Back packing gun

B

billykaldrich

New member
going in the mountains and only have a S&W 686. The rifles too much to carry with the extra weight so would the 357 Mag be okay aginst Bear/lions ? I got some hot loads I used once against a small pig up close. I tell ya I was not too empressed but I was thinking maybe multible shots might be okay. I got to concider that 12 of us are quite a group and most animals would stay clear.But I will wonder off alone a few times a day. I am trying to avoid the shotgun or 336 Marlin. too heavy
 
.357 mag, with hot loads should be ok, I saw someone down a hog with a .357mag, but it was coming out of a 12 inch barrel. took a couple three shots.
 
So I was watching this hunting show on outdoor channel

the other day and they were bear hunting in alaska. they came up on a big black bear and the guy pulls out a S & W .50 cal. I'm thinking this is really cool to actually get to see myth versus reality. But just as he was lining up the bear walked off. Dang. He took another one later with a rifle.
 
I also think a .357magnum with hunting loads (not defense loads) is fine. Best defense would be to learn about bear - that will minimize your already very small likelihood of a confrontation, and also avoid your starting a potentially dangerous fight out of fear.
 
Go here:

http://www.buffalobore.com/ammunition

They have some of the finest ammo available(short of handloaded stuff) and their 357 loads put out some impressive numbers. I would go with the heaviest bullet they have...preferably something hardcast with a blunt nose. Their 180 gr. LFN would be the hot ticket for backwoods hiking and the likes. 6 rounds of that, well placed, would stop most anything that would try to knaw your leg off. I think thats going to be your best bet aside from trading up or buying a bigger handgun.
 
I respectfully disagree!!

I respectfully disagree with those who feel that the .357 is adequate for bear. I have hunted and killed black bear here in Oregon and, believe me, they are an exceptionally tough animal. I recommend that a rifle be used but, if a handgun it must be, then IMHO a 44 magnum is a minimum. If you have to protect yourself against a black bear then you absolutely want as much firepower as you can get. To shoot and wound (not kill) a bear is both dangerous and a tragedy. FWIW
 
Personally, I haven't had much luck geting bears to carry my pack. I don't think it matters what gun you threaten them with, they just sort of nudge it around and don't even try to figure out how to get into the straps.
backpackingbears.jpg
 
Depends on how big the bear is... FWIW I carry a .44 around in the back country.. for all beasties. With a long barrel, its like a mini rifle. And it can be carried easily enough...

For a mountian lion, don't worry about it. Not only will a .357 be enough... odds are vastly in your favor that you will never see one. We got one around our place, even tracked him a few times trying to see if we could find him, but we couldn't.
 
I think you should be more concerned about the two-legged beasts that you may encounter than a bear or mtn. loin. I'd load up for them. I do agree as said earlier unless a rifle was an option, I wouldn't go under a .44mag. if bears were my concern.
 
Ditto .44 Mag. Though I'd probably prefer a SW or some such DA for this duty (for overall utility, user-friendliness under duress, weight, etc.), I take what I've got..a very nice SA Vaquero .44 Mag. Not much of a backpacker (see above DA comments), but makes a fine camp gun in such territory. A companion caliber'd Rossi 92 is always nearby as well (again for the camp, not suggesting for backpacking!).
 
The Ruger SA's are as tough as they come :D

Same with the Redhawk's.. though they are heavy to..

Am I one of the few that doesn't mind carrying around a full sized pistol? I have a 7 1/2" Super Blackhawk that I just love, real handy to.
 
It's been a few years since I've done any serious backpacking, but I remember weighing what I carried in rough country in ounces, not pounds. So unless you're part gorilla, you're going to have to balance weight against firepower. You won't want to carry a lot of ammo, for sure, and a short barrel weighs less than a long one. You're carrying for SD, not hunting (I think), so the long barrel isn't necessary. .44 mag ammo is heavy, and so are the guns. I'm thinking a 2 1/2 inch K frame in .357 mag with one or two at the most speedloaders.
 


.357 is fine in the heavy (158 and 180 grain) loadings. Get the soft point, not the hollow point stuff. (These should penetrate the scull in a close encounter). And, LEARN BEAR ANATOMY.

This applies for Black Bears. For Grizz, I would want at least a 44mag/300grain



-tINY

 
NorWestr,

I pack light, around my gun :D

Last one of them 329's I fired, I could barely control the sucker.

Tiny, if I was really worried about a blackie.. a .357 might not be the best idea, definatly the MINIMUM though. Sows are pretty vicious...
 
If I could only take a Handgun then it would be my Redhawk in 44. If any gun could be taken then I would choose my Mossberg 500 loaded with hard cast slugs meant for bear. Don't give up your safety for a few ounces of comfort. And always use enough gun because the the critters don't read gun magazines.
 
I have a Ruger Super Blackhawk Hunter Bisley .44mag that I carry for the backwoods. I'm not sure why but .44mag in SA just shoots easier and less recoil compared to my 629 Magna Classic.
 
.357 for backpacking???

Maybe. I'm an avid hicker, backpacker and fisherman. My first gun ever is a 629 .44mag 6 1/2" for the pourpose of going fishing in the northern countries. I have encounter bears twice on more than 15 years of hicking. I didn't have my .44 with me, both times, because it was too heavy to take on the hike. Some bears have learned that backpackers carry food on them and those are the ones that you have to be carefull with. If I had a .357 with me I would use it to make a head shot, to a charging bear, that would paralize it. The bear that hunts you and surprise you, may not give you a chance with a 357 or any other gun, but I would rather have the 44 for last resort. I'm in the process of getting a 329 .44 for hicking. In the meantime I'm carrying my 357 with me, with 180 gr LFN. Hapy backpacking
Double O
 
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