Side Arm Calibers

Do you guys carry a side arm when out hog hunting with your rifle? If so, what is your go to side arm?

No, never seen a reason to.

With my AR that has a light I like to bring Ruger Mark IV for small game but loaded with Velocitors. When I have one of the bolt guns I like my S&W 4006 which has a light. So basically I always have one gun with a light on it, whether it's the long gun or the handgun.

P365 I may or may not change mag to hardcast bullets.

Carry every day everywhere, don’t know why I would stop just because I had a long rifle.

It’s like my wallet and pocket knife

While at the Ranch, my go to is Ruger Blackhawk in 357. 4 rounds of 158gr XTP's and 2 rounds of snake shot. Takes care of pigs, skunks, snakes, and once, even a couple of big tasty looking bullfrogs.

If I need to move about on foot at night I usually carry a larger caliber pistol in a holster. Where I hunt there is one particular place I often have to go through. I refer to it as "The Gauntlet" and it's not too unusual to run into a belligerent hog in that area. I don't know how useful a mag full of .45 ACP or 10mm would truly be in the dark, but it does make me feel a little better to have a pistol. I'm definitely not overconfident about the whole thing, I just figure I have a fighting chance if I run into a mean old boar who wants to take me out.

Yes, usually if lever action hunting the pistol is same caliber, 41 mag or 44 mag, as the rifle. For my bolt action rifle I carry a 10mm as my sidearm.
Don't carry one when big game hunting up here usually.

G40 10mm

From when I wake up to when I go to sleep....

I only take a long gun when hunting hog or deer. But, when I once had a very large hog trap, I’d have to put down quite a few hogs. At first I used the 357 and 125 gr HPs, but later found that the 158 gr cast bullets did kill ‘em deader and faster.

This morning I popped a trapped hog between the eyes with my 22 LR. When I skinned her out, I was really amazed at how deep the 22 bullet went.

What 22 LR round do you use?

I always carry; usually a pocket revolver. When I'll be around hogs I put a .44 on my belt instead.

Yes I do. Mostly just because, though I have taken hogs with a handgun. But the point is I always hunt with a rifle and it always has a light on it. Going to and from a blind, on a path, that is in addition to a headlamp.

45 semi-auto

colt 10 mm

It was a 22 LR from my 9422. The backstrap where it meets the neck was a bit bloodshot. That’s not the first time I’ve noticed that, To be a bit more specific, it was a Remington Golden HP. They definitely are more effective than round nose ammo.

I carry a 1911 full size in 45 acp, officer's size 9mm, or a Glock 26 9mm. I CCW anyway, so it really doesn't change when I go hunt except I use a different holster and sometimes a different pistol.

.44 mag super Blackhawk

Not cause I need it or it’s more effective as I’m gonna be carrying a rifle. Just is more fun when an opportunity presents itself. Carry it on a chest holster and I forget it’s there

My hog hunting carry pistol is an old model Vaquero in 45 Long colt. A heavy flat nosed cast bullet pushed to 900 fps. I can hit a paper plate every time with it out to 75 yards. It is more effective than it's paper ballistics.

I do

But I got rid of everything a few years ago except 9mm

So thats what I am carrying

SA XDm in 10mm. It just makes me feel a little better.

G20SF in 10 mm. Bad medicine.

Thanks, I do carry a P365 XL everyday but just don't feel too comfortable about a 9mm on a wild boar that is pissed at me. I'd prefer a larger caliber when out hunting hogs. I'm considering a Sig P320 XTEN 10mm since I own a few other P320's and love the way they feel in my hand and shoot.

https://www.sigsauer.com/p320-xten.html

I carry a .22LR pistol on me when I'm out hunting, and I have a 9mm in the truck.

Bisley. 44 mag on chest and .380 in pocket. Rifle on back

Same here, my carry gun goes with me. Double Stack 45 acp 1911 with my own +P handloads.

I’ve yet carry a pistol in the field without it getting in the way. Maybe I should try a chest holster.

I don't carry my pistol in the woods. Just one more thing to lug around. Usually, I'm bow hunting from a tree so worry about hogs charging is very low. Now, when I hunt southern Arizona I'll carry my 9mm as an attitude adjuster if the need arises. It never has but you never know down there.

And I've thought about carry my 44 spl in griz country along with the spray.

Do you carry on a daily basis when you are not hunting?

I carry a 22 mag revolver every time I go out. A few reasons, they are lightweight, I usually walk a couple miles like this morning, soaking wet with sweat by the time I got back to the truck. Probably out of habit more because of trapping and just as a "coupe de grace" on flopping hogs that take too long to die.

I mostly carry a .32 Seecamp. Not really angry hog stopping firepower.

Might be enough for angry man-eating armadillo on the charge!

Are you really being serious?

I carry a p365 via IWB sticky holster. Shorts, dress pants, jeans etc. doesn’t matter. Run and ride a bike with it no issues. Might look in to it

When hunting, I’ve given my Dan Wesson Valkyrie 9mm and my Taurus Titanium Tracker in .45 Colt a try. Both can be done, but inevitably seem to get in the way at some point or another. The Seecamp is a true pocket pistol, convenient but very limited.

Chest rigs are so much better than belts. 3.75 Super Blackhawk is a joy to carry around now.

It does seem like they would be, but what about times you need it over cold weather clothing? Any difficulties?

For those of you carrying a .44 magnum, what are the barrel lengths?

This one will adjust quickly over any size of clothing, I like a 3.75 barrel but they are hard to find,

XDm in 40sw. My tough cast 165gr FP.

I have a cowboy six shooter, .45 LC. If the noise doesn't scare them away, its heavy enough to beat them over the head with

7.5” in a kenai chest holster. Works well in a tshirt or several layers

7.5" shoulder holster, not as handy as the chest holster but for scoped rifle which that one is I prefer the shoulder holster. Use the same one I got years ago for Scoped Contenders.

I'll add that I occasionally carry my .44 S&W 629 w/ 7.5" barrel. I also inherited my dad's 1963 .44 Super Blackhawk (7.5" too, IIRC) last year when he passed. Looking forward getting it rigged up in a good holster setup and putting some rounds through it.

My 19x , always with me

6 in. barrel on most of our 44's, I think the spouse's Anaconda might be the 8 in barrel though. All open sights for us.
I've recently come into a nice S&W .41 mag so it will probably go hog hunting this Feb., I also have a Ruger Bisley .41 mag I carry when hog hunting.

Ntxtrapper: who made that chest rig for you? It looks well-thought-out.

Thinking of picking up a XDM Elite OSP 10mm with 4.5" barrel just to use as my side arm when hunting hogs. My EDC is a Sig P365XL but do not feel that confident in a 9mm bullet stopping a pissed off boar trying to kick my [censored].

Yes...inquiring minds want to know.