Black bear sidearm

[plumberfishes]

I still say the most dangerous ones in the woods are two legged... walking a road out in the hills, i turn a corner, and I see two guys passing a "pipe" , i take one more step , and they spot me,, I nod , and keep walking, but one of them make a show of making sure his pistol is visble on his hip...ok, good for him,... lets see 75 yards or so, i'm holding a win 30/30 and 8 rounds of leverloution and backing that up with a .357 and 158's and he has an auto pistol... buddy you better be REALLY good with that thing if you pull it.... every bear i have ever seen if i walked up on it clearly visible at 75 yards would have been gone before i could pull the hammer back. bears are not scary , human stupidity is! now cats make me nervous, but that another issue.here kitty kitty...

 

[chainsaw]

I carry a Ruger Redhawk 44 mag. with 300 gr bullet and a very healthy dose of h110.good for both four and two legged critters both.

 

[Jerry]

.41 magnum

 

[jer fly]

If you are carrying just as a precaution to being mauled, I'd pack the most comfortable pistol that you can shoot accurately,( I doubt you'll need it ) I've seen bears killed with everything from a single six in 22 mag, to a cap and ball pistol. I've said it before and I'll say it again- "shot placement is key". If your packing with the intent to actually shoot a bear I would stick to the larger magnums with hard cast bullets.

 

[jer fly]

I also agree that two legged predators are a far greater threat than the four legged ones. So pack something that your comfortable with. Confidence is a very powerful weapon.

 

[mjbskwim]

FYI I recently talked to a guy that was fishing in Alaska a few years back
He seemed to have forgot his gun.
A brown bear started towards them.His fishing buddy froze.He grabbed the 357 from his frozen com padre.
He shot the bear 4 times in the head and watched the bullets bounce off the thing.Some how the next two killed it about 10 yards off.
So figure that into a blacky's attitude.May or may not do the job. But more likely that the black bear will not like it and run.
No?

 

[donovanjdouglas]

I agree with what you're saying about black bears being shy creatures. I camped in Whistler, BC again this year (three years in a row) and saw around fifteen black bears which never once engaged us. However, they will NOT be shy about protecting their young, and that's a scenario I don't foresee the mama walking away from (for multiple reasons).

 

[donovanjdouglas]

You're more likely to be bludgeoned to death with a bottle of mayonaise by your elderly neighborhood grocery checker.

I had a laugh at this one. Nice work.

 

[Key-Hay]

I have a Taurus Tracker Titanium in .357. It's really light for a 4" barrel so I'm more likely to actually take it with me. Also carries 7 rnds. Just put plain ol 158 gn jacketed.

Do I think this will stop a bear charging me? If I'm lucky. If I knew I was going somewhere Bears "owned" the high ground I'd carry a can of Bear Spray.

I carry in the woods just as I would keep a utility knife with me.

 

[Quackerbacker]

I agree with what you're saying about black bears being shy creatures. I camped in Whistler, BC again this year (three years in a row) and saw around fifteen black bears which never once engaged us. However, they will NOT be shy about protecting their young, and that's a scenario I don't foresee the mama walking away from (for multiple reasons).

Yeah, for all my defense of black bears, i still carry in the woods as a general rule. I just hate the thought of someone killing or worse, injuring one unnecessarily. I do a lot of backpacking and camping and it's a comfort at night when your imagination can turn every sound into a pack of ravenous sasquatches just outside your tent

As with all things in life, despite the odds against it, shtuff happens, that's why we're prepared.

 

[lucky guy]

All the black bear defense you will ever need. Actually more than you will ever need.

Hard way to fill a tag though!

 

[eriknemily]

I carry my S&W M&P because that's the only handgun I have. My 7mm should do the job though!

 

[Key-Hay]

These two were about 300 yds above our camp up in the Dalles. Didn't even know they were close till we took a trip up the opposite side of the canyon. I carried the 357 all weekend and we kept a stereo going with classic rock in camp. The year before neighbors had been warned of a momma who was VERY defensive of her new cub. Think this is her with the yearling. (picture was memorial day 2011)

 

[Key-Hay]

Oh yea, We had Bear spray too.

 

[eriknemily]

All the black bear defense you will ever need. Actually more than you will ever need.

Hard way to fill a tag though!

But just think of the bragging rights you'd have if you did!!!

 

[RallySoob]

i like my .45 for everything from criminals to grizzly bears. if you can't stop it with a .45 you should be running for a tree haha

 

[johnboy]

Not too likely you will ever be attacked by these predators as they fear you MOST of the time. To carry gives a little more confidence but you dont need that much. .45ACP,10mm,.357.....44 and others will do the job. No Griz here so no worries (they carry short shotguns up there)

 

[gearchecker]

I'm not so concerned about he Black bears, but the Cougars and Grizleys keep my wife & I carrying when we're out in the woods.
We both use holsters with thumb strap retention and solid snaps.
I carry a 41 mag, and my wife carries a 357 mag, full loads w/hard cast bullets for both of us.
She's an excellent shot, even under stress. She practices shooting under self induced stress situations. Like after running for 25 yds, or running a few yds, falling, then getting back up and shooting. she amazes me how she can stay focused.
I have no doubt that the 357 is adequate protection for her.

 

[johnboy]

Usually 44mag for me but like the .357 for less weight to carry......

 

[sandman1212]

I carry the same sidearm in the woods that I carry in public, a 1911 with 230 grain HP's, but I agree that a bear will leave if it gets the chance, but that is in my 1 experience. Same with any other furry critter that I come across. mostly deer :complain: