Better woods carry - heavy .40 or heavy .357mag?

[bad_aim_billy]

A guy around here had to fight off a moose with bear spray approx. 1/4 mile from the trailhead. The moose I've been close to haven't shown any aggression, and running away would probably work in most instances, but in the thicker stuff, I'd still want bear spray.

As far as guns, carry either and a can of spray, you'll be good to go.

 

[jeepguy]

you take the 40 and give her the 357 mag.

 

[jeepguy]

you take the 40 with at least one extra mag. if your girl can shoot and carry let her take the 357 mag.

 

[Big Bill]

Neither are a good choice in grizzly country. 44 REM MAG minimum.

This is good advice. Probably the best so far.

However, of the guns specified, I'd carry the M&P for overall firepower. I know, if you lived in Idaho, you'd probably have mentioned wolves. IMHO, encountering a pack of wolves would require a gun with firepower - which you would acheive with the 40.

However, if it were me, I'd go with something like a Ruger Redhawk .44 mag with either a

5.5 in barrel



or a 4.2" barrel - and several speedloaders.



And, I'd use Buffalo Bore heavy ammo or the 44 mag +P+.

Why not sell that SP101 and buy the actual revolver that you, without question, need.

 

[MikePGS]

If you use the .40 use the 180 grains. The 180 grain's bullet design causes it to penetrate more thoroughly.

 

[Big Bill]

Or, you could get a Super Redhawk Alaskan in .45/.454 casull.



In addition to .454, Buffalo Bore also makes heavy .45 LC.

 

[hogshead]

I love bear threads. Cosmoline whats up with that tote,is like a sled/trailer? Do you carry extra ammo in there?

 

[NMGonzo]

Redhawk

pick your flavor

 

[Leanwolf]

With which handgun are you the most accurate, consistently???

That's the one I'd take, if it were I .

L.W.

 

[S&Wfan]

The O.P. is a runner, but not a big game hunter. Humanely harvesting lots of big game teaches a sportsmen amazing things about how animals can take lethal hits with perfectly aimed ammo . . . and not go down or stay down.

Neither of these two handguns is adequate for the scenario he envisions, and neither would bring down an angry charge by a grizz or a moose before the shooter was trampled or clawed and bitten to death.

IMHO, if these threats are realistic in that territory, he needs more gun!

I'd recommend a minimum of a 4" barrel in .44 Magnum. Ammo? A flatnose, hard cast lead and HEAVY bullet of at least 300gns., loaded really hot. Flatnose, hard cast lead bullets will shoot through most anything living they hit, and thus penetrate well . . . one's only chance with a head shot on the bear that is starting to eat you.

Leave the mouse guns at home . . . unless you are taking a leisurely hike in a more populated area. Plus, kill a bear or a moose . . . and you'll WISH you were dead after the state gets through with you. Observe and respect wildlife from a safe distance, use your head, and you'll never have a problem with wildlife . . . and carry a BIG BORE gun with hot, heavy NON-EXPANDING big bore bullets in case you do!

 

[Boberama]

Shotgun with slugs is what I use, but only because I don't yet have that nice Marlin 45-70 and because handguns are illegal to carry here.
Out of your two choices I'd definitely go with the .357.
No question.

 

[jbrown50]

If i only had a choice between those two guns i'd carry the SP-101 .357 mag loaded with 180 gr. hard cast flat points. .40 is nice for a shoot out with gang members with it's high capacity and all but you'll need penetration for animals.

Carry both if you can but make sure you carry the revolver. It won't jam while the animal's on top of you chewing on your arm.

If a mountain lion lets you see it, then it doesn't really want to attack you. Moose are quite docile animals unlike brown bears and cougars but, on the rare occasion that you do make one angry it won't just let you walk away.

 

[lloveless]

I find it interesting that mushers carry .44 mag to deal with "docile" moose.
ll

 

[Cosmoline]

That's because mushers have a bunch of dogs and lines in front of them. A team getting tangled with a moose can be a real nightmare. On top of that, dogs and moose are like gasoline and fire. The only time a bull ever tried to gore me, he had been angered by two off-leash dogs. The dogs bolted out of the underbrush and down the trail past me, then comes a bull with his hackles up ready to stomp. I ran pretty fast that day, and had to dive into the devil's club. The moral of that story is don't let your off-leash dogs harass wildlife.

 

[Izzy77]

Another thing with Autos is the mag can be unseated and you might not even be aware . ( due to body / gear pressure, incorrect grip, a struggle) etc.

