sirtirithon

Hey guys,

So this has been bothering me for several days. I picked up a mint condition Ruger Redhawk .44 mag a few years ago for a song. It's stainless and a tack driver. I have been carrying it whenever I go on back country excursions loaded with 305 grain Buffalo Bore +P hardcast loads. The occasional grizzly lurks around North Idaho, but his is rare and I seldom venture up there. Normally it's just on trails outside of town where there is strictly cougars, blackbear, or bums looking to cause trouble.

Trouble is, this is a very heavy setup. I am constantly trying to keep my pants up even with a heavy gun belt. And its limited to 6 rounds. I have been kicking around selling my setup (Revolver, reloading dies, holsters, ammo, speedloaders) and getting setup with a Glock 20 10mm. My reloading dies for .40 will work with this caliber and if I make enough off the Redhawk sale I could add a Lone Wolf fully supported barrel to the G20 and shoot +P 10mm, have night sights, 16 round capacity, and a lighter package to carry in the woods.

What would you do??? I am really leaning towards the Glock. I am pretty convinced if I had both the .44 mag and the 10mm I would always reach for the 10mm when I was packing. I can't afford to own both right now either...what do you think?

huntinghawk

I would get a shoulder holster & some speed loaders. Cheap fix is suspenders. At the range of a charging bear just how many accurate shots do you think you would get off? Penetration is everything when defending yourself from something like a bear or a boar.

berndog

Took the words out of my mouth! Shoulder holster! Glock NO!

Flanders

Sounds to me like youve already made up your mind, and The glock seems more practical for what you say ya need.

mknopfler

+1
The .44 mag has a proven record against 2 and 4 legged creatures of all dispositions.

slayer6769

I think HH nailed it to a tee.

edporch

If you would decide to try the Glock 20 10mm, replace the stock barrel with a 6.02" aftermarket stainless barrel.

I replaced mine with a Storm Lake 6.02" stainless barrel for better chamber support and an increase in muzzle velocity.

If you reload, the much fuller chamber support will allow you to load some really potent rounds.

Combine this with the 15 round magazine capacity, and the more compact profile, you get a gun that though not as powerful as a .44 magnum, is no slouch either.

Though going against a grizzly, a .44 magnum is not enough I'd trust, but I would trust my Glock 20 10mm in NW Wisconsin where I have a cabin in the woods and black bears.

Bamban

Whichever route you decide on get a chest holster. This is a good option.

http://www.diamonddcustomleather.com/Chest_Holsters.php

08 Cayenne

I've got three .44 mags, 2 of them are Redhawks, love all 3. I also have a Glock 20. I don't need protection from wild animals, but if I did the Glock 20 with a couple of 15 round mags of Buffalo Bore 220gr hardcast would be hard to beat. When I'm the hunter I use a Ruger Redhawk, scoped with 7.5" barrel and 340 gr +P's.

M1A's r BEST

Are you a good shot with the Redhawks?

I mean like a good shot. Not hitting a 5 gallon bucket at 50 yds. But putting that big bullet in a bear's eye at 20/25 yds. if he was standing there looking you over and you knew he was coming at you?

I've only got one Glock but I've fired 2 others over the years. None of them were really accurate. Any/every time I get a little disheartened with my groups from the Glock, the XDM (competition model) or M&P I get out the old 1911 and shoot some good groups and then I know its not me, its the way the newer high capacity plastic framed guns are made/put together.

Good luck with whichever gun you go with.

faawrenchbndr

Keep in mind,.......seems the Glock 20's have issues with
full load 10mm. Casings exhibit bulges due to lack of
support at the neck.

Ruger .44 Mag all day long,......no worries over mag failures either!

Robert14

I've carried a S&W .44 mountain gun as my "woods gun" for years now in a Bianchi Cycone crossdraw with the first 2 rounds being snakeshot and the last 4 jacketed soft tip..... wouldn't trade it for the world.

Hgunner

HH nailed it, a good pair of suspenders.

Cost a lot less than selling all your stuff and buying new stuff.

saw filer

JMHO your comparing apples to oranges. I would feel well armed with either but lean toward the Glock.

huntinghawk

ANYONE that has an animal charge at them can tell you penetration is everything. And with a bear or hog, about all you will have for a target is the head. You best have something that will penetrate skull & brain. And that skull is rounded so easy the round can be deflected.

Years ago I was swamp hunting for deer with a bow. Young boar charged at me. Three shots with a 357. Two deflected off the skull. Shots were 30-10ft. If a fourth shot was needed it would have been point blank.
Was less then a month later I bought my first Super Blackhawk.

So my experience was penetration was the most critical thing. When I had gone to Montana moose hunting a year later I was warned to bring a 44. Most hunters mulled by bears was while they were cleaning their game & rifle wasn't in reach.

HH