Moto camping in grizzly territory... Ruger GP-100

I ride a bike but haven’t gone on a trip where I have also camped. I have done lots of camping though. As much as I dislike camping in campgrounds full of other people I do think in big bear country I would. I would pick an established campground on my route and arrange to camp there. It ain’t really roughing it, but it probably would be safer in regards to late night animal interaction.

I have camped in areas far removed from people but not where dangerous animals, except for rattlesnakes and wild donkeys, roamed. I have camped in black bear country and the most notorious animal I encountered was a curious mooching raccoon.

If you really want to be out away from people camping I would definitely follow the advice that @Frulk gave.
Years ago in at a Boy Scout Camp in the San Bernardino Nat’l Forest near Big Bear, CA a boy was “attacked” and drug from his tent by his head by a very large Black Bear. Media frenzy ensued. A hunt was on for that very dangerous bear. It turns out that the bear just wanted the peanut butter and jelly sandwich the kid snuck into his tent and hid under his pillow. I learned this from a ranger there. Not sure if the media released that info though.
Follow Frulk’s advice.
 
I forgot to mention that if I were camping at a campground, not “primitive” camping a GP100 would be perfect. Out in the wild? My GP100 and a Glock 40 10mm. I would have 2 handguns, just in case.
 
I did some hiking/camping in Alaska and Glacier and carried an XDM 10mm elite compact loaded with Underwood hardcast. It's a Goldilocks-sized gun (roughly Glock 19 but heavier) so it's pretty handy to carry and it's also well-suited to carrying on the rest of the trip when I wasn't in the outback. I kind of look at it as a .357 magnum in an autoloader with a 12-round capacity and faster reloads (not so much a factor in bear use).

And I carried two cans of bear spray, one on me and one on the Mrs.

We tent camped in Glacier, Yellowstone, and a bunch of other places but not in Alaska. We showed up in Glacier one time when they put a temporary tent ban in place because they had a grizz in the campground that didn't want to leave. It was a fiasco because of how that day transpired (we didn't find out until 10 PM so we were basically out of options for the night) but we arrived on the last day of the tent ban and ended up with my family of 4 sleeping in my pickup for one night. This was in the Many Glacier area where they have a fair amount of bear activity.
 
Armored farmer said:
It has taken me a lifetime of experience with anhydrous ammonia to be aware of wind direction while using the product. I'm thinking that would be a good skill to possess when using bear spray.!

Some friends who were visiting Alaska planned to buy their bear spray near their destination, but soon found it was sold out all over town.
Order an extra can to practice with. No surprises and all that.
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I`m not saying that it should be your first option by any means, but I wouldn`t go in ANY deep woods or way out in ANY terrain unarmed. Between the vagaries of nature and the two legged unknowns that abound in this world....... I`ve always been surprised at the folks who merrily traipse off into the wild with either no thought concerning self protection or who have rationalized themselves out of it, or who worry about a pound or two extra. I have a sister-in-law who`ll throw on a back pack and head off ALONE to parts unknown without a second thought. Mention a firearm and it`s " Ewwww!! ". I guess I`ve been on the planet too long and seen too much not to be a bit paranoid!
 
I didn’t take this picture, but… it tells a story.

IMG_1545.jpeg
Freight train comes to mind. Bears can be killed with about any reasonable caliber in most situations.
I’m going to express my opinion here and it’s just that, my opinion.
Lots of people list off certain firearms and I just cringe. Handguns in particular. The recoil impulse of a 454, 460, 500 are beyond what most people can use with any real confidence.
Besides these revolvers are large. Better off with a smaller handgun in 44, 45, or 480. Baring that and what I prefer when practical is a long gun, 45-70 guide gun, 12 gauge with slugs comes to mind.
I used to take clients to shore in Prince William Sound where brown bears were present. Most of the time they were fat with salmon and had zero interest in people if you leave them alone. Although walking around the creeks and rivers you would feel like you were on the bears personal picnic table.
I found that my rifle almost always ended up in the skiff or leaning against a tree when we went to shore. I carried a 4 inch S&W 29 until I upgraded to a SRH 5 inch 480 in a chest rig.
But for hunting Caribou has it right chose a caliber and gun that you can make good hits with.
 
