I'd like to get a pistol to carry with me for protection when walking to the stand before or after daylight. Mainly in case I walk up on a hog, or big black cat. What is the smallest one that would afford adequate protection. I dont really want a clint eastwood 44 magnum but I wamt one big enough to get the job done. Is a 357 mag a good choice? a 9mm?
What do you guys carry ?

357 should work fone. A friend that shoots hogs out the truck window spotlighting them and chase across pasture has been killing them lately with a Tarus judge loaded with Federal buckshot.

Im carrying a Ruger SP101 357mag or a 1911 45 acp. You might also look into a Taurus Judge.

.40 cal springfeild xd w/ triji night sights here.. 357 is a good cal. dont know much about 9mm i was always wanting something heavy to have a good knock down..btw thou my springfeild is also my CCW.

Just got a new Tarus 709 "Slim". Its the smallest 9mm currently made. Great shooting little gun. You would be amazed at the knock down power of some of the new 9mm round. Also makes a great CC weapon. However, with the small frame it might be hard to handle with gloves on during the colder winter mornings. I guess what I trying to say is that a 9mm would handle anything you are going to likely meet on the way to the stand.

There's nothing wrong with the .357 but I think the Taurus Judge would be a good choice. It's fairly light in weight and shoots .410 shotshells or .45 colt. I pack a S&W .44 mag with a 5 inch bbl. myself. I carry it in a a Triple-K Woodsman "pancake style" holster. It rides high on the hip and out of the way. I didn't think I would like the high rise holster design until I tried it. Half the time I forget I have it on after a day in the woods and have to remember to take it off when I drive out the gate.

I have the Judge ultra lite and love the gun.

I am in the same situation and I have been leaning toward the judge. I like being able to shoot 410 shells or a longer 45. Nice gun and will do the job.

I carry a Glock 9mm with my finger on the trigger as I walk to the stand. I figure that I have enough shells in the clip that I'll scare them off with the noise regardless of whether I actually hit anything.

The reality is, if I happened to walk up on something in the pitch black night, the chances of me being able to hold both the flashlight and gun steady enough to be very accurate are very slim. With 19 shots, at least I get alot of chances.

357 Mag excellent choice. Ruger SP101 GP100 have them both and both are good.

The 357 will work great. I carry 45 ACP with me.

My 45 ACP goes with me every time.

I carry a 1911 in 45acp everywhere I go.

I always felt like the 308 in my hand would be better than that puny 9mm....

IF I was going to carry though... I'd think seriously about a 357 revolver, with the first one or two being shot shells for snakes...

Springfield 45 acp is what I carry mainly but I know a couple of guys that favor carrying a 357 which is enough to do some good damage on a hog chupa or whatever shows up.

357 would be excellent and you could sitll shoot a deer with it if you wanted to.

I "have" a 380 and a 9mm but usually don't cary either, I've always got some sort of rifle with me so I don't worry.
I'm kinda like the rifleman I can shoot a rifle faster than I could draw a side arm and shoot.

1911-10mm

Spingfield 1911 .45ACP all the time...

My pop carries a S&W 357, and never anything else. I carry the ultra light Judge with 2 .410 shells for snakes and 3 .45 long colts for what ever else.

I carry a 44 mag right now but going with a glock 20 10mm smaller then the 44 with awesome knock down power

A nice 22 revolver with rat shot would be good too

whats rat shot ?

22lr shot shells

I carry a Judge w/00 buckshot for those pesky hogs.

+1

Now if your a bowhunter might be a different story, might want something like a 357