need some feedback on best all around ranch handgun for south texas.

Revolver 357 Mag, 44 Spec/Mag, 45LC 4 1/2 or 5/8 to 5.5" barrels

Pistoles 357 Sig, 45 acp 40 S&W or even a 9mm..Service Duty Size 4-5"

Well.....my sidearm is usually determined by the season:

During the summer, I carry my S&W Governor loaded with four rounds of .45 LC hollow points and two rounds of .410 #9 shot (great snake medicine).

During the cooler months (when the snakes aren't as active), I carry my 1911 with 230 gr. Speer Gold-Dot hollow points.

I would recommend a full size pistol like a CZ75, Beretta 92, or Sig 226 in .40 or 9mm. You're not likely to carry spare mags, and a 5" barrel will give you a little bit better sight radius should you need to stretch a 50 yd shot.

Most of the time it is a revolver. 357 or the judge with 3 LC and 2 410 with 8 or 9 shot. Sometimes it also has Federal buckshot loads for the pistol. Winter the S&W 629 sees a lot of carry time

X2 RWH24, but he did leave out the long barrel 10mm

Glock 17

I would go with a 4" double action revolver, probably in .357 mag. Possibly .41 mag, 44 mag is probably too much muzzle jump for most people (including me) if they need a quick second shot.

I've also carried 9mm and 45 semi autos, but for all around I'd go with .357 if I had to pick just one.

Only because I have never been a 10mm fan. Never owned one, but have shot several different models.

I like anything bigger than 40cal. but find myself with the 1911 alot of the time

Depending on how far South you're talking, you may want to carry more than one. If you're primarily in Encinal, then you could get away with one, being in Laredo, I'm usually packing 2 and a Judge for the snakes.

Yea i'm thinking enough 357 i've got one but going to give it to the wife to carry. I'm thinking about a ruger blackhawk 357. Just need it for the snakes few cats around and the 2 leggers that pass thur. I live dwn here bout 15 miles off the blacktop noone else around.

44 Magnum revolving pistol....by a wide margin. All the more so if you reload.
I find the "crack" of a 357 a lot more irritating than the "boom" of a 44 Mag. Plus a better hog stopper.

Can't go wrong with the Blackhawk, one of my favorite pistols. It really absorbs the recoil from the .357. What barrel length you looking at? I've had the 4 5/8 and the 5.5"- of the two I prefer the 5.5. It's a bit more accurate.

44 Specials in the cylinder and speed loaders with some Magnums

Ruger RedHawk
http://www.ruger.com/products/redhawk/specSheets/5026.html
http://www.ruger.com/products/redhawk/specSheets/5004.html

http://www.ruger.com/products/redhawk/specSheets/5027.html


http://www.ruger.com/products/newModelSuperBlackhawkDE/specSheets/0817.html

http://www.ruger.com/products/newModelBlackhawkBlued/specSheets/10405.html

looking for the 5.5 inch blackhawk 357 if i can find one doen here

Haha.....I don't think I've seen such a wide variety of recommendations on sidearms before.

In addition to what I carry....I think if I had to ONLY choose one for year-round....it might be hard to beat a double-stack 1911 in .45 ACP

A Springfield XDm 4.5 45acp. 14 rounds of 230gr hurtin coming on.

One thing not mentioned is ease and comfort of carrying . When ranching I had a few to choose from, depending on what work was planned. If being horse back I would carry a large frame .357 or .44. If in and out of truck a 1911. But, more often than not a single six .22 (granted I was not most concerned with two legged varmits). My point is it really needs to be a weapon that can and will be carried comfortably all day every day or discomfort will lead to not carrying it.

True....but I've carried a wide variety of handguns, and I've found that a good strong leather belt is the single most important factor for ease of carrying.

I wear a 1.5" single-piece belt (no stitching) made by Tex-Tan Saddle company out of Yoakum, TX. Galco makes good "carry belts" as well....but they are overpriced. They are around $90 for a belt, and mine was $30.....both are equally suitable for carrying heavy pistols.

Now we're talking. Now remember this is just my opinion but I do carry handguns daily on the ranch and have went through a ton of them before making my choice. I always have two in the truck.

My favorite rimfire is a Model 48 S&W with an 8 3/8ths barrel chambered in 22-Mag. A 7 1/2 inch Ruger Blackhawk in the same caliber would be my second choice.

My favorite center is a 7 1/2 inch Ruger Blackhawk in 30 carbine with the same gun in 357 running second.

If your going to wear it I suggest a cross draw holster, it rides very confortably, doesn't catch on the seat and get in your way when you bend over or squat down.

What I consider a ranch handgun is one capable of taking shot out to 100 yards and the longer the sight plane the better. The pistol that spends the most time on the ranch with me is the 7 1/2 inch Blackhawk in 30 Carbine. I keep it loaded with some 85 grain handloads that push right at 2000 ft-ps and have some factory 110's should I need anything heavier. Whatever you do don't shoot it without hearing protection, damn their loud but they sure are flat shooting.

30 carbine

I have to agree that it is hard to just pick one. I like the larger autos, 40 & 45s, but it is sure hard to hit a rattlesnake trying to crawl off in the deep grass with one of them! If the snakes are out and moving, I carry something that I can have at least rat shot in it.

My favorite to carry around our place, is a Ruger Security Six.

I tried carrying an XD40 on the lease for a year, wouldn't cycle CCI snake shot well, got so gritted up you could hear it crackle everytime you moved the slide. I can not think of one good reason to carry a semi automatic while working or riding around our lease. I went with a cheap taurus 4" 38, loaded with 2 CCI snake shotss followed 4 +P Hollowpoints. Fire everytime I don't care if it gets corn dust, sawdust, sand on it. I don't care if I drop it or bang it around or get it wet, and it is small enough and light enough I don't notice it on my hip. It is pretty accurate and goes boom everytime I pull the trigger. Can't think of a better sidearm on a ranch than a revolver.