I am wanting to buy a new pistol to pack when archery hunting. I usually pack a 9mm but want to leave that at home for my wife and get something a little more stout. I am thinking a 357. Where is the best place to get a good pistol. I am on a budget would like to stay under $500. Thanks for any advice.
Maybe one of the Rugers, but you will be a little over budget in a new one.
A Glock in 10mm is a good woods carry, but it too will put you over budget some.
If you are set on a wheel gun you might check the used market.
Edit:
We had a 38 Spl Taurus.
I wouldn't go there.
i would think this is about as accurate as it gets, i too would avoid taurus, and look at used ruger sp101, i thought there was one in the classifieds here recently
There will be a big gun show in Albany next year. Good place to put your hands on lots of pistols. I think you can find what you want and in your budget.
I sure wish someone would make a reasonably priced, 7 (8?) shot, .357 with a 4" or so barrel that was light like the S&W 386 Mountain Lite. I know that's asking a lot, but a guy can dream!
As usual, I'm no help at all.....Good luck, I'm watching this thread.
I have a Taurus tracker. In your price range but don't recommend it.
First one had a bent crane arm. If shot really accurate but the eject rod would hit the gun every time I was closing the cylinder.
They couldn't fix it so they sent me a new pistol after the 3rd time sending it in.. This one shoots low with most ammo. I don't know.
Their quality control is bad.
Another vote ruger sp101. They are almost in your price range.
Get some hot loads with cast bullets for bear.
I do like wreckless idea.
Pic of the ejector rod hitting the frame, wearing out the knurl.
And another vote for the SP101.... I can no longer shoot off the shelf wheel guns because of my bionic hand but if I could, I'd want my 4" Colt Trooper back. I've kicked myself so many times for selling that gun....
My vote is for a Sig P320. Can be had in 9mm, .40, .357 sig and .45. You can also get caliber exchange kits to go from one caliber to another. You can also go from carry size to compact to subcompact just by purchasing a grip module and a magazine.
I usually have my Springfield xd9. I find I like having more amo on me. Its better then any stoping power arguments. The most common threat I might encounter will be two legged anyways and it feels good having 2 mags with 32 rounds.
10mm is my first choice for out of town carry, if you like a wheel gun Ruger is coming out with a gp-101 in 44 spl with a 4" barrel that would make a great field gun.
Ok, I am going to have to do some research. I am not a gun guy and you guys are all talking Portuguese or something to me here haha. Thank you for all the input.
Read the buckeye link first, he did the research. You don't have to be a gun guy. Be sure to buy something with which you will practice. Accuracy is everything, and accuracy comes from practice.
Couple of thoughts: .38/.357, .44 Special/.44 Magnum and .45 Colt all have commercially made snake/shot loads available.
These are also available in 9mm, .40 S&W and .45 ACP.
I like to have a couple of these on board when in snake country, as I surely do not want to be forced to fire a solid bullet at a snake in rocks.
I have been tempted to try one of the Ruger LCRx revolvers. Lightweight, compact, adjustable sights and under $500. Granted it is not a .357, but a .38 Special +P, but I frankly don't enjoy shooting full-house .357 in a small revolver. Not much good in a tangle with a bear, but that's awfully rare. Plenty good medicine for a cougar.
I don't archery hunt but when I'm out with a rimfire or any centerfire smaller than a .270 winchester, I carry a handgun as well. as a true backup, and for backpacking, I like my S&W 329PD. It's no fun to shoot with full power ammo but it is accurate, light, and effective. 25.7 ounces, 6 rounds of .44 magnum, capable of 2" 25 yard groups with 250 grain SWCs at over 1350 fps gets it done. I own other guns to plink with, this one is for killing things and nothing else.
For packing in the woods, to cover all the bases, my vote is for a wheel gun in what would be a perfect packing length (Google "perfect packing pistol"). This will help knowing what knowledgeable professional hand gunners advise.
In the woods, j carry a big bore SA due to it's inherent strengths, ammo choices and reliability. A SA's other feature is the option to reload the weapon even if a case is stuck in one of the chambers.
Second choice would be a DA wheel gun.
Last choice for the woods would be an auto. When dealing with bears, there are virtually no options for proper loads. Use of JHP or soft points when dealing with bears is ill advised. If you doubt that, research what the experts have to say. With bears, you need hard cast heavy loads. SA wheel guns will always out perform auto loaders when it comes to operational reliability.
Now if we are talking about street carry, that's an entirely different ball game with different rules.
The Ruger SP 101 with the 4.2" bbl and adjustable sights would be relatively light but still controllable. I'd load a 160 grain cast SWC at about 1050-1150 fps. This would have plenty of penetration but the muzzle blast wouldn't be as bad as full house loads.
I have the SP 101 in 2-1/4". An extra inch of tube length would be nice. Mostly shoot 38 spl as the 357 mags are not fun. Rather pack my XDM 45 Compact with 13+1 capacity with the extended magazine. Weight is a toss up empty. A bit heavier loaded.
Unless you shoot one with a arrow first and have to go look for it alm:
hmmm I wonder where that bear went. Must be laying around here some where.
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