Back up pistol in same caliber?

[ETipp]

People WAY over think this stuff. Try it and see if you like it. You may, but you may change your mind. Nothing wrong with having a backup...

For some of us, its not that we are overthinking it. Its called justification to purchase another ML.

Been there, done that one.

 

[ETipp]

Do you all think that would work out ok, if one had to get off a finishing shot and didn't have enough time to re-load his/her rifle? I'm contemplating a Traditions Kentucky percussion in .50 to go along with my Lyman Trade Rifle for hunting and wasn't sure if anyone did this or not, or, if it was a good idea. As always appreciate thoughts and recommendations.

If I were interested in packing a backup ML pistol, I would definitely use the same caliber as my rifle. Why complicate things.

 

[zimmerstutzen]

Re the extra weight. More "mature" hunters here are using Deer towers, these things often have heat and cushioned seats Windows with portholes that open silently. Some even sit on the computer. The first I saw, back in the 1960's was 15 ft off the ground and about 8 x 8ft. Even had a bunk that folded down so the thing doubled as the guys hunting camp. Kerosene heater with coffee pot sitting on it. a swivel chair in the middle and windows all the way round. He even had a transistor radio playing and the deer still walked up the trail every morning and down the trail next to his tower every afternoon. I have seen many since, recently one that had to be 14 x 14 with a cat walk around the outside and a chimney out the top. Heard the guy puts peanut butter on his firewood and the smell draws the deer. That tower must be 20 ft up off the ground out in a 100 acre Christmas tree field. Frankly, If I had such a facility, I would have a second rifle loaded and ready. and a bench shooting table set up with ranges marked along the shooting lanes. I shot one deer offhand in my life. The others were all from a rest, usually a picnic table I moved out into the woods for the purpose.

 

[wganz]

View attachment 186014
Never shoot twice!

Alternatively, hunt with a musket and keep the bayonet in it’s frog on your side.
Fixing bayo is quicker even than a reload plus it gives you that magic armor stuff called ‘distance’ between you and your target.

 

[hanshi]

Re the extra weight. More "mature" hunters here are using Deer towers, these things often have heat and cushioned seats Windows with portholes that open silently. Some even sit on the computer. The first I saw, back in the 1960's was 15 ft off the ground and about 8 x 8ft. Even had a bunk that folded down so the thing doubled as the guys hunting camp. Kerosene heater with coffee pot sitting on it. a swivel chair in the middle and windows all the way round. He even had a transistor radio playing and the deer still walked up the trail every morning and down the trail next to his tower every afternoon. I have seen many since, recently one that had to be 14 x 14 with a cat walk around the outside and a chimney out the top. Heard the guy puts peanut butter on his firewood and the smell draws the deer. That tower must be 20 ft up off the ground out in a 100 acre Christmas tree field. Frankly, If I had such a facility, I would have a second rifle loaded and ready. and a bench shooting table set up with ranges marked along the shooting lanes. I shot one deer offhand in my life. The others were all from a rest, usually a picnic table I moved out into the woods for the purpose.

I once hunted from one of those and it was about the size of a small room in a house. Three of us were in there on one day. The thing had heat! I felt sort of phony hunting in such luxury. It just doesn't feel like ethical hunting if you're not cold and uncomfortable.

 

[zimmerstutzen]

I once hunted from one of those and it was about the size of a small room in a house. Three of us were in there on one day. The thing had heat! I felt sort of phony hunting in such luxury. It just doesn't feel like ethical hunting if you're not cold and uncomfortable.

Far worse when such a comfortable place is inside a giant fenced area over bait.

I used to go goose hunting on the Eastern shore of Maryland. The guide had pits out in fields that had covers. Getting in the pit and out of the cold brisk winds was a luxury compared to being out in blinds in the marshes. Then one year, the temps were running about 5 degrees with 15 MPH winds and the guide had a butane heater in the pit. I would have thought the heat rising from the pit would have caused the geese to shy away. It didn't. we all had our limit by 8:30 am.

There is a hunter nearby that has pretty much lost use of his legs and is in a wheel chair. His tower is on the side of a steep hill, just off a logging road. It has a handicapped ramp and he gets deer, but depends on others to drag them out.