i carry a .45lc psyco has seen it in action and will tell you that it will do the job i've killed several bear and hogs with the round and really like it. and fairly inexpensive to shoot around 23bucks a box here.

Bigger is better (as long as you can handle the recoil, I would not get a 454 unless you shot one first). If it is all you can afford the 44 will do a black bear. I carry a 44 with a 6 inch bbl. and like it a lot. An 8 inch bbl may give you a little more accuracy but will also increase the weight on your hip.

I carry 45-70 with 10 1/2 inch barrel one shot game over
the hound's don't mind the roar they just want to pull hair

Disturbed is a BIG man! He could handle the recoil on just about any caliber. My thoughts were that since the 44mag has been around for a long time and the 454 is fairly new that he would be better off because of the availability of ammo and it's a round that will never go away like some of the newer rifle calibers do. What he really wants is the S&W 50cal but.....money is an issue.

njkn

you also want to look at the fact that hunting hounds you are going to be covering a lot of ground and the lighter your pack and the gun you are carrying the better off you'll be.

Are there any special permits needed to hunt with a handgun in Tn? I know that if you want to hunt with one in Pa you need a "sportsman's permit" or concealed carry permit.

no just the regular license

Tnhoundsman is right...pack light. I will be packing lighter next time. If disturbed is a big man he better get in excellent shape and not just good. Im 6'1" and 240lbs of muscle and have pretty good stamina and endurance, but that was a whole nother world out there. We are always on the move and cant wait wait around when the dogs are on a bear. Come time to chase bear again Im shedding some weight.

As far as the gun thing goes. Jeffs 45lc did a great job. For a side arm it is perfect. 44mag, 45acp,45lc,357mag,480 will all be good side arms...just pick the one you really want and stick with it. In tennessee you wont need it as long as jeff is around. Carry your rifle and leave the side arm stuff to him. No need to have several people freaking out if something was to go wrong.

psyco is right i'll have mine down here and i'll be whith the dogs and ya'll will be with me so i'd feel better for the hounds if ya'll had rifles and let me take care of the trick pistol stuff, number one it's safer for the dogs and number 2 it's safer for you let me take the chances getting in really close for pistol work i've had years of experence gettin close to bear and know what to do and when to do it. no offense ment and hopefully none taken just a matter of safety