And there lies the problem....where to put the artillery when not in use, but well concealed and easily accessible. The whole reason behind starting this thread. Your .44 mag. is like my 1911 .38 Super....big, heavy, gun and not something I want to haul around. My .380 is around 20 oz. with is still heavy but the size is manageable as a conceal carry piece in the backcountry.

I've got Uncle Mike's "sidekick" holsters that have metal belt clips but those do nothing for concealment. My current idea is to mount the holster inside a small fanny pack (or use a paddle holster), and replace the zipper with velcro for speed. That would provide support, concealment (the law here...no "print through") and speedy access.

Thinking further, the ONLY critter I've ever had a problem with in the backcountry is dogs. Humans might come in second as a concern on the border. Cats and bears are simply not considered threats in my mind. Your likelihood of getting tagged by a raccoon is a 1000% higher....I see those every trip. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />
So, in the "reduce pack weight" thinking, I'm looking at .22 mag and even possibly .17 HMR. Reading some of the data on those two rounds suggests a couple of things. Jacketed hollow-points in .22 mag have a good track record for stopping power and shot placement (accuracy...the most important factor) goes up with reduced recoil.
The North American Arms Black Widow in 22. mag weighs 8.8 oz.! Some of the Taurus .17 revolvers weight in the 11 oz. range. And, of course, the S&W 340pd weights 11oz. at $750.....(I'm a cheapskate <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />)

The 9mm Kel Tec PF-9 at 11 oz. is attractive but shot placement probably drops to 1-2 foot groups at 20 yards, making the bigger round moot, unless you are lucky and 'steely eyed' under pressure.

Another thing I've always noticed in these firearm/caliber discussions....
We all get hung up on "one shot stopping power", etc. A 'one shot kill' is very important in hunting. And a war zone. In the back country, or the city street, a 'back up gun' is a last resort 'equalizer' and it's mere presence can turn the tide without firing a shot.