Pistols vs. Animal Attacks
- Thread starter ArmedBear
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JImbothefiveth
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This might be because people are more likely to use a handgun against a bear that is seriously atacking.
Well... you had to go and say "grizzly", so I would say a rifle in .45-70 or a 12 GA with slugs. 
But since you're a revolver guy...
4" Ruger Redhawk in .44 Mag or .45 Colt with Buffalo Bore loads.
You could always step it up a notch with the Ruger Super Redhawk Alaskan in .454 Casull or .480 Ruger, or a S&W .500 Magnum
But since you're a revolver guy...
4" Ruger Redhawk in .44 Mag or .45 Colt with Buffalo Bore loads.
You could always step it up a notch with the Ruger Super Redhawk Alaskan in .454 Casull or .480 Ruger, or a S&W .500 Magnum
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LOL
kludge, I'm a .45-70 guy, too.
Anyway, WRT grizz, I was not saying I wanted the gun specifically for grizzly defense, just that we do have them, along with just about every other land predator.
Also, about bear attacks, I understand that a grizzly that was shot after killing a man was found to have 6 .38 Special slugs in his chest -- from the man he killed. I believe the statistic. Handgun rounds are more likely to piss off a big bear than to stop him -- not enough penetration.
I'm thinking more about wolves (not that I'd ever shoot a wolf, of course), coyotes, cougars (assuming I ever saw it), rabid raccoons, deer on PCP, you know, that sort of thing.
Black bear would be a "what if" question. I wouldn't mind having a firearm that would be better than useless against one.
If I thought I might encounter Grizzly (unlikely from what I understand -- they don't want to see us any more than vice versa), I'd want to have a Guide Gun in my hands.
This is an interesting thread. And funny, too, at times. Please keep it going!
kludge, I'm a .45-70 guy, too.
Anyway, WRT grizz, I was not saying I wanted the gun specifically for grizzly defense, just that we do have them, along with just about every other land predator.
Also, about bear attacks, I understand that a grizzly that was shot after killing a man was found to have 6 .38 Special slugs in his chest -- from the man he killed. I believe the statistic. Handgun rounds are more likely to piss off a big bear than to stop him -- not enough penetration.
I'm thinking more about wolves (not that I'd ever shoot a wolf, of course), coyotes, cougars (assuming I ever saw it), rabid raccoons, deer on PCP, you know, that sort of thing.
Black bear would be a "what if" question. I wouldn't mind having a firearm that would be better than useless against one.
If I thought I might encounter Grizzly (unlikely from what I understand -- they don't want to see us any more than vice versa), I'd want to have a Guide Gun in my hands.
This is an interesting thread. And funny, too, at times. Please keep it going!
FromMyColdDeadHand
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Aren't more people killed/attacked by mountian lions?
Buddy was going to fish salmon fish in Alaska and called the Rangers up there. He asked if it was OK to bring a 45LC SA for bear protection. The ranger paused and said, sure, if you want to bring something that small. They carried pistol grip 12ga slug guns.
Just bring a spare pick-i-nick basket to throw.
Almost think you'd want to keep it in a cross draw chest rig so that when you are in your fetal position you could grab it.
Bears don't stop and yell "MEDIC"!
Buddy was going to fish salmon fish in Alaska and called the Rangers up there. He asked if it was OK to bring a 45LC SA for bear protection. The ranger paused and said, sure, if you want to bring something that small. They carried pistol grip 12ga slug guns.
Just bring a spare pick-i-nick basket to throw.
Almost think you'd want to keep it in a cross draw chest rig so that when you are in your fetal position you could grab it.
Bears don't stop and yell "MEDIC"!
CoRoMo
Member
My wilderness carry is a 4 5/8" Ruger Blackhawk, but if I didn't have it, I wouldn't feel 'unprotected' carrying my 45acp.
dmazur
Member
Any more Brown Bear jokes today?
Well, in threads discussing bear attacks and using a handgun for defense, sooner or later someone suggests filing down the front sight...
I haven't seen that mentioned, yet.
I can't remember if you file down the sight so it's easier to stick it in the bear's ear, or if it's so it doesn't hurt so much when the bear takes it away from you and sticks it up your nether regions...
