What to Bring to Glacier National Park: S&W 460v or S&W 629?

[mdauben]

I will be headed up to Glacier National Park soon and I am told the area is heavily populated with grizzly bears.

I've been to GNP several times, and spend a lot of time hiking the trails well away from the roads and parking lots. In all that time, I've seen one grizzly, and it took a pair of binoculars to positivly identify him as a bear and not a brown rock up on the hill. While it is true people have been attacked in GNP, the chances are really pretty remote.

Anyway, I have a S&W m460v and a S&W 629.

That said, I would not have any problem if you wanted to carry. If it was me, I would probably go with the lighter 629. You are not going to see the really big bears you find in costal AK, so I believe the .44mag will be sufficient with good bullets and good shot placement.

 

[CraigC]

Definitely the 629 and the 320gr LBT would be an excellent choice. If it's between a .44Mag, bear spray or nothing at all, I think I'll take my chances with the big sixgun.

 

[jdub3]

Obviously, the bear spray is a good choice for primary defense.

About the sidearms, I'm all for carrying, but I think 2 guns (one for bears and one for everything else) is a bit much. I would probably only carry the 629, and bring some decent defensive .44 special rounds for when bears aren't an issue.
I know you are only going on day-hikes, but the added weight yields a miniscule benefit, IMO.

No matter what you decide, I hope you have a great trip. I'm about to head up the NorCal and Oregon coast in a couple weeks for some camping and I can't wait.

 

[bassdogs]

Suggest you take a deep breath and calm down before your trip. Unless you're taking a pack horse, you might want to settle on just one of the handguns. Take your pick, but a great big one, another big one, and a semi auto for whatever and you'll be so weighted down. you'll probably wet your pants before you 1] recognize your foe, 2] select the appropriate weapon, 3] draw and raise the weapon on target and finally 4] hope you get 1 or 2 rounds off in the general direction of the beast. If the rangers find you carrying all the hardware you are talking about, they will probably call in the homeland security people and send you to Getmo.

Truth is I just ask a similar question concerning a Sept trip to Alaska. Lots of good posts on that thread. What I learned was take a shotgun with slugs. Take a handgun [44mag is preferred] that you are comfortable and accurate with. Carry bear spray. Pay attention to when and where you hike.

Can't wait for my trip. Hope you enjoy yours.

 

[RalphS]

I wouldn't carry 2 guns either. I'd carry the 629 with a couple of speedloaders in my pocket and a KaBar knife on my belt. My standard mountain rig is a 4 inch revolver and a 7 inch knife.

 

[zfk55]

We're about 18 miles from GP and we have a lot of experience with the park and the Rangers. This is fact. Counter Assault is an instant bear stopper. Unless you're quick and get the perfect shot, a firearm almost never stops the bear in time. If CA carried on your belt like a revolver it's quick and effective. The cannister is large and heavy streamed. Carry both if you like, but defintely do not count only on your revolver. We've had two deaths and three maulings here lately. When a she-bear has cubs, it's almost certain to happen if you walk around the turn in a path and she's there, and you don't have to be between them. Just your presence is enough to set it all off.
Rangers advise you to hang a bell on your backpack. That will usually alert them and they'll move on.
Or....... It could sound like a dinner bell to some of them. LOL!

http://counterassault.com/html/bearquestions.html

I just checked and it seems that our old one is beyond the shelf life and was a stream type. The new ones like my wife bought are a fog.
Good thing for me I didn't try to use it! Truth be told, I also carry a revolver. .41 Mag with wadcutter type cast bullets with a panhead screw literally screwed into the flat tips. That's considered a bear skull cracker around here.