Handgun Help
09-20-2010, 04:45 AM
#12
Spike
Thread Starter
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: PA
Posts: 75
There is some intelligence missing here on this post.
What kind of bears are you talking about?
If it is black bears, I wouldn't worry, because the bears are usually more scared of you then what you are of them. Saying that your wife is making you do it, only confirms that you are the one that is afraid of the bears.
If it was a Grizzly bear or a Polar Bear - then I would be concerned.
If you watch our five sons Alaska, you will see that most of the people, including all of the guides up there wears side arms.
You do not need a hand cannon to kill a bear. A .357 or a 44 magnum works fine.
What kind of bears are you talking about?
If it is black bears, I wouldn't worry, because the bears are usually more scared of you then what you are of them. Saying that your wife is making you do it, only confirms that you are the one that is afraid of the bears.
If it was a Grizzly bear or a Polar Bear - then I would be concerned.
If you watch our five sons Alaska, you will see that most of the people, including all of the guides up there wears side arms.
You do not need a hand cannon to kill a bear. A .357 or a 44 magnum works fine.
Second it doesnt confirm anything about a fear of black bears. It does say I have a great wife and I have respect for all WILDlife.
I know that they are two different guns for two different things. I was just looking for something that can be veritable, a happy medium for both situations.
Thank you so far for your suggestions
09-20-2010, 07:10 PM
#13
Fork Horn
Join Date: Jan 2009
Posts: 198
I think the happy medium would be a 357mag. If you are new to handguns I think most would agree that a revolver is a good gun to start with. Load it up with 357mags for your walk in the woods. In the other applications you could still use 357mag or the milder 38s.
09-21-2010, 08:29 AM
#14
Giant Nontypical
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: IL
Posts: 6,575
Picked up a Taurus Tracker in .44mag recently for similar purposes, mostly for bear protection while bow hunting, 3"/4" barrel, 5 shot, 35oz empty I believe. Essentially my first handgun as well. Have shot a few 9's, 40's,
I had read about how bad a 44 kicks, this thing is very manageable, not bad at all, it is ported so I assume that helps, I think I shot a .40cal semi auto that kicked more than this thing. Have only shot some factory 240gr loads, and snakeloads to check the pattern, which was great btw, and those kick much less.
One guy recently in elk camp was carrying his glock in 9mm, he had a black bear encounter couple years back and wasn't carrying, he said something to the affect of 15 rounds...as fast as he can pull the trigger.
btw smith and wesson makes an ultralight .44mag, I think it's like 25oz empty, fully loaded it probably would be more manageable. I'm thinking I need another .44 haha!
I had read about how bad a 44 kicks, this thing is very manageable, not bad at all, it is ported so I assume that helps, I think I shot a .40cal semi auto that kicked more than this thing. Have only shot some factory 240gr loads, and snakeloads to check the pattern, which was great btw, and those kick much less.
One guy recently in elk camp was carrying his glock in 9mm, he had a black bear encounter couple years back and wasn't carrying, he said something to the affect of 15 rounds...as fast as he can pull the trigger.
btw smith and wesson makes an ultralight .44mag, I think it's like 25oz empty, fully loaded it probably would be more manageable. I'm thinking I need another .44 haha!
09-22-2010, 11:20 AM
#16
Fork Horn
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: West TN
Posts: 374
I got one of the 25oz s&w 44magnums it kills at both ends it's a great carry gun and with 44 specials is fun to shoot but put a 44 magnum in and it's bad on recoil. I can keep all my shots in a 5 inch circle offhand if it didn't kick so bad I could do better. For a expert shooter it'd be a great gun for a beginner get a 357 funner to shoot and easier on the hand.
09-30-2010, 10:18 PM
#17
Fork Horn
Join Date: Dec 2007
Posts: 204
For the woods a .357 loaded with good hard cast bullets will work in bear defense. It still holds the record for one stop shots in 2 legged predator defense as well. A pistol with a barrel length of 4" to 6" would be my suggestion. Ruger makes the GP100 that would be a great deal. Smith & Wesson makes the 686 that is another great choice.
