MCgunner
Member
I think you're probably quite right.
Bear/Hiking gun
- Thread starter SniperStraz
- Start date
- Status
I think you're probably quite right.
Tamlin
Member
I'm surprised about all the posts relating to Grizzlies - the OP specifically said he was in Georgia, and only concerned with Black Bears. I'm in Arizona - we have no Grizzlies here, either - only black bears. My first "black bear" hiking gun was a Ruger GP100 (.357 Mag). I really like this gun. After reading numerous of these "Bear Posts" (popcorn, please!) - I also purchased a S&W 629 (.44 Mag). I also really like this gun. (both of these have 4" bbls, btw). Both are on the large size - not snubbies - but I like that. The size and weight of either of them on my hip don't bother me while hiking. For me, I feel equally comfortable shooting both. If there were a bear in front of me and I had to shoot, I think if I had the .357 I would be wanting the .44. Having said that, I tend to carry the .357 more often. I think it's a more all-around, general purpose self-defense woods gun. But, it's awful hard to argue with the size of a .44! Try to shoot both - go to your local range and try them both out if you can. If you don't like the .44, don't carry it. Because you won't want to practice with it. Whatever caliber you decide on, I think 4" bbls are perfect for carry/ self-defense.
There are lots of Black bears in virtually all the outdoor country here in Idaho. (Mountain lions and wolves, too.) If one is going to backpack for several days, day hike, camp, fish, hunt, etc., one is going to be in Black bear country. (And there are a few Grizzlies in Idaho, also, but not many.)
I carry either my S&W 57 .41 Magnum, or my Ruger .45 Colt, with my handloads. If my wife is out in the boonies with me, she is carrying her Ruger Security Six .357 Mag., with my handloads. Yes, she's a good shot with it and practices shooting.
I've killed a 400 pound Black bear with that S&W .41 Magnum, with one well placed round. I was bear hunting with dogs. I want to make it clear that the bear was treed, and was not charging! Nevertheless, that one round from the .41 Mag. did the job.
If it had been charging, I firmly believe the .41 Mag., or my .45 Colt, would stop the bear so long as I did my part.
Accuracy is the key and that only comes from familiarity with one's firearm and lots of practice.
As several have mentioned, two legged predators are more likely to be encountered out in the boonies, than four. Be prepared for both, I say.
L.W.
I carry either my S&W 57 .41 Magnum, or my Ruger .45 Colt, with my handloads. If my wife is out in the boonies with me, she is carrying her Ruger Security Six .357 Mag., with my handloads. Yes, she's a good shot with it and practices shooting.
I've killed a 400 pound Black bear with that S&W .41 Magnum, with one well placed round. I was bear hunting with dogs. I want to make it clear that the bear was treed, and was not charging! Nevertheless, that one round from the .41 Mag. did the job.
If it had been charging, I firmly believe the .41 Mag., or my .45 Colt, would stop the bear so long as I did my part.
Accuracy is the key and that only comes from familiarity with one's firearm and lots of practice.
As several have mentioned, two legged predators are more likely to be encountered out in the boonies, than four. Be prepared for both, I say.
L.W.
This actually happened to me. I was hiking down a trail at dusk getting closer to my car and suddenly I heard a crashing sound on the trail. I thought at first it was a person riding a bicycle on the trail. I then said to myself, nobody rides bikes on this trail and why would someone be riding a bicycle at dusk. Well, it turns out as I am hiking down I see a real huge something or other jump into a bush as I surprised it. Then I realized that it was a black bear.
I freaked out a bit and I started walking very fast as I saw the a bit of the bear and it walked the other way for a bit up the bushes. Then to my utter dismay, I suddenly started hearing the crashing noise coming for me and saw the bear tracking me through the bushes. Let me tell you that very day I kissed death on the lips and it has changed my heart every since. At first I was like RUN RUN, but I knew the creature was much bigger than me and coudl run about 8 times as fast as me. So, I remember what Iwas taught and I started walking with my arms out. It was following me for like 1/4 mile. Maybe it was less, but it just felt like forever, I mean seconds passed like minutes. I had my arms out and starting screaming crazy sounds at it and yelling. I also hada can of bear pepper spray that i pulled out and had aimed at the bushes in case it decided to charge.
Well, Thank God, after screaming at the bear, it freaked out and I saw it run through the bushes up the hill. The sound of it running made such a loud sound, like nothing I heard before. Sounded like someone was riding a non-motorized car through the forest.
