Calling all mountain men: Best Sidearm for remote hiking or backpacking

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Whoever that was that said 6 shots of .44 magnum would not stop a charging grizzly bear is sadly mistaken. A single, well-placed shot from a .44 magnum to even the shoulder-area of a HUGE bear will DROP it where it stands; I've seen it happen. I *also* find it hard to believe that a .44 magnum "won't do anything to a bear's skull." I strongly believe a .44 magnum to a frigging bear's skull will do SOME OF SOMETHING. Even so, that bullet should go into an eye or nosehole...If it enters one of those, the bear is going to notice.
 
A well placed shot might be difficult if you suprise a bear and his charge begins at less then 20-30 yards. You will be lucky to get one shot off. Better to stay alert and avoid situations like that. Make lots of noise when hiking. Avoid berry patchs. Don't sleep in the cloths you ate in. etc.

A .44 would be the smallest gun I would carry If large Brown Bears are in the area. A rifle in a calibur in the fours would give me more confidence.
 
G20.


Hard to argue with 15 rounds of 10mm.

Even a big mean bear would be a bit offended by that :)


If you're taking a rifle, a short barreled .45-70 with a ghost ring would be a good piece.
 
I would carry my 4" GP100 if it had to be a handgun.

I know this is the handgun section but I honestly would rather have my KT Sub 2000 in 9mm w/ Glock 19 grip than a revolver. With 124g +P Gold Dot ammunition pumping out 1450 fps it performs very close to a .357 revolver with a 125g load. Also the gun is very compact, lightweight, way quieter than a .357, has 15-33 round magazine capacity, and I can actully hit something with it at 100 yards as it is a 4-6 MOA rifle! I know my GP100 could probably shoot about that good but I can't do it. Plus, with some light loads it could be used to harvest smaller game and even up to deer or small black bears.

I live in the southeast and I don't think I would need anything else in a woods gun. And it folds up in your backpack ready for quick deployment.
 
If I had say, $800 to spend, I would look at the Alaskan, 6 shots of .44 special or Mag in a gun about as heavy as a heavy 1911 would be my choice.

Since I went on a walk and encountered a brown bear (who was thankfully as scared of me as he/she scared me) I am thinking of upgrading my current Nagant/BHP/Model 15 options.
 
Actually, for a charging bear, the Alaska wildlife authorities recommend that you aim for the nose for a frontal brain shot. As a bear gets closer to you it becomes technically easier to get a good brain shot. Unfortunately, it also gets easier to become completely flustered and miss the beast entirely while you are soiling your drawers. The answer is practice, practice, practice.
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+1

the old saying is you can never have too much gun. ;)

That being said, when I am in black bear territory, as I often am, I typically will carry my 45 acp Glock 21 at a minimum. When I am in Griz country, which is less often, I will either carry my 44 Mag Vaquero with warm loads (as Elmer would have liked) or my 45 Colt Vaquero with warm loads (as I know Elmer would have approved of). If I knew I was going up against a big bruin I would prefer my 375 H&H or something of the sort.

Bottom line, you need penetration and big holes regardless of the species.
 
Bottom line, you need penetration and big holes regardless of the species.
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Along with situational awareness,
an ability to think in nsec,
and balls of steel to face a charge.

Not many have all of those.

Me? I just whistle while I walk in bear country
and religiously keep food out of the tent.
 
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I hike a little off and on in the foothills in the Ouachita Mountains in West-Central Arkansas. The bruins are pretty rare and people argue whether Mountain Lions even exist here, so I take my Bersa Thunder .380 with me. I don't need to be weighed down with a big piece of steel.
 
and people argue whether Mountain Lions even exist here
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I can assure you, they do. I have a picture my dad took a about 10 years ago of one in the background at mount magazine. they didnt even know it was there until after the photo got developed.
 
TP&W will tell you cougar don't exist in the eastern half of Texas other than in East Houston (UH has a mascot), but there are a few around. I have a friend who's seen TWO in his life here. He's in his 70s now. I have personally seen tracks that could only have been one, too big for bobcat and definitely a cat track. If it was a bobcat, it'd had to have been a 100 lber and I've never seen a bobcat that went over 50 or 60 lbs and that one was HUGE for a bobcat.

But, while I do believe there are a few cougar around here, it ain't like I'm worried about getting pounced on. :rolleyes: I've never heard of a cat attack in this area of the state. It happens where they're badly over-populated like in California where the PETA morons have killed the hunting of 'em. The more people cats eat in California, the better off is the rest of the country as far as I'm concerned. I think the odds of one attacking someone out there who'd frequent this board are pretty slim, just the odds, ya know. Out of 100 people in Orange country, 2 might be gun owners, LOL. :D The rest can reap what they sow.
 
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We had a pair of mountain lions working along the river here as it passes through town and pets were getting kinda scarce. When at work one of my jobs is to go down and check the river every couple hours at night. Had a 9mm but for the first time in my life I realized I didn't have enough handgun:D X
 
I don't think a lot of people who are responding here have actually done long distance back packing.
 
"I don't think a lot of people who are responding here have actually done long distance back packing."--Balrog

Ya think some of the guns (and ammo) mentioned are a tad heavy?:scrutiny:
 
On the third day of a hike, your 44 mag which felt so light on day one will feel like it ways 10 pounds, unless you are above 8000 feet, in which case it will feel like 20. You will be begging for a grizzly to eat you so you don't have to pack the thing back home.
 
On the third day of a hike, your 44 mag which felt so light on day one will feel like it ways 10 pounds, unless you are above 8000 feet, in which case it will feel like 20. You will be begging for a grizzly to eat you so you don't have to pack the thing back home.
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Now, that's funny.

Well, I live at 7000 feet, and while carrying a duty belt and wearing a level IIIA vest on foot patrol all day can wear me out, packing a 44 or a 45 into the hills is pretty easy. Would it be easier without it? Sure, but I'd feel a little naked.
 
"On the third day of a hike, your 44 mag which felt so light on day one will feel like it ways 10 pounds, unless you are above 8000 feet, in which case it will feel like 20. You will be begging for a grizzly to eat you so you don't have to pack the thing back home."--Balrog

Yeah; it's a good idea to pack for the last day of a trip, rather than the first.;)
 
Well, I live at 7000 feet, and while carrying a duty belt and wearing a level IIIA vest on foot patrol all day can wear me out, packing a 44 or a 45 into the hills is pretty easy. Would it be easier without it? Sure, but I'd feel a little naked.
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How much does your gear weigh total on a daily basis? Most backpakers are carrying 25 pounds or so. Are you doing a lot of uphill, and downhill hiking on narrow irregular paths? The quality of your path is important in determining how hard it is to pack gear. You are probably better physically trained than most people if you are doing that on a daily basis. Also, remember you are at an advantage already if you live at altitude of 7000 feet. Most people who are backpacking live at lower elevations than they hike.
 
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