliable. I have never had a revolver jam, I know some people who have but it was always operator error.
If you want a catalog they will send you one for free, www.ruger.com
 
Being a 10mm fan, I don't thing anyone makes a .22 conversion for the Glock 20 (10mm) and 21 (45acp) models... I know there are a couple made for the full size smaller frame 17s and 22s...

For emergency/defensive use, I strongly suggest a double action revolver and if you are set on the 10mm, S&W made a model 610 revolver, there are about a half dozen listed on Gunbroker right now..but I think you would have more luck in the .41 magnum and .44 magnum calibers with the .44 being a better choice due to the availability of ammo and the dual capability between the .44 magnum and .44 special loadings..

I reload for my 10mms and can load anything from really hot/fast 135gr bullets to the 200gr HPs, but factory ammo in that caliber can be really spotty to find and you need to be really proficient with any caliber, so regular practice is a priority..
 
A double action revolver is the right answer.

I'd recommend the 4" barrel stainless Ruger RedHawk in either .44 magnum or, if you reload, .45 Colt. Ruger revolvers are incredibly dependable, strong and rugged - the .45 Colt versions have their own set of loads in loading manuals - the "Ruger/Contender Onlly" loads. They shoot really well.

If I was in your situation, I'd buy the RedHawk in .45 Colt and learn to reload it for bear. In a Ruger RedHawk or BlackHawk Revolver frame, the .45 Colt can be loaded over a range from mild practice loads to .44 MAG muzzle energy with less recoil. It's a "very" effective cartridge and in that revolver easy to carry in a good holster.

With either caliber, if having this with you is going to do you any good, you will need to practice with it until you can hit with it both single action and double action.

I don't have to deal with bears here in south central PA so my hunting side arm is a Ruger GP100 .357 magnum. I've also been known to have along my Ruger BlackHawk in .45 Colt with a some what warmed up meat load (250g LSWC, 10g of Unique).

Fitch
 
Old Turtle: There is at least one .22lr upper assembly available for the Glock Model 20 (I have one of the Advantage Arms Conversion units).

TripleDeuce660: I have the S&W M29 (.44mag) and love it. Other posters have mentioned the ability to load it to gentle power levels or carry very powerful (for a handgun) loads that will penetrate deeply (300 grain hardcast swc at about 1,200fps).

I carry and shoot the 10mm M20 Glock and think you would be better with the 6-shot .44mag. Do not ever count on your ability to "double-tap" your way to success in the field against a moving, man-killing mass of bone, sinew and bad attitude. Instead, train yourself in marksmanship so that you can reliably hit with first and subsequent shots, using two hands, right and left, as well. Carry a couple of loaded speed loaders, too.

The semi-automatic is dependant on lots of mechanical things to get that second shot; the revolver may be more reliable for your needs and it is easier to train up. By the way, the Glocks are safe to carry with a loaded chamber. If you need a gun in a hurry, you may not be able to load the chamber (by retracting the slide) in an emergency.

Some countries do not permit citizens to carry semi-automatic pistols with a loaded chamber, American is not one of them.

Train with the ammo you will carry and carry ammo that you can shoot well and are not fearful of.

Good hunting,

Karl in Phoenix
 
TripleDeuce660: You may also be able to get one of those electro-optical dot sights for the handgun of your choice. Trijicon makes one that needs NO batteries and projects an amber dot on the viewing screen. This is a very small unit that will withstand the recoil forces of the handgun.

Using the dot-sight, all you have to do is watch your "target" and the dot will be there. If you elect to get the dot sight, I recommend the largest of the dots (8 or 9 moa). This gives you a good 100 yards of effectiveness at placing a bullet on target, without dealing with sight alignment.

Good hunting,

Karl in Phoenix
 
Originally Posted By: Karl in PhoenixOld Turtle:
Do not ever count on your ability to "double-tap" your way to success in the field against a moving, man-killing mass of bone, sinew and bad attitude.
Karl in Phoenix


I think the original poster is refering to Double Tap ammo, not actually double tapping.