My woods revolver is a Redhawk .45 , but it is by no means a substitute for a full bore rifle, or a 12ga with slugs... and anyone who thinks so needs to look at the ballistics...

If you cant doge, run, or climb your way out of a worst case attack...good luck to any of us, if the bear has the DROP on you...no matter what we do...it will be an uphill battle.

This is a crummy article in gun terminology, but if the gist is correct, here's how your encounter might have a happy ending:
http://www.fieldandstream.com/node/57544

I would carry a Pepper Spray made for bears and other wild things...

http://www.gi.alaska.edu/ScienceForum/ASF12/1245.html

 

[OldCavSoldier]

Seeing as it is for emergencies, and you're not out hunting trouble, if I was you, I'd take the .357 with 158 grain soft points and a speed loader along with the critter-capable pepper spray. Also, walk around with a bell on you so that any four-leggers can be warned of your approach. Two-leggers are a different story.

 

[Hud]

Ah, bells & pepper spray...

 

[REAPER4206969]

Ah, bells & pepper spray...

You know how I know you're from California?

 

[REAPER4206969]

but you'll need penetration for animals.

And you won't get it with a 2"bbl.

 

[REAPER4206969]

because handguns are illegal to carry here.

Where?

 

[kanook]

You know how I know you're from California?

Those signs are Canadian from BC

 

[REAPER4206969]

He edited that pic in after the post.

 

[StarDust1]

I hike/backpack in the Pacific Northwest and I want a gun with great penetration. We have bears (even some grizzly), moose, and cougars. Of course, I am only trying to prepare for the very worst encounter. Yes, I know the more likely threat comes from humans, but I'm not going into the woods with a .380 because of that.

As options, I have a S&W M&P40 (15+1 capacity) and a Ruger SP101 in .357 magnum with 2-1/4" barrel (5 shot). I have some 200gr Double Tap ammo for the M&P40 and I was planning on buying some 200gr Double Tap for the .357.

I know the .357 magnum has a reputation for great penetration and it has taken down every animal in the lower 48. The SP101 is tough and dependable. The M&P40 carries 16 rounds (MUCH more than I can envision needing) and recoil is more easily controlled. With those two guns/calibers as options, which would you choose and why?

I lived in Alaska for years, I carried quite a few different firearms over that time, including autos(.45 ACP, 10MM, 9mm, and .40 S&W)
In the lower 48 a .40 S&W should cover a lot of ground with a few notable exceptions, those being large game such as Moose, bear(black or Brown/Grizzly), Elk, Cougar and Wolves! While the .40 will likely be capable of destroying such game, it's reliability to do so in a timely fashion is highly suspect!
That said, if you're actually worried about Bear and other dangerous predators or game, I'd not go less then a .357 magnum revolver, and that loaded with specific ammunition such as BB's heavy 180gr magnum load(1400fps from a 4" barrel)or some such similar load from someone else, keeping in mind that this is to my mind the minimum for such defensive work!
It's not that the autos aren't potent(particularly 10mm)for defense, it's mostly because(at least to my mind and experience) folks that end up using pistols & revolvers in a life & death encounter with a bear or moose often already have the animal on top of them before bringing the weapon into action, at such close ranges it's highly likely that the animal could contact the weapon during fire and cause the mechanism to malfunction or jam up! That would be very bad, and thats why I always preferred a magnum revolver for bush or back country outings....

 

[S&Wfan]

Great post, StarDust1!

I'll only add that an auto's slide only has to be pushed backwards a slight bit to take it out of battery and render it just a "paperweight" to a pissed bear.

Revolvers are "point and click" marvels!

Here's my deep woods revolver, a 6" S&W Model 29-5 (.44 Magnum), always stoked with 300 grain hardcast Federal "Castcore" flatnose hunting ammo. It is a devastating hunting round for me.

This revolver gets the job done, and has absolutely nothing in common in this way with my 2 1/2" and 3" S&W K-frame .357 Magnum revolvers for this purpose!!!

Here's my low-cost carry holster. The gun has always been secure and it affords a fast, silent draw . . .

 

[Grayowl]

One of my primary carry handguns is a M&P 40 with 180 gn. Gold dots (the standard LEO load) Hollow points are not good for large game. When I'm in the woods, I carry a S&W 686 Plus .357 4" 7 shoot loaded with 170 grain gold dot soft points with 14 to 14.5 grains of 2400 or 15 grains of H110 powder.