In that case I'll stick with the 4" Redhawk... except for grizzly and bison a heavy .45 Colt load will do the job on about anything else that walks in the lower 48. And if the mood hits you you can have some lighter "cowboy" rounds in your pack.
sanerkeki
Member
I would suggest a xd 40 or 45 subcompact, it is easy to carry and has hi cap magazines so you have 13 bullets, were revolvers have half and on top much harder to aim and keep it steady when an animal is approaching you. Get some FMJ bullets and you will be good.
dmazur
Member
Use both
I have the large size bear deterrent spray and a .44 Mag.
I figure the bear has about 0.5 seconds to break off the attack, after being sprayed, before he gets one in the ear.
My worry, other than trying to survive, is I'm not sure I can think fast enough to not use the .44 Mag.
Also, I'm thinking I'm going to have to make sure I have a change of underwear in my gear.
I have the large size bear deterrent spray and a .44 Mag.
I figure the bear has about 0.5 seconds to break off the attack, after being sprayed, before he gets one in the ear.
My worry, other than trying to survive, is I'm not sure I can think fast enough to not use the .44 Mag.
Also, I'm thinking I'm going to have to make sure I have a change of underwear in my gear.
Redneck with a 40
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Being here in Colorado, I'll just dump the magazine on my XD-40, say a prayer, and run like hell.
FromMyColdDeadHand
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A pike or a samuri sword as a last ditch defense? Bear defense, Tarantino style. That ought to give the bear a good case of the WTFs?
MCgunner
Member
I'd carry either a 4" .357 K frame size gun or my Ruger .45 Colt blackhawk in that situation. The ..357 would be a little easier to tote.
.45 ACP just does not have enough thump for big critters. That's why I got a .45 Colt for pig stickin' back-up some years ago when I was going out pig stickin' with a guy and his dogs on occasion. The ACP did not thrill me at close range on a big hog. If I had that specific problem, actually, I might just buy a .44 mag S&W mountain gun or maybe a Taurus Tracker, good excuse for a new gun.
We don't have bears or big cats down here and so long as you don't go swimming with 'em, the crocodilians won't eat you. There are labs who are sacrificed to the gator gods every teal season, but I mean, they're not a big threat on a walk down the street.
.45 ACP just does not have enough thump for big critters. That's why I got a .45 Colt for pig stickin' back-up some years ago when I was going out pig stickin' with a guy and his dogs on occasion. The ACP did not thrill me at close range on a big hog. If I had that specific problem, actually, I might just buy a .44 mag S&W mountain gun or maybe a Taurus Tracker, good excuse for a new gun.
We don't have bears or big cats down here and so long as you don't go swimming with 'em, the crocodilians won't eat you.
There are labs who are sacrificed to the gator gods every teal season, but I mean, they're not a big threat on a walk down the street.BlindJustice
Member
FYI - The University of Idaho and ID Fish & Game have
had traps out in the Idaho Rockies, in order to check the
population of Bears there. So far, they have only
collected DNA of Black bears, no Grizzlies to date.
Randall
had traps out in the Idaho Rockies, in order to check the
population of Bears there. So far, they have only
collected DNA of Black bears, no Grizzlies to date.
Randall
BADUNAME37
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About 14 years ago, in the mid-winter, I was driving along a two-lane road with my wife. This would have been around mid-day.
Suddenly, I saw a small, young deer cross the road in front of me and immediately following it was a coyote. The deer was a bit bloody as I could see, and at first, I thought they were just running or playing together.
It didn't take long to realize that the coyote was attacking the deer. The dog was constantly biting at the deer and pouncing, trying to get the deer down. I felt sorry for the deer, all we could do is watch. I blew the car horn, however that didn't phase the "coy dog" in the least.
If I would have been carrying at that moment, I would have pulled onto the shoulder and immediately gotten out and shot that coyote (from off the shoulder of the road) -- as they were tangling only about 25 feet off the road after they crossed the road.
I often wonder whatever happened to that deer, whether it got away. I sure hope so, however by the looks of the "fight," that coyote was winning.
I never saw anything like it before -- nor have I since.
Suddenly, I saw a small, young deer cross the road in front of me and immediately following it was a coyote. The deer was a bit bloody as I could see, and at first, I thought they were just running or playing together.
It didn't take long to realize that the coyote was attacking the deer. The dog was constantly biting at the deer and pouncing, trying to get the deer down. I felt sorry for the deer, all we could do is watch. I blew the car horn, however that didn't phase the "coy dog" in the least.
