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RE: Black Bear defense suggestions
ORIGINAL: VT_Hunter1980 ORIGINAL: hardcorehunter Ruger Alaskan. Worlds most powerful compact doubleaction revolver. I have one in the .480 Ruger. here is the other offering available in a .454  http://www.ruger-firearms.com/Firearms/FAProdView?model=5302&return=Y
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RE: Black Bear defense suggestions
ORIGINAL: oldelkhunter VT Hunter..how about a 41 remington mag? I'm thinking a DA wheelgun might be my best bet. No safety to fumble with and less likely to jam. Am I right? |
RE: Black Bear defense suggestions
THERE IS NOT A LOT OF DIFFERENCE IN RECOIL BETWEEN THE 41 AND 44 MAG. ONE THING FOR SURE, THE 44 MAG WITH 44 SPECIAL AMMO WOULD HAVE LESS RECOIL THAN THYE 41 MAG. Recoil in a handgun has a lot to do with the grips. Houge and Pachmire make grips that really takes the sting out of pistol recoil. With those grips, my daughter shot the 44 mag when she was 13 without any trouble and she is not a big gal.
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RE: Black Bear defense suggestions
I'm thinking a DA wheelgun might be my best bet. No safety to fumble with and less likely to jam. Am I right? I have not shot a 41 magnum just a 357 and 44 mag .. |
RE: Black Bear defense suggestions
ORIGINAL: VT_Hunter1980 I do a lot of hiking and I would like, at some point, to pick up a sidearm that is dedicated to personal defense in the field. So far I've been carrying my .357 Blackhawk, but the 6" barrel makes it a bit too bulky for extended and strenous hikes. I need something a little more compact, but poerful enough to deal with all potential threats. Around here those could be: 1. Smaller rabid/feral animals (coyotes, etc.) black bear, and two legged predators. I'm considering a compact D/A revolver in .357 mag or possibly an auto in 10mm or .45 acp. I'm not sure that the big bore magnum revolvers are for me. I've fired a .44 mag on a few occasions and kind of found it to be miserable. Any advice? Gun might be fun for shooting some cans or something later. |
RE: Black Bear defense suggestions
ORIGINAL: bigcountry ORIGINAL: VT_Hunter1980 I do a lot of hiking and I would like, at some point, to pick up a sidearm that is dedicated to personal defense in the field. So far I've been carrying my .357 Blackhawk, but the 6" barrel makes it a bit too bulky for extended and strenous hikes. I need something a little more compact, but poerful enough to deal with all potential threats. Around here those could be: 1. Smaller rabid/feral animals (coyotes, etc.) black bear, and two legged predators. I'm considering a compact D/A revolver in .357 mag or possibly an auto in 10mm or .45 acp. I'm not sure that the big bore magnum revolvers are for me. I've fired a .44 mag on a few occasions and kind of found it to be miserable. Any advice? Gun might be fun for shooting some cans or something later. I'm planning on doing a bit of overnight backpacking this summer and I would definately sleep better with a good sidearm close by. You never know what 4 or 2 legged critter might find a hiker in a tent to be a target of opportunity. |
RE: Black Bear defense suggestions
Yea, know what you mean, those 2 legged preds is what I worry about too. I packed a pistol in all contenitial 48 states back when I traveled in a van for a living. All I can say was I was lucky. I had a friend, fellow Kentuckian, go thru the tolls in NJ, and it didn't take his money so he kept going. Well he got pulled over and one thing led to another and they found that pistol in his MCI van and he was locked up for a few days, had to get a lawyer and a big ole mess.
So here in MD, I worry more about johnnylaw getting bent by my pistol then getting mauled. Remember there was only 17 incidents in 30 years with blackbears from Fl to Maine until recently. So you have more of a chance of getting snake bit. |
RE: Black Bear defense suggestions
ORIGINAL: bigcountry Yea, know what you mean, those 2 legged preds is what I worry about too. I packed a pistol in all contenitial 48 states back when I traveled in a van for a living. All I can say was I was lucky. I had a friend, fellow Kentuckian, go thru the tolls in NJ, and it didn't take his money so he kept going. Well he got pulled over and one thing led to another and they found that pistol in his MCI van and he was locked up for a few days, had to get a lawyer and a big ole mess. So here in MD, I worry more about johnnylaw getting bent by my pistol then getting mauled. Remember there was only 17 incidents in 30 years with blackbears from Fl to Maine until recently. So you have more of a chance of getting snake bit. I've had a few close encounters with bears but most of them were running the other way. I rounded a bend in a trail once and nearly stepped on a young black bear. It had probably just been run off by its mother and wasn't quite world weary yet. Still, it gave me a start. Bears aren't my #1 reason for carrying, but I do want whatever gun I have to be up to that task. Why not, right? Mostly it's because I just feel better when out in the woods alone with a gun. Coyotes and porcupines had better watch out, though. |
RE: Black Bear defense suggestions
Black Bears are not aggressive as a rule but they can kill you in a heart beat if you run onto the wrong one. The bad thing is they often eat at least part of their kill right away instead of just mauling and leaving a humane for dead.
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RE: Black Bear defense suggestions
ORIGINAL: James B Look at the Taurus Titanium 7 shot 357. It weighs only 16 oz. Carry it with whatever load levels you can handle best from 38 wad cutters to full bore 357 loads. I looked at one and was really impressed with it. I have a four inch Taurus 357 revolver and have found them to be great shooters and very dependable. The 44 Mag with 44 special loads would also be pleasant to shoot IMO. |
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