As an aside, I think it bears {no pun intended} on the subject to mention that a handgun is one of the most useful tools a fellow can own for use in the woods and wilds.

I rarely carry one when I have a rifle, and I disagree with Tinker about the ease of use carrying the really big ones. I've never seen him but he sounds like a big sturdy fellow who doesn't mind them. I do. I'm in the woods every day and still I have never accustomed myself to really bulky equipment. Oftimes I have a belt with pliers or clippers for the plantation, etc, and a big gun is a loser for me. I don't like the extra bulk and a Smith N-Frame is about the largest I want to carry and to be truthful, the commonest pistol I carry is a Polish Tokarev, a very flat and light pistol that shoots a very useful field cartridge. Bear-equal? No, but big bear aren't a big problem here.

My son carries a Ruger Redhawk, a really super revolver, and about the absolute largest gun I want to ever have on my hip and then, frankly, not for long tho he goes everywhere with it. I think Tinker's point is well-taken tho, which is that some fellows DO like the really big ones and don't mind carrying them.

My suggestion is twofold for those without handgun experience; 1} if you are not a calloused handgun shooter {...even if you are...} the .500, etc recoil severely and it may be just plain "too much of a good thing". It is for many shooters. 2} framesize and weight matter on all-day hikes, and the Smith .500 is a bulky gun. Again, try one out before you dive in. We use our handguns for "targets of opportunity" all the time, and frankly, a .22 suffices for most of those targets so the big ones are not that desireable in a general sense, tho admittedly, facing a big mean bear, nothing that can be held with one hand is "big enough"!

I can basically say I never go anywhere without a gun, rifle or handgun mostly. The gun is a tool that except for actually hunting is rarely needed, but when it is, nothing else will suffice. It has to rank with the electric light bulb for Top Spot human inventions.

Those who are barred by law from carrying handguns have an excellent option, and Paul nailed it IMO. The Winchester 92's and short cartridge 94's are REALLY handy guns. For putdowns in a trap they can easily be used one-handed and are easy to carry. With a double sling you hardly know they are on your back. We have had a couple, the .30-30 in a 16.25 inch bbl and the .44 which we still own. What a great "handgun". And as for hitting, they are very easy to hit with, and offer a good number of rounds plus the ease of accurate shooting that most find elusive with a handgun. During lane-clearing years ago by one of the blinds, we had to remove some fir branches we could reach. The Win 94 in .44 did the trick nicely!

There are reasons the 92's and Marlin short action levers were so popular back in the day. Anybody who has carried a rifle on a horse knows it is a pain if it is a big heavy scoped thing or otherwise. The little guns ride so nice and smooth. And really, one of these days I'll pay Uncle the Tax Stamp and get what I've always wanted, a 10 or 12 inch Win 92 or 94 in .44 Magnum, common guns back in the day, and would-be so useful here on the ranch for a million chores.

If I do, there will be no good reason to own a "handgun"!