If I would have been carrying at that moment, I would have pulled onto the shoulder and immediately gotten out and shot that coyote (from off the shoulder of the road) -- as they were tangling only about 25 feet off the road after they crossed the road.
I often wonder whatever happened to that deer, whether it got away. I sure hope so, however by the looks of the "fight," that coyote was winning.
I never saw anything like it before -- nor have I since.
I've heard that if you have the distance, it's best to fire a warning shot at the ground in front of the bear to stop the charge. Once you actually shoot it, it will be completely focused on killing you until you put it down.
If I didn't have something I was confident would kill it with one shot, that's what I would try first. If I couldn't just get away.
For me serious handgun hunting rounds start at .357 mag on up.
If I didn't have something I was confident would kill it with one shot, that's what I would try first. If I couldn't just get away.
For me serious handgun hunting rounds start at .357 mag on up.
BlindJustice
Member
The U. of Idaho is located in Moscow ID. It's 8 miles to the east of
where I live In PUllman Wash. ( 80 miles S. of Spokane, WA. and
home of Wash. State Universtiy.We're at the eastern edge of
the Palouse. THe Palouse is rolling hills of dryland
Wheat country. However, there are lots of small valleys with
any kind of water source there are pine and enough cover
for Whitetail, coyote, cougars and lynx. Pullman has had
a couple of Cougar sightings in recent years. One was put
down by the Animal Control guy as it kept intruding on the N.
side of town. East into Idaho and it's more pines than
open farmland. Moscow the last couple of years keeps getting
intrusions on the east side of town by Moose. Moose are so
unpredictable people are warned to stay inside.
Oh, and Black Bear.... looked up the records in the Boone &
Crockett web site. Griz & Brown records are Alaska. Big Blackies
the top 3 are Pennsylvania 1rst, and 2nd, 3rd place went to N.
Carolina. FWIW.
From my Handgun selections:
S&W 1911 Stainless 5" Bbl.
.45 ACP Double Tap 230 gr. Speer GD JHPs
@ 1,010 FPS.
or sawap in the .400 Cor Bon Bar Sto Bbl.
S&W 625 5" Bbl.
.45 Auto RIm 225 gr. Barnes XPB HP @ 900 FPS
with full moon clips .45 ACP DT GD JHPs reloads
165 gr. Hornady XTP JHP @ 1275 FPS.
S&W 686P 4" Bbl. .357 Mag I have some
PMC 158 gr. JSP, and 158 gr. or 180 gr. XTP JHPSs
as ammo options.
of course the above is backup for an 1894
Marlin in .45 Colt. How about Double Taps +P
250 gr. SWC @ 1750 fps with 10 cap. tube mag.
Oh, but if anybody actually wants to see a Griz.
come on down to PUllman - on the east side of the
WSU Campus there's a sturdy chain link enclosure
usually holding 3-4 Grizzilies. The Vet Med school is
doing research on them and diseases they are
susceptible in getting. They are friggin BIG. I take
visiting friends/family by to check them out. It's on the
way to the local airport.
Randall
where I live In PUllman Wash. ( 80 miles S. of Spokane, WA. and
home of Wash. State Universtiy.We're at the eastern edge of
the Palouse. THe Palouse is rolling hills of dryland
Wheat country. However, there are lots of small valleys with
any kind of water source there are pine and enough cover
for Whitetail, coyote, cougars and lynx. Pullman has had
a couple of Cougar sightings in recent years. One was put
down by the Animal Control guy as it kept intruding on the N.
side of town. East into Idaho and it's more pines than
open farmland. Moscow the last couple of years keeps getting
intrusions on the east side of town by Moose. Moose are so
unpredictable people are warned to stay inside.
Oh, and Black Bear.... looked up the records in the Boone &
Crockett web site. Griz & Brown records are Alaska. Big Blackies
the top 3 are Pennsylvania 1rst, and 2nd, 3rd place went to N.
Carolina. FWIW.
From my Handgun selections:
S&W 1911 Stainless 5" Bbl.
.45 ACP Double Tap 230 gr. Speer GD JHPs
@ 1,010 FPS.
or sawap in the .400 Cor Bon Bar Sto Bbl.
S&W 625 5" Bbl.
.45 Auto RIm 225 gr. Barnes XPB HP @ 900 FPS
with full moon clips .45 ACP DT GD JHPs reloads
165 gr. Hornady XTP JHP @ 1275 FPS.
