I owned the 357 mag j frame version… 5 loaded rounds outweighs the empty pistol.
If felt like a stick of dynamite going off in your hand, one accurate shot then the rest was a wild spread.

Single six, 44 Special BH or SS GP100 3" 357 .

A handgun that is pleasant to shoot is usually not pleasant to carry.
A handgun that is pleasant to carry is usually not pleasant to shoot.

True statement. And one that is unpleasant to shoot is usually difficult to hit with (see above as evidence). And if you can't hit with it, what bloody good does it do to carry it?

Glock 21, 200 gr XTP, Trijicon night sights, with a Streamlight TLR-9 on it.

That light is amazing. I could see my 200 yard berm with it.

Either a Taurus Judge with .410’s for snakes and a speed loader of 45 Colt for daytime or a Glock 43x with 15 rounds of Hornady Critical Defense sporting a Holosun optic and Streamlight for nighttime

P365 with hard cast or underwood pen. Chest or hip. Backcountry chest, the rest of the time IWB
No point in all the extra weight

love these classics!!!

Nothing special. In the past I have carried a Ruger P97DC (45 ACP) on my chest. My next trip I may take my S&W 686 Plus (3", 357 Mag), but I haven't come up with a system to attach it. With the Ruger I have a Kydex holster that attaches to the bottom of my binopack or I can simply put a holster on a belt hanging around my neck and under my arm and my backpack shoulder straps keep it in place. In non-bear-country I simply wear my EDC (either an XDS 3" 9mm or P365 X Macro Comp).

My only "woods walking" is up in Alaska. Have a Smith & Wesson in 45 Colt for this, comfortable to wear with a chest holster while wearing fishing waders.

Have used a SRH Alaskan in .454 with a chest holster and a 1911 on the hip the most.

Thoughts going forward, a CZShadow 2, or STI. Something made for competition that you can control, move, and shoot. I should have kept the Shadow 2 Orange.

I have a lot of short guns. Both clip fed and revolver. But, when SHTF, I want a double action revolver with no safety. I don’t want to question if it is in battery. I don’t have to rack it or [censored] it. Just point and pull. I learned that in 4 years of the Arizona desert that was butt deep in buzz tails.

You're on the right track. Love mine, but it's also an SF model for smaller hands. 200gr XTP too.

I'm only in the woods on Lake Corpus Christi, Ft. Stockton and Junction. I always carry a GP100 MC. I wouldn't mind a 10mm, but I don't have one and would have to stock a new cartridge. I should have gotten a Coonan or Desert Eagle in .357 when they were reasonable and available.

Bottom line is that, in Texas, there’s not much reason for a self defense short gun unless you’re in the wrong part of town.

In the outdoors, maybe a 22 with snake shot. Anything bigger is, for self defense purposes, mostly playing cowboy.

But, when on the road, it’s a Taurus Judge.

I have a 1950/51 Colt LW Commander 9mm I've carried that weapon off and on since 78 my eyes are starting to give me issues, I just sent her in to get a milled job for an RMRcc. I love it her more now...

Some of us hunt with handguns. That’s been a thing for a very long time. I may have misunderstood what the OP is asking about but that is how I’m answering. I prefer revolvers for hunting. All bullet profiles feed 100% in a revolver and that opens up the use of hard cast with a big wide flat meplat. .357 Ruger Blackhawk or Smith & Wesson 686 are the two I use most in that capacity here in Texas. Both excel. For me a .357 is right in the sweet spot. Milder recoil than .44 Magnum or .45LC. Not quite as hard hitting but better penetration than 10mm. Add in mild mannered .38’s for plinking and the overall package is a pretty sweet woods revolver.

Like several others on here, I’m kind of a handgun guy. .41 Magnum deserves mentioning but I’ve never owned one so I will leave it to some that know about it and not make a fool out of myself.

Hopefully my new woods gun will be the new flat top bisley 41 mag. Red dot mount came in yesterday. Didn't want to fight the crowd today to go get a red dot .

Usually a Ruger Blackhawk either a 4 5/8" .41 Magnum or a 5 1/2" .44 Special, both with handloads. I say usually because I also enjoy carrying a 4 3/4" Uberti' .44 Special with which I have whacked a few hogs and deer.

Very cool. I’m looking forward to trying my Uberti 357mag on a pig this year. Pig feeder is about 49 yards from the blind. I have some practicing to do first.

You might be right and a little more honest than most, but when I walk in the dark in hog country (and what ISN'T hog country anymore??) I'm a lot more comfortable when I have something bigger than a 9mm on my hip. I could be wrong, but I think my San Saba hogs are about the orneriest of the ornery even though I have yet to meet one face to face. My nephew is out there about ten times as frequently as I am and he has had numerous run-ins with these foul-natured outlaws. I figure it's just a matter of time for me.

Having fixed fences countless times and encountered illegals on multiple occasions, there is absolutely no way I am not carrying whenever I am at the ranch or on the farm. You can't assume that they won't have weapons on them, because they often break into deer camps and any unsecured weapons just made a dangerous situation even worse.

CBP field agents get assaulted more than local PD or any other LEOs down here.

I carry an S&W Bodyguard 2.0 in my pocket or waistband on a daily basis with an MPX in the truck/backpack. If I am going out hunting, it's a fullsize 9mm or .45 acp in my drop holster setup. If you're having recoil issues that make shooting smaller guns uncomfortable, just port the barrels. Makes a huge difference and doesn't add any length to them.

7x57, agree about your part of the world.

I live in the mid cities, Hurst. I don’t have a gun with me around town.

I had one time at my rural property south of Bowie when I was glad I had the Judge with me. Long time ago. Didn’t have to pull the trigger but was glad that I had it.

I carry a LCP MAX 24x7 when not at my workplace. Even mowing, projects, in the house, in the deer stand. Sometimes when rifle hunting, I may also carry a Ruger Blackhawk in 44 mag. So two pistols in that instance. If only handgun hunting with the Blackhawk, the LCP is there. Love the convenience of that thing.

I have the 44, bought used. Original owner had two shots, second because he didn’t think anything could hurt that bad.
I shoot 240 grain at 44 Special velocity but only carry when hiking a long way or as a bbq gun.
For hunting in hog areas I have a stainless Model 29 5”.

Yup. Hogs in most of Texas, and Mountain Lions in Sanderson is why I carry a Glock 20, 10mm.

Mountain Lion is going to jump on someone from behind. One of two outcomes. I die anyway, or I go deaf in my right ear, from unloading a mag on the Mountain Lion.