If you wanted to go larger then a .44 mag would be my next recommendation and it's not a caliber I like or own. It will shoot the .44 special or the .44 Mag same as the .357 shooting .38 special.
If you wanted to go larger then a .44 mag would be my next recommendation and it's not a caliber I like or own. It will shoot the .44 special or the .44 Mag same as the .357 shooting .38 special.
09-30-2010, 11:09 PM
#18
Nontypical Buck
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: Lake County, Florida
Posts: 3,313
There is some intelligence missing here on this post.
What kind of bears are you talking about?
If it is black bears, I wouldn't worry, because the bears are usually more scared of you then what you are of them. Saying that your wife is making you do it, only confirms that you are the one that is afraid of the bears.
If it was a Grizzly bear or a Polar Bear - then I would be concerned.
If you watch our five sons Alaska, you will see that most of the people, including all of the guides up there wears side arms.
You do not need a hand cannon to kill a bear. A .357 or a 44 magnum works fine.
What kind of bears are you talking about?
If it is black bears, I wouldn't worry, because the bears are usually more scared of you then what you are of them. Saying that your wife is making you do it, only confirms that you are the one that is afraid of the bears.
If it was a Grizzly bear or a Polar Bear - then I would be concerned.
If you watch our five sons Alaska, you will see that most of the people, including all of the guides up there wears side arms.
You do not need a hand cannon to kill a bear. A .357 or a 44 magnum works fine.
black bears are responsible for more human attacks than all other bears combined each year. with that being said, i would carry a Glock .40 or Glock .357 sig
11-26-2010, 04:49 PM
#19
Spike
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Pa 18080
Posts: 50
yup think big bear when in Pa.. cause you never know when your gonna have a run in with something like this..
http://blogs.wvgazette.com/johnmccoy...pa-black-bear/
he took that with a crossbow, but id think a 357 mag at the least with some good ammo would have done the trick to..
FOR THE 357 USERS: SOME 180GR TO 200GR Black bear MEDICINE
http://www.doubletapammo.com/php/cat...roducts_id=152
http://www.natchezss.com/product.cfm...D=CBCB357200HC
http://www.buffalobore.com/index.php...t_detail&p=100
Handgunning for bears..excellent read and info
http://www.foggymountain.com/handgun-bear-hunting.shtml
http://blogs.wvgazette.com/johnmccoy...pa-black-bear/
he took that with a crossbow, but id think a 357 mag at the least with some good ammo would have done the trick to..
FOR THE 357 USERS: SOME 180GR TO 200GR Black bear MEDICINE
http://www.doubletapammo.com/php/cat...roducts_id=152
http://www.natchezss.com/product.cfm...D=CBCB357200HC
http://www.buffalobore.com/index.php...t_detail&p=100
Handgunning for bears..excellent read and info
http://www.foggymountain.com/handgun-bear-hunting.shtml
Last edited by TheBoneGrinders; 11-27-2010 at 05:05 AM.
11-27-2010, 05:01 AM
#20
Typical Buck
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: Virginia
Posts: 542
I have a S&W 686 .357 in 6" barrel that is really too big to carry concealed. If I was getting a .357 for concealed carry, stick with a 4" barrel or less in a lighter frame. A .357 is definitely a canon and should do well for black bear.
That being said, I now carry a Glock 23 (.40 cal). I figure the only way I will shoot a black bear with pistol is in self defense and it would be up close. So 14 shots in short order will do the trick. I can carry it and hardly even know it is there.
That being said, I now carry a Glock 23 (.40 cal). I figure the only way I will shoot a black bear with pistol is in self defense and it would be up close. So 14 shots in short order will do the trick. I can carry it and hardly even know it is there.