S&W 686P 4" Bbl. .357 Mag I have some
PMC 158 gr. JSP, and 158 gr. or 180 gr. XTP JHPSs
as ammo options.
of course the above is backup for an 1894
Marlin in .45 Colt. How about Double Taps +P
250 gr. SWC @ 1750 fps with 10 cap. tube mag.
Oh, but if anybody actually wants to see a Griz.
come on down to PUllman - on the east side of the
WSU Campus there's a sturdy chain link enclosure
usually holding 3-4 Grizzilies. The Vet Med school is
doing research on them and diseases they are
susceptible in getting. They are friggin BIG. I take
visiting friends/family by to check them out. It's on the
way to the local airport.
Randall
Well let's see...
http://www.biggamehunt.net/sections/Brown_Bear/
One was killed by wildlife officials in October 2007, and another was taken by a hunter on Labor Day of that year, both in Idaho.
Montana's southern Grizz population is apparently off the endangered species list.
I will buy that I'm VERY unlikely to see one. However, they do exist, and they exist in Idaho.
But like I said, I wasn't looking for a grizzly gun.
tango2echo
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- 811
The best bear defense made is a #2 copper cow bell. Don't surprise one and you'll be fine.
And as far as looking to the web for information, I recently saw another site where a user was advocating the use of bearspray or STUNGUNS for defense against an attact. Yeah, try that out and let me know how it works.
I'm not saying don't go armed. In fact, I would say go WELL armed. Just don't go out there ill-advised.
T2E
And as far as looking to the web for information, I recently saw another site where a user was advocating the use of bearspray or STUNGUNS for defense against an attact. Yeah, try that out and let me know how it works.
I'm not saying don't go armed. In fact, I would say go WELL armed. Just don't go out there ill-advised.
T2E
Growing up right next door in Wyoming and expecting to meet the same animals you listed I have narrowed my choices to one of the following calibers:
454 Casull
45 Colt
44 Mag
My favorite guns are Ruger Blackhawks and Redhawks usually in short barrel lengths, short barreled Casulls and S&W Mountain Guns and the 329. With good solid loads that I can control and hit with, all of these work. You don't have to use the biggest wrist breaker ammo all the time. I have taken all the animals you list with one or another of these guns except the Grizz and it is rare and protected. I prefer my 45/70 for big bears. Most of the yotes, lions, wolves and the like are thin skinned and don't need big medicine, just good shots. Most everything you talked about would rather go the other way if given the choice. Having a friend or two with you is also a good idea. I also like revolvers because I can use snake shot for snakes, birds and small game or camp pests.
I suppose a good auto in 10mm would work, but I have no experience with the 10mm. I personally worry more about two legged critters when hiking, fishing, camping than I do most wildlife. When hunting big game, I carry a big rifle that can take what I am hunting and anything bigger I might encounter. I do not believe in fast small caliber rifles for big game. I feel the same way about handguns.
454 Casull
45 Colt
44 Mag
My favorite guns are Ruger Blackhawks and Redhawks usually in short barrel lengths, short barreled Casulls and S&W Mountain Guns and the 329. With good solid loads that I can control and hit with, all of these work. You don't have to use the biggest wrist breaker ammo all the time. I have taken all the animals you list with one or another of these guns except the Grizz and it is rare and protected. I prefer my 45/70 for big bears. Most of the yotes, lions, wolves and the like are thin skinned and don't need big medicine, just good shots. Most everything you talked about would rather go the other way if given the choice. Having a friend or two with you is also a good idea. I also like revolvers because I can use snake shot for snakes, birds and small game or camp pests.
I suppose a good auto in 10mm would work, but I have no experience with the 10mm. I personally worry more about two legged critters when hiking, fishing, camping than I do most wildlife. When hunting big game, I carry a big rifle that can take what I am hunting and anything bigger I might encounter. I do not believe in fast small caliber rifles for big game. I feel the same way about handguns.
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DarkCharisma
Member
Well, after this discussion, I will probably just stay home and let everybody else deal with bears...
Serious note--Nothing smaller then .44mag. If you have a serious concern about it, sling a BIG rifle over your chest and get good at drawing it.
Serious note--Nothing smaller then .44mag. If you have a serious concern about it, sling a BIG rifle over your chest and get good at drawing it.
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