I vote for G20
 
I love shooting pistol in 22. I think it is one of the funnest types of shooting. I find that 22 pistols are very accurate and fun, and larger caliber hand guns are not nearly as accurate and fun.

I also never think I'm going to call in something that will kill me (yeah I'm that ignorant).

So my pick if I was new and wanted to learn would be a very accurate 22 pistol, and some bear mace. My first choice would be the S&W model 41, followed by the Browning Buckmark, and last would be the Ruger mark 2.

Now that I'm done being a me monster I'll take my pick amongst your choices. I'd go for the Glock and the 22 conversion. I really don't like Glocks, but most shooters do.

As an after thought the most accurate large cal handgun I own is a S&W model 27 .357 mag revolver.
 
I didn't read what everyone else had to say, but if I had one pistol to carry it would be a 357mag gp100. The frame is smaller than an alaskan overall weight would be down. Recoil is not much at all. 4" barrel would be nice and handy. 357 mag ammo still cheapish in comparison to 10mm or 44, or 454. 357 mag will do the job on most everything. JMHO
el Chefo
 
On a side note, doesn't Cali have a small list of guns that are legal for carry and you have to pick one from the list or carry nothing at all?
 
My vote is for the ruger redhawk 44 magnum. Like previously stated you can practice with 44 special loads. I know a lot of people like glocks but my personal opinion is I don't like them. I sold my last glock and never looked back. I had some problems with it. This may be unusual but it was my experience.

Also reloading for glocks requires some special attention. Google "glock kaboom" I know all the arguments for and against reloading for glocks. I just want the poster to be aware of this issue so he can make an informed decision.

Good luck with whatever you decide.
 
Glock 20. Nothing against the Redhawk but I'd feel more comfortable knowing I have almost 3 times the ammo capacity. The Glock is much more comfortable to carry. I wouldn't enjoy packing that hogleg all day, pulling my pants down at 1 to 1 1/2 lbs heavier than the Glock. That would flat take the fun out of calling for me. lol!

If you are planning on doing a lot of reloading just get a fully supported barrel for the Glock.

Or just hunt with a .243. SPs won't hurt the hide too bad if you get a coyote worth skinning.

Good hunting
 
another vote for the .357 especially the 4" gp100 (thats what i use) ammo still resonably cheap plus you can shoot .38 specials in it. and you can load up some 200 grain hardcast rounds for when your calling. i think handguns should be built up to try the .357 first then get a 10mm or .44 mag once you can handle the .357. you need to get something that your not afarid to shoot and can afford to shot since you dont reload
 
660,previous posters have given you some very good information on handguns for a calling situation. What it boils down to is a personal preference of what you can handle and shoot. One thing that I do in bear and lion country is to have the handgun on a lanyard tied to my belt. You can keep the lanyard in an out of the way place so it doesn't hang up in the brush. This gives me a little peace of mind that if I do get in a real bear fix I MAY still have one firearm in my possession. I know there are different opinions on this, it is offered as information only.
 
Should I find myself in a disagreement with a black bear I would prefer my 18" CS R15 .223 over any handgun. Or better yet my 21" 1100 with 4 Buck.

If such a situation arises I sure woldn't put down your .223 to draw a handgun.
 
I've got a Redhawk 44 with the 5 1/2" barrel. I use it for bear defense when camping. Before I got the Redhawk, I used a S&W 10mm. My vote would go to the Glock, as it would be a good choice for carrying, where you carry much and shoot little. But if you did need to revert to it, it's potent enough to lay the smack down on whatever you shoot with it. If you can find one, one of the ported 10mm Glocks might be nice. I only carry my Redhawk from the car to the tent, and load it with 300 gr. hardcast Federal laods. When I used my 10mm, it was loaded with Hornady 200 gr. hollow points. The bottom line is either one will be adequate for the job..one just carries better.
 
I would opt for a double action revolver in 41 or 44 mag. I currently have both (Mod 29 & Mod 57) and the 41 Mag is my favorite.
 


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