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If you have a link to published ballistics, I'd like to see them because I don't believe its possible to do that with a 4" .357 Magnum.Originally Posted by lifeon2
Many thanks, I'll use that chart in my hunter education classes.
It does show that for the published ballistics from Buffalo Bore, the round is very much borderline legal for big game, one has to interpolate between the 1500 fps and 1400 fps chart.
Thanks for this thread guys, we were just talking about this while camping this weekend, and this thread answered some of the questions we had.
S&W 329PD .44 mag for me when Im bowhunting. The recoil is a bear but its a scandium frame so it never gets left in the truck.No more than I shoot mags out of it it really isn't too bad and specials are easy.
A few years ago I walked up on a bedded bull moose at ~7 feet. Never saw him until he stood up and then I proceeded to shit my pants. I usually have a handgun when Im bowhunting but I forgot it that day. Fortunatly I backed off and he stayed where he was so I didn't need it anyway.
I bought the 329 shortly there after and never leave it now. The 6 rounds of .44 weigh almost as much as the gun.
Colorado DOW regs read as follows:
Handguns, provided they have a minimum barrel length of four (4) inches and comply with the following criteria:
a. Use a .24 caliber or larger diameter expanding bullet.
b. Use only a cartridge or load with a rated impact energy of at least 550 ft. pounds at 50 yds. as determined by the manufacturer.
If it's for protection during any hunting season, the sidearm must adhere to these guidlines. The only season in which you cannot have a sidearm in posession is blackpowder unless it is a black powder pistol.
I have been checked before while deer hunting. Not only will the DOW check your sidearm, but they will check your ammo too. If it does not meet reg, you will be ticketed and escorted out of your AO. I carry a Tokarev. 7.62x25. 1600fps at muzzle.
No, a 9mm will not meet regs. No, FMJ's do not meet regs. (per the FT. Collins DOW office).
You guys aren't paying very good attention to other members in camp... I have Openly Carried a Glock 21 or 1911 every day of every year I have been up there. I don't know all the fancy schmancy legal speak about it, but I have had my license checked several times and no one has ever said anything about it to me. And I will continue to do so until an official tells me I can't.
(emphasis added by me)
Who told you that? (The bolded part). The regulations do not prohibit one from carrying a handgun. They prohibit one from using a firearm that is not a legal method of take to take big game. The only prohibition on possessing a firearm is the prohibition on using a rifle of caliber larger than .23 to hunt small game west of I25 during big game season.
Why you would recommend someone not carry a sidearm for the reasons you mentioned is a bit confusing. Why is it silly? While I would agree that one firearm is enough for a green 13 year old (and his mom/dad) to worry about on his first deer hunt, there are other things to consider....
You assume one would use a sidearm to dispatch a wounded animal when that really isn't an overt concern. Just because one has a sidearm doesn't mean they are going to use it for that purpose.
No doubt, in a firefight, a handgun's mainpurpose would be to fight your way back to your rifle, the rifle being a superior choice in firepower, accuracy, etc., in most circumstances.
If you don't have a concealled carry permit, don't carry concealed. Problem solved.
You assume both tools (rifle and sidearm) will be used for the same purpose when, in reality, the learned (as taught, perhaps, in a hunters safety course) will know for what purposes each tool is practical.
I hunt elk in the mountains where grouse are common. I carry a 3" stainless J Frame loaded with one round of shot, then 4 rounds of 158g JSP. Makes a dandy grouse getter and a fine backup round for anything I'm likely to encounter when my rifle is out of reach or otherwise unavailable for whatever reason. I've also been known to carry a Ruger Bearcat just for grouse. Probably won't make a one-shot-stop on a stalking lion, but the president might resign tomorrow too. However remote either possiblity is, it's much handier should you need a weapon, say, when nature calls and then tries to eat you in the process, again, however remote the possibility. But I'm more likely to come across a blue grouse, so I'll pack it along. (I hope no one is advocating the use of a 7Mag for grouse.)
There are plenty of good reasons to carry a sidearm when in the woods, but NOT carrying one just because you have a rifle ignores a multitude of options and possibilities in the unpredictable world beyond the window many of us so often frequent.
Not trying to pick a fight, just one fellow's 2-cent opinion....
Spqrzilla, Ft Collins DOW office. DOW says that any handgun carried during a hunting season, I should have clarified the season as big game, must meet the criteria listed. Any other season you can carry whatever you like, any caliber for personal protection.
So it's for big game only. Sorry for the confusion. I was just trying to relay info that was spoken to me. Sorry if I got your panties in a bind.
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