this discussion starts and ends with.a g20 or 29. durable, lightweight, power and affordable. it is the best mountain or backwoods gun out there by far.

 

I love a revolver any day, infact i use a Taurus 617 38specai/357 mag snubbie on rotation for home defense sometimes because its so simple to use but I think a glock 20 would be hard to beat, it's perfect for the mounatin/camping application. plus it's a hoot to shoot at the range!

Personally I'd go with a 10mm if I wanted an auto. Like a glock or EAA Witness.

 

For a revolver a used S&W 629 or Ruger Redhawk .44mag revolver if you can find one for a good price, or a new Taurus Tracker model 44 .44mag. $500 new. Stainless all around of course.

 

Some heavy JSP's for the .44mag. If you go 10mm auto, make sure you get a proper powerful load that is still within industry specs. I was looking at 10mm autos and from my research it appears many factory loads could be on the soft-side, not taking advantage of the power the round is capable of.

I hear these guys are good for 10mm

http://georgia-arms.com/10mm-1.aspx

Thanks for all the guidance! I really thought consensus would say a revolver, either a magnum or a Judge/Governor. Plastic-fantastic, though, makes a lot of sense.

Now, to wade through the choices.

I dislike glocks...

 

That being said, I find it hard to beat a g20 for what you're looking for. If i was an avid hiker I would probably own one.

EAA has some nice metal gun alternatives for 10mm Auto.

 

---

 

I'm no hunting expert, but personally I think a Judge/Governor would just piss off a bear, and most other larger than human animals. Imagine shooting a .410 shotgun with a 3-4" barrel at a charging bear. And 45LC ballistics are uninspiring.

 

Each with roughly the same bullet weight (from inet sources) :

44mag = 1500fps - 1200ft/lbs

45LC = 970fps - 500ft/lbs

 

When I was researching my 45-70 rifle purchase, I started to read about bear loads for fun as this type of rifle is used quite a bit for that sort of thing. I remember reading a passage from a back-country ranger who had to perform some field autopsies of big bears. He said that they frequently found multiple .44mag slugs embedded in the fat/grizzle layers of bears. Most likely expanding types bullets like JHP's. The point was, even a .44 mag is no guarantee, and you have to use the right ammo with it for deep penetration.

If you like the idea of a judge there's always the raging judge which gives you the option of .454 casull.

 

http://www.cheaperthandirt.com/74625-1.html

 

It also increases the capicity...

If you desire an autoloading pistol, 10mm is your best bet. Get a used Glock 20/20SF. It has a 15 round mag capacity. Look for 200 or 220 grain hardcast from Buffalo Bore or DoubleTap. They are as good as you get in an AutoLoading caliber. If you are comfortable with a wheel gun, look at a used Ruger or Taurus in 44Mag. The S&W 44mags will be out of your price range and (IMO) are not as durable.

Lastly, have you considered carbines? A carbine can be handy and powerful. Marlin has some nice lever guns in calibers that will stop a bear. Once those rifles are broken in, they are pretty fast to chamber the next round too.

 

Good luck!

baba, trust me I agree with you. if I am riding a vehicle or an animal I think a rifle, 1911 or a magnum revolver would be great. but the op is talking about hiking and having from experience carried many dif type of guns while hiking, the g20 is the all around best solution. nothing carries as xomfortable and is as rugged. makes me mad I have no reason for one now as my long camping trips are on hold for a few more years until the boys grow.

Well , I'm new to gun ownership , but pretty experienced with backcountry . My weapon of choice against Northeast bears would be a can of high range bear spray . I would not attempt to shoot a charging bear with anything less that something designed to hunt them with . You realy are putting yourself at higher risk of escalating the situation ..i.e injuring and pissing off a bear that was bluff charging you , if you shoot him with a handgun and don't stop him. Quite frankly unless you surprise a mother with cubs , firing anything into the air , or banging on a pot with a spoon for that matter , sends them packing. If a black bear is ever following you , throw rocks , fire in the air , makes noise. It is predatory behavior..rare , but it exists and with most documented black bear attacks the victim was followed ( stalked) and assesed before the bear decided they were safe to attack..

 

Better yet , bring yer dog . Black bears steer clear of them.

 

Cougar country , you need a pistol you can get to. You usually don't know they were there until they are on you. I lived in rural Northern Cali for a bit ..grandma gave me a hand gun to wear on an ankle holster she also gave me, for the cougars. Would have been nice of her to show me how to shoot it ( was more of a "here's the safety , here are some bullets , off you go on your jog now) but she was batty . Had a full six pack but was missing the plastic thingy that held it all together

 

I worry way more about people when isolated in the woods. I would just pick something to use on people predators and stick to bear designed detterents/weapons for the bear.

Well , I'm new to gun ownership , but pretty experienced with backcountry . My weapon of choice against Northeast bears would be a can of high range bear spray . I would not attempt to shoot a charging bear with anything less that something designed to hunt them with . You realy are putting yourself at higher risk of escalating the situation ..i.e injuring and pissing off a bear that was bluff charging you , if you shoot him with a handgun and don't stop him. Quite frankly unless you surprise a mother with cubs , firing anything into the air , or banging on a pot with a spoon for that matter , sends them packing. If a black bear is ever following you , throw rocks , fire in the air , makes noise. It is predatory behavior..rare , but it exists and with most documented black bear attacks the victim was followed ( stalked) and assesed before the bear decided they were safe to attack..

