He's not talking about bear hunting, he's talking about incidentally running into one. BIG difference. The first difference is that when DEFENDING against something, a scope is a hinderance as acquisition is slow--unacceptable when you're trying to keep something from eating you. Unless you're talking about a .30-06 set up with this task in mind, something with peep sights or a 1x red dot like an Aimpoint, short and light, there are much better choices.
Which sidearm would you bring?
- Thread starter verti89
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You don't normally get that close to a bear, JavaBum...
... the bear gets that close to you.
Bears run faster than people do. Bears have a better sense of smell than people do. Bear encounters often happen in areas where visibility is limited, which makes sense because if you saw it a ways off you'd probably avoid it.
The only way you get close to a bear is if it's a cub, in which case look out for Mama. Even cubs will usually try to avoid you.
If the rangers are looking for a "dangerous" bear, I'm sure they do so with big caliber rifles or shotguns. For normal, day to day work, they said they and their biologists favor spray and sticks.
Note: around Mt Mitchell, typical black bear weights would run #200-400. The record in the region is close to #800, but again that's a record. How big are the blackies in Colorado?
... the bear gets that close to you.
Bears run faster than people do. Bears have a better sense of smell than people do. Bear encounters often happen in areas where visibility is limited, which makes sense because if you saw it a ways off you'd probably avoid it.
The only way you get close to a bear is if it's a cub, in which case look out for Mama. Even cubs will usually try to avoid you.
If the rangers are looking for a "dangerous" bear, I'm sure they do so with big caliber rifles or shotguns. For normal, day to day work, they said they and their biologists favor spray and sticks.
Note: around Mt Mitchell, typical black bear weights would run #200-400. The record in the region is close to #800, but again that's a record. How big are the blackies in Colorado?
Fat White Boy
New member
I read that in bear country, you should wear bells to warn the bears and carry pepper spray if they get too close. You can tell what kind of bears are around, by their droppings. Black bear droppings have berries, roots, mouse fur and small bones. Grizzly droppings have berries, roots, mouse fur, small bones, bells and shredded remnants of pepper spray cans....
guntotin_fool
New member
I think that carrying a rifle around would be enough for the bears, I would then carry a .22 for potting dinner if legal, or for skunks or raccoons in the camp scavenging.
Normally I would say .357. When it comes to extensive outdoors use I am a revolver man hands down. But I have heard nothing bad about XDs. In a .45 vs .357 arguement I say .357 because of better penetration. But its 5 rounds vs 13 rounds. I have to say XD. If you have extra magazines thats another bonus too. Or do yourself a favor and go buy a Ruger alaskan in .454 and you'll never have to say "Is it enough" again. At least not in North America
Well, Having occasion to come upon a 500lb blackie which happened to be munching on the remains of my Moms' moose, I can state, without reservation that I wished to have been still carrying my rifle as opposed to the .357 at my side. I fired two warning rounds which didn't deter the bear from his dinner. It worried him but didn't scare him off.
I have to agree with whomever said that a pistol is only good to fight your way back to the rifle that you should not have dropped in the first place.
extra weight, don't bother.
elkman06
I have to agree with whomever said that a pistol is only good to fight your way back to the rifle that you should not have dropped in the first place.
extra weight, don't bother.
elkman06
I always have my 45 when i go out.. you never no what will happen, and at what point ... you could put your rifle down and then bam.. BEAR!!! right behind you .. Stuff always happens that way.. was cleaning my kill last year right by a river.. kept seeing bear tracks all around me.. i was just praying one would not come up to me when i only had my knife in my hand... I would take the 40cal with some +P rounds.. i used my XD alot in the colder wet climets of CO and WY.. never had an issue what so ever.
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MR4SHOOTIN
New member
If you really needed it any of the 3 would be better than a pointy stick.I'd go with the .357 or trade the .40 for a 6" GP-100 since you don't want a .44.
sc928porsche
New member
I cary only one sidearm. Whether it is fishing, hunting, or just a walk in the woods. Ruger Superblackhawk. Simple, rugged, reliable, good stopping power, and accurate.