After this day, I knew that I must be armed with a gun in the forest . Yes, I know he was just checking me out, but being followed by a big black bear all alone in the woods at dusk is one of the scariest things that can ever happen to you on this earth, save for being hijacked on a plane.
Yep, that's a nice description. We've averaged stumbling on one bblack each year the last few years here in WA, whether in the Cascades or other parts of the state - or even in the city limits of Redmond (yep). Fortunately no grizzlies, which are in our northern areas. We ride horses in wilderness areas, and if you spend enough time in the woods in bear country (and we do it as a hobby on some weekends, not everyday by any stretch), you are going to see lots of aggressive wildlife - cougars, bears, rattlesnakes, etc.
How large they are and how fast bears move is something you just have to see in real life - not on TV. The compact mass, the speed, it's amazing. It's like a rolling, bounding power saw.
The funny thing is the first time we ran across a black bear, we had for the first time taken some handguns with us (at the urging of locals who knew better than us, we were both recent transplants from the East and did not appreciate the actual danger at that time). We were trying to figure out what carry methods worked well on horseback, what guns we liked best for the job (.357 or .45acp was my thinking at the time). We stopped to have lunch, did some target practice, and also worked on gun-breaking the horses. Packed everything up, and damn if in another 10 minutes did we not have a HUGE black bear bounding across the field in front of us. No charge or danger, but dang if I didn't go get a nice, packable .44 magnum after that experience!
Last edited:
ADKWOODSMAN
Member
My Adirondack woods walking, cubby building, 4wheeling gun is now a S&W Mod 57 .41 Mag. 4" with Golddot handloads.
Not worried about bears they run. We also have moose and they can get masty. One over the head for "noise" should do the trick.
Not worried about bears they run. We also have moose and they can get masty. One over the head for "noise" should do the trick.
Gryffydd
Member
In regards to black bear speeds...They're not any slower going downhill. My dad worked as a logger for a couple of years back in the early 70s here in Washington. One day him and a couple of other guys were driving down the logging road back into town. They came around a corner and there was a black bear on the road, which immediately started running away from them, down the road. So they sped up a bit and it kept running straight down the road. They paced it at about 35mph for a bit, and as it decided to get off the road it slipped and they ran right into it with the pickup. The bear just sat there in the road for a second, dazed. Then it started dragging itself off the road with its front legs, then its hind legs started working again, and it took off into the woods. The guys got out of the truck to take a look and see if there was any damage to the truck. There was nothing permanent, but in the process of being hit from behind the bear left the front/underside of the truck covered in scat.
leadcounsel
member
Save a bear and buy a can of $30 bear repellant spray.
MCgunner
Member
This is because there seems to be a rule on this board, if you mention bear, you automatically assume the Kodiak cause everyone hunts and hikes in Alaska, doncha know?
Oh, there's another internet wisdom to remember, no rifle or handgun on the planet, not even the 600 nitro express, can kill a bear as dead as a 12 gauge slug. That seems to apply to Florida as well as Alaska, for some reason.There was a big bear episode on "monster quest" a while back. This Inuit hunter tracked down this Polar/Griz cross (DNA analysis verified) that had been raiding the village there. What did he use? I'm thinking .30-30, actually. Well, nope, he used a M16 on full auto on that bear. A tacticool Inuit! ROFL I didn't know they had mall ninjas in the arctic, but apparently so. He did know how to use that thing, though. Stopped that monster bear in his tracks. Apparently 30 little holes is as good as one big one.
MCgunner
Member
I'm really not sure. The one thing I do know. If I survived it, I'd need a roll of toilet paper. Can you mount that on a picatiny rail? Perhaps I'd better get something with a rail, if so.
I'm not recoil shy and I have no experience at firing full auto, so I'm wanting to say I'd want something in a magnum that starts with at least a 4, given the choice. Or, really, I like the idea of the BLR in .325WSM for an Alaskan rifle as if I'd ever need one. And, the BAR is available in some hefty calibers. I wonder if you could get a BAR converted to .416 Remington Magnum? I know it's available in .338.
But, I know the ivory and rhino poachers in Africa mostly carry AKs, so I guess they will work. And, when the poaching patrols from the army catch up with you, you can probably use the firepower.
phoglund
Member
Now that's funny! I can see it now. Mebbe add a flask with some medicinal fluids as well!
I have to agree though, any violent encounter with a bear is likely to leave me with "big eyes and brown shorts".
It' interesting that up to 10-15 years ago, before the 500 S&W and the first production revolver in .454, the 44 Magnum was condidered adequate, with the righ loads, as big bear defense handgun in Alaska (granted, there are better choices than handguns for the purpose) and everyone going into the woods carried one.