 

Better yet , bring yer dog . Black bears steer clear of them.

 

Cougar country , you need a pistol you can get to. You usually don't know they were there until they are on you. I lived in rural Northern Cali for a bit ..grandma gave me a hand gun to wear on an ankle holster she also gave me, for the cougars. Would have been nice of her to show me how to shoot it ( was more of a "here's the safety , here are some bullets , off you go on your jog now) but she was batty . Had a full six pack but was missing the plastic thingy that held it all together

 

I worry way more about people when isolated in the woods. I would just pick something to use on people predators and stick to bear designed detterents/weapons for the bear.

 

In NJ, bear spray is the only option... though we are restricted to 3/4 oz of chemical defense spray. I'm not sure if there are futher exemptions when the spray is for animal protection. 3/4oz sprayers I imagine would dispense enough pepper spray for the bear to enjoy as a spicy condiment for his new human dinner.

We had a black bear from Colliers Mills walk through our property back in the summer. It was tagged. I would have loved to tackle it and keep it in a pen for a pet. How awesome would that be. Black bears love popcorn.

In NJ, bear spray is the only option... though we are restricted to 3/4 oz of chemical defense spray. I'm not sure if there are futher exemptions when the spray is for animal protection. 3/4oz sprayers I imagine would dispense enough pepper spray for the bear to enjoy as a spicy condiment for his new human dinner.

 

MMMMMMMM.. Cajun Human!

 

I use to carry bear spray because I would walk my Jack Russel in the neighborhood I worked in , and there were a few roaming large intact pit bulls known there. I told a friend I carried bear spray for that purpose ..this left him with the impression it was something I sprayed on my dog that would make the other dogs think she was a bear.

Okay, so...

I need a can of bear spray, a 454 Casull, and a shotgun with bird shot for the snakes. Sound about right?

 

Actually, bear spray and a carry gun (of medium to large caliber) sound like my best bet.

IMO, A .357 with a shotshell or two and the rest some hunting-designed bullet are your best bet.

good read

http://gunblast.com/10mm.htm

anyone know a good place to pick up hard cast bullets?

good read

http://gunblast.com/10mm.htm

anyone know a good place to pick up hard cast bullets?

 

I`ve seen them at Cabela`s. for about 30$ last year. I need them also.

I ll be heading out there to pick up some if they have this weekend.

www.doubletapammo.com

 

Good stuff. Not quite the velocity listed on the box (I think they test at elevation on Colorado for their numbers), but some of the best out there.

Reviving this dormant thread - thought this article had some good info.

 

http://www.adn.com/2012/03/08/2359636/gun-is-no-insurance-policy-in.html

Reviving this dormant thread - thought this article had some good info.

 

http://www.adn.com/2...-policy-in.html

 

The statistics used are from "reported" bear attack encounters, which is a majority of when people got hurt and needed medical attention. The article even states that reports where guns were used successfully to halt a bear attack before injuries could indeed go unreported. Add to that even if someone killed a bear in self defense out in the back-country and did not get injured, I'm betting many people would not go on to report that incident, and leave the bear carcase out in the wilderness for the vultures.

 

I do like the premise of the article, in that being armed is no guarantee for bear safety, nor should anyone become complacent while in bear country.

Andy:

 

Way out of your budget, but one of the best "carry alot, shoot a little" guns for use where ther are predators that are a threat to humans - two or four legged. I give you...

 

 

The S&W 329PD.

 

Adios,

 

Pizza Bob

That's beautiful.

 

What's your opinion on these?

 

I think it'd break my wrist.

That's beautiful.

 

What's your opinion on these?

 

I think it'd break my wrist.

 

IMO If you were in a defensive shooting with a bear, on investigation .. if they saw this gun they would think you were out "looking for a fight" or a chance to use your new bear blaster.

Four Legged Predator = Bear Spray

Two Legged Predator = Handgun

 

For me, a Ruger Alaskan .454Cassul (the absolute minimum bear caliber) would be too heavy to carry and too uncomfortable to shoot, much less be able to put quick follow-up shots on target. Bear spray would be a lot more effective.

What's your opinion on these?

 

Heavier than the 4" 329PD. It has a SS cylinder, where the PD's is titanium. You have to install a set of rubber grips on the PD - those wooden Ahrend's are brutal.

I hear the forest service folks carry 45s & 308s.

maybe they know something we don't...

Forest service or State Park Police or Conservation Officers?

Four Legged Predator = Bear Spray

Two Legged Predator = Handgun

 

For me, a Ruger Alaskan .454Cassul (the absolute minimum bear caliber) would be too heavy to carry and too uncomfortable to shoot, much less be able to put quick follow-up shots on target. Bear spray would be a lot more effective.

...i suspect bear spray would work on two legged predators too...