what would you choose?
 

here is the scenerio......


my fiancea ( spelling ) where disgussing on about our moove to maine in the up and coming year.
i told her what i am looking to get when i move to s state that treats law abiding citizens like the way you are supposed to be treated. now i do not own any handguns nor do i own any types of rifles that could hold more than 10 rounds in my states laws right now.

now when i move up to maine i was thinking of either a M-14 the one that is smaller in length or a handgun. something that can be used for carry when bow hunting in the woods ( self defense just in case i run in between a sow and her cubs ) have seen some while scouting in the spring time.

what would you all do if you where me?? i always wanted a M-14/M-1A

RE: what would you choose?
 

First check to see if it's legal to carry a firearm while bowhunting. In most states it's not legal. If it's legal, then buy a 44mag revolver. You'll probably never need it but ...

If you really want a M14/M1A then buy it. They have a great reputation. IMO carrying a Rifle and a Bow into the woods is a bit much:D

RE: what would you choose?
 

If it's legal i'd opt for a handgun and i agree the 44 mag revolver would be the ticket.

RE: what would you choose?
 

I think you are just looking for an excuss to buy a semi-auto pistol/firearm? If that is what you want go buy one.
I carry a 40-S&W Springfield Armory XD-Tactical for personal protection from people.
I carry a Ruger 44-mag or Counter Assault Bear Spray for bears & cougars. I have seen the results of the bear spray in use on a video. I never though much of bear spray until I watched the video, boy does that stuff work. The person sprayed a bear in the face, the bear spun around & ran away bawling like a baby the whole time. I carry the bear spray with me 90% of the time when I bow hunt & leave the 44 back at camp.
If I were going to pick a pistol for personal protection from black bears? I would buy a 44-mag. Smaller caliber just don't have the power needed. Anything larger than the 44 is just to big for me to handle.
What ever pistol you decide on, buy ammunition that is loaded with hard cast bullets. Hard cast bullets will give you maximum penatration. Even Federal Premium self defense loads are not made for shooting bears. COR BON, Garrett or Black Hills Ammo will have a load that is just right for you.

RE: what would you choose?
 

As others have said above, carring a rifle while bowhunting isn't practical and many states won't allow you to carry any firearm while bowhunting. Pepper spray is all you'll need. I've killed bears with my bow and also had sow/cub run ins, and I've never even needed pepper spray.

RE: what would you choose?
 

Hi Quilly,

If you are allowed to carry a firearm during bowhunting......a 4" .44 Magnum is hard to beat.....especially for Black Bears or even Moose. (Just use a bullet that will stay together and penetrate.)

If you just want to buy an M1A.......that's a good enough reason. Both the Bush Model and the Scout Squad Model are shorter than the standard model. Very nice rifles.....a great rifle for any gun owner to have! But I personally think you would find it too cumbersome to carry around with a bow simultaneously!

Best wishes on your move.....and your decision. By the way....the M1A makes a great camp gun, ranch protection....(as in isolated location homestead), and where legal...a better than average hunting rifle. They are tough rifles, built and meant to take hard use!

Dave

P.S. If every gun owner owned one of those.....with a couple cases of ammuntion.....it'd go a long way to insure our continued 2nd Amendment Rights....are not infringed!

P.S.S. And if you're serious about wanting one.....better do it soon!

RE: what would you choose?
 

You can legally carry a pistol in Maine during archery season if you have a firearms hunting license also. You cannot dispatch a deer with a firearm during archery season.

RE: what would you choose?
 

NAAAAH, forget that little 44mag.;) S&W is coming out with a 3" ported barrel 500 S&W.[:o][:o];)

For black bear protection a .357 magnum with hard cast bullets like Corbons 200 grain hard cast at 1200 fps would be a good choice and not weigh as much and be as cumbersome as a 44 mag and allow quicker follow up shots too.

A 44 mag is also a great choice but you have added weight and a lot more recoil when you don't need or want that recoil for faster shots. Especialy when you are shooting full house hunting loads to dispach a bear.

RE: what would you choose?
 

I love my 44 mags but they get heavy. A tarus 696 in 357 mag is light and make a good defense weapon you can plink with 38 specials or hunt with heavy mag ammo. The revolver never jams and the tarus is a good buy for the money........and get that M1A also.

RE: what would you choose?
 

wolfkiller hit it right on the head.

i would not carry a rifle when bow hunting. but i believe in maine you are able to carry a handgun with you if you are bow hunting as long as you don't use it to dispacth the animal you are hunting.
i would like to have a handgun for ocassions if it ever comes i have that handgun instead of a bow.
what about the 41 rem mag?

RE: what would you choose?
 

The 41 Mag. is a fine cartridge, but you'll find a lot more factory ammo options and reloading supplies available for the 44 Mag.

RE: what would you choose?
 

Honestly, if it were me, I'd get both...but certainly get the handgun first.

For $1K, you can get a very fine revolver, heck, the BFR in .45-70 is only $999, you could get two Ruger Super Blackhawks/vaqueros/redhawks for that price, or a mildly-tricked out factory version 1911, or etc etc. The M-14/M-1A is going to be at least $1300new for a BASE model.

One thing about the M-14/M-1A, check out battlerifles.com...secondly, DCM/CMP clubs can get you better prices on them, and certainly help you pick a rifle, and that type of competition while "borrowing"/renting a rifle can let you get a feel for the rifle, and get a look at what else is out there...they cost a pretty penny, so you don't want to buy one then find out it's not the model you wanted, or that it's not your cup of tea in the first place...nothing worse than having a $1500 investment that you're not satisfied with!

I'd buy the handgun when I moved up there, probably suggest either a 1911 (if you like an auto) or a Ruger Superblackhawk in .44mag, blackhawk in .357mag, or (if you like a DA) Super Redhawk in .454cassul, all three give you the "lesser round" capability and the "more power" punch, helps you learn to shoot them very well, then keeps practice fun, with the ability to do the deed hunting wise.

THEN, I'd find the nearest DCM/CMP club, join it, and start saving towards the M-1A while you're getting the hang of shooting the "loaner" rifles, that way when you get yours, you don't teach it bad habits.

RE: what would you choose?
 

Given those choices I would absolutely go with the M-1. Unreal rifles, there is a reason they are so popular. But if you are going to buy a handgun for bowhunting I would suggest a Ruger .44 mag in a Redhawk or GP 100 offering. They are both sweet shooters.

RE: what would you choose?
 

Quilly
I think the 41-mag is a fine round but the 44-mag is the better choice. The 44-mag is easy to find ammo for. I have not seen 41-mag ammo at my local gas station in years.
I feel bear spray is your best self defense choice for wild animals. Bear spray would also work well on punk gang members.:D
I do sometimes carry a pistol when I hunt, the added weight is a real drawback. That is why I have choosen the bear spray over the pistol many times. I actually worry more about cow moose with calves than I do bears.
The choice you are making is an important one! Buy what you think will work best for you when you need it most.

RE: what would you choose?
 

Wolfkiller is exactly right about pepper spray. It would be a great deterent on bear. Never used it but its getting good results so far. I'll stick to my 41mag. Yes the ammo is not on the self as much as us 41mag fans would like. But that caliber is made for reloaders. But this is not a 41mag debate.

I always carry a sidearm guiding, hunting for myself, or just walking around in the woods checking out nature. I had a woman once ask me what if I was attacked by a animal in the woods while without a sidearm. My plain reply was I'd be a fool for not being prepared in the first place.

Never go down for the lack of shooting back. That's my idea anyway.