I'll take a different approach on the subject. My thought is if it isn't at least a .41 Mag or more powerful leave it in the camp. All the calibers you mentioned are fine for camp, however CO has rules on what you can hunt with in a Handgun. Pretty much all center fire pistols meet the minimum caliber requirement, however not very many popular pistol rounds meet the foot pound requirements of 500 ft-lbs at 50 yards. The .41 Mag is usually the minimum cartridge that will do it for you in standard pistol cartridges.
So I wouldn't carry any sidearm on a hunt that didn't meet the requirements to hunt with. So out of all the pistols mentioned only your fathers .44 Mag fits the bill. Will a game warden ticket you for carrying one of the others maybe, it all depends on what kind of day he/she is having. And don't be caught putting a finishing shot into an elk with a cartridge that doesn't meet the requirements either. After you fill your tag carry what you want because then it will not matter
So I wouldn't carry any sidearm on a hunt that didn't meet the requirements to hunt with. So out of all the pistols mentioned only your fathers .44 Mag fits the bill. Will a game warden ticket you for carrying one of the others maybe, it all depends on what kind of day he/she is having. And don't be caught putting a finishing shot into an elk with a cartridge that doesn't meet the requirements either. After you fill your tag carry what you want because then it will not matter
How are you getting to your camp?If you will have beasts or wheels of burden,3lbs of handgun and 1 lb of ammo is no big deal.But it would pay 3 lbs toward a cot,and I'd prefer the cot.
If you are going to live out of a pack for a week and you are humping it to 9000 ft....I dunno.In one of those Oct/Nov storms,I'd rather have a 3 lb tougher tent,or some more stove fuel.A miox water purifier.A nylon backpacker bucket so you can get a couple gallons of water out of a stream without getting your boots wet.A machette in case I have to rely on firewood.
A handgun is way cool,but my rifle can multi-task (hunting and defense tool)
Lots of folks in serious conditions like ww2 carried only a rifle and more ammo instead of a sidearm.
High country hunting in Colo,it is even possible to run across a lion,wolves are in a few areas the very rare Grizzly,I suppose.I believe you are more likely to be confronted by extreme weather .
So,it all depends on your weight budget and priorities.
For me,my rifle,gps, map,compass,binoculars, water,knife ,food,walkie talkie,poncho,and one extra layer and a couple of battle dressings are quite enough to carry hunting.
But,thats me!!You have fun your way
Oh,on whacking bears in the faceI suppose you just have to be in the situation to understand.If you suddenly have a bear's face 2 feet from yours,whacking it might seem like the thing to do at the time.And,when I did it,the bear jumped back.Then I shot him
If you are going to live out of a pack for a week and you are humping it to 9000 ft....I dunno.In one of those Oct/Nov storms,I'd rather have a 3 lb tougher tent,or some more stove fuel.A miox water purifier.A nylon backpacker bucket so you can get a couple gallons of water out of a stream without getting your boots wet.A machette in case I have to rely on firewood.
A handgun is way cool,but my rifle can multi-task (hunting and defense tool)
Lots of folks in serious conditions like ww2 carried only a rifle and more ammo instead of a sidearm.
High country hunting in Colo,it is even possible to run across a lion,wolves are in a few areas the very rare Grizzly,I suppose.I believe you are more likely to be confronted by extreme weather .
So,it all depends on your weight budget and priorities.
For me,my rifle,gps, map,compass,binoculars, water,knife ,food,walkie talkie,poncho,and one extra layer and a couple of battle dressings are quite enough to carry hunting.
But,thats me!!You have fun your way
Oh,on whacking bears in the faceI suppose you just have to be in the situation to understand.If you suddenly have a bear's face 2 feet from yours,whacking it might seem like the thing to do at the time.And,when I did it,the bear jumped back.Then I shot him
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I have shot a couple of 5 Elk or so in my time and I have never seen a bear around. Nevertheless, I carry a Ruger Super Blackhawk in 45 LC loaded with my own HARD cast 275 gr bullets going as fast as possible. It actually surpasses a 44 magnum in power. Faced by a hungry or mean bear, I doubt heavy recoil will be the first thing on my mind.