Suddenly now, many says that a 454 or a 500 is the absolute minimum...Grizzlies got tougher and bigger in 15 years??
Suddenly now, many says that a 454 or a 500 is the absolute minimum...Grizzlies got tougher and bigger in 15 years??
For those who don't think that Black bears are any problem out in the boonies, take a look at this link. Woman attacked in a rural area of Kern County, Calif. 150 pound Black bear tore her face all to pieces.
I imagine the bear hit her so fast a handgun -- or long gun-- probably would have been of no help. I heard her interviewed on a teeveee show, and it sounded as if she might have had time to pull a gun, but who knows?
Point of this post is for those who do not find any need to be concerned in Black bear country.
This woman, Allena Hansen, stated she had never thought Black bears would attack, either.
(BTW, in my post #78, I mentioned that I killed a 400 pound Black bear, treed. That was about 40 miles to the north of this linked incident.)
http://abclocal.go.com/kabc/story?section=news/state&id=6302040
I say, be alert... and be prepared. Do not take Black bears for granted.
L.W.
I imagine the bear hit her so fast a handgun -- or long gun-- probably would have been of no help. I heard her interviewed on a teeveee show, and it sounded as if she might have had time to pull a gun, but who knows?
Point of this post is for those who do not find any need to be concerned in Black bear country.
This woman, Allena Hansen, stated she had never thought Black bears would attack, either.
(BTW, in my post #78, I mentioned that I killed a 400 pound Black bear, treed. That was about 40 miles to the north of this linked incident.)
http://abclocal.go.com/kabc/story?section=news/state&id=6302040
I say, be alert... and be prepared. Do not take Black bears for granted.
L.W.
Last edited:
Dr. Tad Hussein Winslow
member
- Joined
- Nov 14, 2007
- Messages
- 13,146
For a light hiking gun - Taurus 4" in .44 mag or .41 mag. Steel, not Ti. Weld the loudener holes shut.
MCgunner
Member
In that lady's case, even a concealed .38 would have been better than nothing. And, lets say you had a .357 SP101 on you and you didn't see the bear in time, unlike a shotgun or other long gun, you still have a chance to get to the sidearm and screw the thing into his ear for a shot. If I jogged in that neighborhood, that's what I'd do even if California CCW laws are draconian. Better judged by 12 than carried by 6, they say.
MCgunner
Member
Well, it works for Dog the bounty hunter.
Certainly. And actually it didn't happen one time, but 3 times, but never as bad as the episode I told you. I lived on the Central Oregon coast for 4 years and those woods are loaded with black bears. More black bears than people.. LOL.
The bad encounter I was telling about happen on Gwynn Creek trail of Cape Perpetua in central Oregon coast. I was headed back to the beach and still in the forest after sunset from a long hike, about an 8 mile hike from Cummins Creek to Gwynn Creek through the Old growth loop. That is where I bumped into that black bear.
The other times I bumped into black bears were:
1. Trail towards Old Growh Sitka Spruce at Cape Perpetua at the Campground. Bear was hiding in the bush and people were screaming at me , "Bear, bear". That bear didn't do anything but hide in the bush.
2. I was at Devil Churn at Cape Perpetua and saw a big 400lb black bear come out of his cave. I was on the other side of the churn and thought to be safe, maybe I wasn't. I just sat and hung out and watch the big black bear for 40 minutes. He was minding his own business climbing cliffs and eating grass like a cow. It was the most amazing day of my life to sit and watch a black bear in the wild and in a really majestic beautiful place. He was minding his own business and didn't notice me because we were seperated by very rough water chasm at the churn.
3. Another time I bumped into a bear by surprised was in my backyard. I had 1000s of acres of national forest in the backyard and a black bear decided to become my neighbor. I stumpled onto his dropping several times. One time I was walking and he was hiding in the bush. Soon as he heard me coming, he freaked out and ran for the hills.
So, that was a total for encounters with black bears. It wasn't until the one encounter were the bear trailed me that I knew it could be dangerous out there. Yes, black bears in Oregon are very shy and friendly most of the time. However, I don't like being helpless. Next time I go far out there in the woods I want a powerful handgun for worst case scenario. There is less bear attacks than human attacks, because less people go to the woods than to the city. Also, powerful handguns are also known to work well against dangerous humans in the woods too. So, why not have one gun for all types of bad guys, human or beast.
SniperStraz
Member
- Joined
- Nov 13, 2006
- Messages
- 871
Thanks for sharing with us 4Freedom and thank you all for your comments.
- Status