[Soontobewildcat]

Hey im looking for a handgun powerful enough to dispatch large animals and two legged varmints reliable accurate thats my main criteria. I have a glock 17 but it was carried by the security team at the 1996 olympics so thats a no go for carrying, a 1911 but its a colt and in almost in 100% condition so it can be carried but its not a beater and a cz 82 but its kinda underpowered and thats all for centerfire handguns. Any ideas?

 

[Stanger73]

I carry a 4" 357 mag for general purpose. Take your pick of brand, S&W, Ruger,Taurus and others all make guns that will work just fine, find one that you like the feel of. 44 mag is nice for the power, but can be a bit much to get enough practice with to be proficient. A "hit" with a 357 will beat a "miss" with a 44 any day of the week.

Your 45 would work quite well as long as you are willing to shoot it enough. If it is a "collector" piece then it might be a good idea to get another one to use. As much as I like my revolvers, and don't "like" the feel of my 1911, I still hit best and most consistently with the dang thing. Hits beat misses, every single time.

 

[Range Junkie]

Why not carry the Glock or the 1911? I understand you say the Colt is in 100% condition but if you carry it in a good holster your not going to ruin it. Besides, I'm from the school of thought that they are a tools made to be used. Of course there are those exceptions such as true collectable firearms or family heirlooms.

 

[Soontobewildcat]

**** you know your right Gaston and John moses would be rolling in their graves knowing i have two perfectly good guns and their is nothing stopping me sure its a mint colt but its actually a 1991 and the glock reallly isnt all that special thanks you guys talked me out of my insanity besides bowling pin accuracy at 25+ yards with a 230gr fmj sounds pretty sufficient.

 

[Shawn Crea]

Where do you reside Soontobe? The 'large animals' definition is the main interest. For 'two-legged varmints', many will do fine. The search narrows if large animals include bears, moose, or if just hormone-drunk deer, the answers will be different. More info....

 

[Soontobewildcat]

Midwest so large might be a hog but i have heard of smallish bears around but at close ranges would be also used to bag dear and yotes. I think 1911 is my best bet.

 

[Shawn Crea]

Midwest so large might be a hog but i have heard of smallish bears around but at close ranges would be also used to bag dear and yotes. I think 1911 is my best bet.

The 1911 would cover a lot of that, although think a 357 DA revolver with at least 4" barrel (and appropriate ammo) would be a better choice. Besides, you need a plausible excuse to buy another gun!

 

[Ridgerunner665]

A beater? Springfield XD.

But a 1911 is my everyday carry gun, the XD is my "knockaround" gun. (fishing trips, hiking, camping...and such)

 

[Soontobewildcat]

Amen brother but I truly believe that in my close situations 8 rounds of 230gr .45 caliber bullet at 950fps would serve me better expecially since i can shoot mansize at 63 yards and im no handgun marksman except for with my 17 ofcourse

 

[45_70Sharps]

What type of large animals??
A 45 ACP fails the energy test for legal hunting at least in some areas. Checking the regs about what's legal to use would be a good start.
If 357 is legal, it will work for deer size animals. Not a good choice for bear or elk. I know nothing about hogs.
As with all weapons, with a 357 you will have to know the weapon and get within the right range.
A 44 is a great choice for hunting, but not a great defense gun. Might be more than you want to shoot wherever you are in need and one in a size that you want to shoot isn't easy to conceal.
Hard to pick one handgun to fill both uses. Pack a 1911 for people, pick up a 44 for cirtters.

 

[broom_jm]

Legally, and realistically, I'm with 45/70Sharps. For legal hunting in most states you need a gun that is bigger and recoils a lot more than you want to carry concealed or shoot hundreds of rounds a year with.

 

[Soontobewildcat]

DARN well now i have to pick up that .44 ive always wanted.

 

[Bucolic Buffalo]

DARN well now i have to pick up that .44 ive always wanted.

Remember that you can shoot .44 specials out of that .44 mag.

 

[Farrier Matt]

44 Mag gets my vote, very versatile. Doesnt work well for CCW though.

 

[magnumitis]

Glock 29.

It's the most firepower per unit area you can buy and virtually anyone can comfortably conceal one.

Pound

 

[magnumitis]

Glock 29.

It's the most firepower per unit area you can buy and virtually anyone can comfortably conceal one.

Pound for pound, the Glock 29 is the king of the fight-stoppers.

 

[Soontobewildcat]

Yea

I have shot the 29 id rather have the compact or full size besides the fact that a round blew up and that if it wasn't a glock id be being fed applesauce through a tube right now their to small for that round i do love the power though.

 

[ironhead7544]

The blued 4 and 5/8 inch Ruger Blackhawk in 45 Colt with a 250 gr lead swc/wfn 1000 fps load will fill the bill as an all around carry piece.

 

[Soontobewildcat]

Great ideas guys keep em coming.

 

[budd]

Hi

If you want a semi-auto and a .45 acp I recomend the CZ97b. It big and impressive but still conseallable and handles well. But I do not like the 45acp for hunting applications. If the were still on the market the coonan modle B .357 mag semi-auto would meet your needs. If you want a revolver Taurus makes a 5 shot 44mag revolver "Tracker" with a 4 inch barrel. I have owned .44 mag Taurus for nearly 3 years and it has never failed me even with heavy factory loads.

Budd