I'm thinking of getting a pistol to carry when bowhunting. Had a run in with a pig last year and could've used one. I'm wanting a Glock. My question is, what caliber and model? It will be used for self defense and may use it as conceal carry as well. I only own a couple .22 pistols at this time. So, what say ye? 9mm, .40, .45?

I'm not really a glock fan, I like the smith and Wesson shield. It's thin and compact but shoots well and carries well. I have the 40. I also like the compact 1911. I have a couple of kimber ultra carry's. Little heavier but great shooters and still carry well. Plus I like a 45.

9mm technology has come a long way in the penetration dept and would be the easiest to shoot.


I'll sell you a Sig 1911 if you decide to go that route though...

I've got a Glock 23 .40 cal that I've killed coyotes and pigs with. Personally, I find it too big for me to want to carry it concealed. Either a 9mm, .40 cal, or .45 should serve you well.

You must be talking about a Glock 23, Brad. The 43 is a small single stack 9mm. For something small, reliable and would require minimal upkeep, a Glock 43 would fit the bill perfectly. You can throw it in a mud hole for a week and it will still go bang after you fish it out and pull the trigger.

You're right. It's a 23. I went back and corrected it. Thanks.

Glock 19

Thanks guys. I was not sure if 9mm would be enough penetrating power for hogs.

I traded for a Glock 19 with night sights awhile back. It's going on my hip every time I go out this fall.

I have a M&P 9mm, comes with 2 clips.
Not too big but big enough.

.45 Shield gets my vote.

Anything that can potentially hurt me id want the biggest I could shoot proficiently. That being said the 45 gets my vote. My sig 1911 goes with me every time I take a stroll through the woods.

Short barrel .357

Take my 45 every time I step into the woods.

Ideally, a 10mm.........but I carry a Glock 23 (.40) with hollow point and FMJ staggered.

FF, I really like the Glock 23 platform; it's a 40 cal but I've converted it to 9mm thru a ported Lone Wolf barrel - best of both worlds. EDC is 9mm, but when I want to bring the big'un out to the field, I simply drop-in the stock 40 cal barrel, load up & am good to go. Couldn't be more happy w/my G23.

I love Glocks but don't over look a Springfield XDS its my carry gun they make them in 9mm,45 and a XD or a XDS in 40sw

Springfield XDS

Springfield xd3 in 40

Since I'm not trying to conceal anything when hunting, I either carry a Kel Tec PMR 30 in 22 mag, a Glock 20 in 10mm, or a FN FNX45. The Kel Tec holds 30 rounds, and the glock and FN both hold 15. I like the Glock and FN for hogs because there's plenty of ammo, and both are more than enough to kill a hog. I like the Kel Tec because what's not to like about having 30 rounds packed on your side?

I carry a poly public defender, I can load it with a few #6 for snakes and a few 45lc or .410 slugs or the .410 personal defense shells with a .30 cal hollowpopint followed two .30 cal balls in the same hull.

Me neither, I keep a 4" gp100 on my side when I hunt. Can't go wrong with a .357 mag

Thanks guys. I went with the Glock 22 with Nickle Boron slide. It's sweet!

Oh ya, nice man!

Any of them will kill a hog. Go pick up a few different models and makes and see what fits. I don't like glocks because of fat grips and horrible trigger ( ymmv).
Practice often with what you carry.

Come get a few of mine and see what you like better. No Glock tho!

A Ruger Viquero .45 colt.
A .45 acp long slide
A .45 acp mil spec
A S&W 686 in .357 mag
Among a few others but one of these is usually with me on a bow hunt.

I have a S&W MP 9mm and a Canik 9mm.
The Canik is a well made gun for the money if you want a full size handgun.
Bought mine from Bud's Gun shop.

I carry a Springfield marine operator 45 cal. I�m most accurate with this gun so I carry it hunting at as my conceal carry.

I like the XD in 45 ACP

Can't go wrong with a G-20 10mm

Sig sp2340 in .357 sig. It holds 15 rounds and shoots into a dime sized hole. Very nice trigger in single or double action, one of the best factory triggers I've ever had on a double/single action auto of any sort and I've had a whole bunch of different types.

Before that was a coonan in condition one.

Me too. One advantage of a revolver is that if you were to be overtaken by an animal and on the ground, say a wild pit bull or something similar, you could still jam the gun straight into it's neck or face area and it will fire. A semi auto with a slide may not. Probably not much of a concern around here since we don't have bears, but it's something to think about. Plus the gp100 weighs so much any kind of swift strike from the pistol alone is enough to dissuade pretty much anything.

Hahaha! Ask doekiller about that! He used a TC contender to club a charging hog one night!
I never seen a big man so scared.

Springfield XDS 3.3 45 cal. Its awesome. I just bought mine for 380 bucks after tax. Academy price matched larrys pawn plus gives another 5% off. Then get approved for their visa credit card and get another 25 bucks off. Cant beat that

If a hog takes a notion to get after you the only thing going to stop him in time is a hit in the head. Going to be up close & personal. Anything will do. I carry a .380 loaded with Lehigh +P Xtreme Penetrators

I carry a glock 20 10mm in the woods. Not much bigger than the glock 17 and I conceal it with a coat in the winter if I go in a store