Firewood535 said:
OK guys, call me crazy but... I'm planning a motorcycle camping trip to Wyoming/Montana next summer. Early May... grizzly territory. Plan on carrying my 6" Ruger GP-100 .357 Magnum with HSM 180grain hard cast, flat-nose. This ammo is advertised at 1200 fps. My math says that's somewhere around 575 ft-lb. This is not as hot as the Buffalo Bore loadings at 1400 fps, but...I handle the gun well and can make very accurate hits at all ranges out to about 50 yards. Not the ideal power factor, I agree, particularily for a hungry and possibly grumpy bruin that just woke up. But, I feel that shot placement is key and trumps "energy". A well placed shot to the Central Nervous System (brain or spine) is the goal. Broadside shots to heart/lung may kill a bear, but only after it rips you to shreds!
However, this sucker is heavy! But, since I will be mostly on the bike (V-Strom 650 decked out for offroad), I don't feel weight is an issue. If I was going to be humping a pack for miles and miles, I would choose something lighter, like a Glock 20 in 10mm. Hard cast, or flat point FMJ, as heavy as possible. I have a lot of common sense, and I am bear aware. With my wits, my crazy bright flashlight, a big can of bear spray for primary deterrent, and my good ole Ruger in my tent I feel like I will be okay. If not, that's cool too. I'd rather be snubbed out by a bear than some sleaze bag in the city.
Click to expand...
Spring Bear stay pretty close to their dens but not always, the chances are very slim you’ll even see a Black let alone a Grizzly unless you’re hiking quite a ways up in the hills with a pork chop in your pocket. Take some bear spray and be more aware of deer on the highway’ they are really thick and especially in the evening.
 
Firewood535 said:
Haha yeah maybe I better stay down here with the wee little black bears...
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:rofl::rofl::rofl:LOL!
Naw, just pay attention to this video. There are even motorcyclists in the video - that are obviously a bit smarter than that woman who might have kept her distance from a grizzly but must have assumed bison are tame. Bison attacks woman taking photos of herd at South Dakota state park (nbcnews.com) o_O

BTW, I’m not trying to discourage you from going on your motorcycle camping trip. I’ve thought of getting a bike so that my wife and I could do the same thing ourselves sometime. :thumbup:

I’m not trying to cause this thread to go off on a tangent either. I’m just trying to tell you that even though you asked about a gun for motorcycle camping in "grizzly country," there are about 150 grizzlies in and around Yellowstone, and about 5,900 bison (a quick Google search will tell you the same thing). Both critters can be dangerous (especially if crowded) but which one do you think you’re most likely to encounter around Yellowstone, much less have a run-in with? :)
 
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Firewood535 said:
I have a lot of common sense, and I am bear aware.
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Being bear aware is key but though I carry a .357 for edc, when it comes to grizzly my pucker factor would increase tremendously to produce diamonds. My concerns are 2.
First, everyone states the shot placement is key , which is true, but lets be realistically how many of us are able to place a surgically precision shot while our pucker factor is dropping diamonds while the bear is moving straight at us at 30 mph, I know I can't so for me I have mentally except the fact that I must be mangled before delivering the final blow. Something similar to me excepting the fact that death in combat was very probable.

Second, to me, the .357 is better than nothing but not ideal. I would take at least an over/under shotgun using 12ga brenneke slugs that is easy to break down and assemble immediately at my campsite, but my first choice would be a 45/70 take down rifle, like the Ridge Runner from Taylor and Company. My comfort level in bear territory is none existent . I prefer to have the Air Force on standby or Artillery.

Guess I'm just chicken relying on a .357 for Grizzly bear. Wish you a safe and wonderful journey and would love you to share some pictures on the forum.
 
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Yes being able to react in time and accurately is an issue. I have been trained and am experienced in getting off shots very quickly and accurately at close range under duress. Even so, Things can happen too fast. Fortunately, chances of a bear attack are very small and with prudent precautions there should be no problem. But it wouldn't hurt to have a plan and practice in advance and be aware.
 
The chances of needing the pistol when you are on your noisy motorcycle is really negligable.

If you find yourself needing a pistol it will most likely be when you are mellowing around camp in which case I would want a lighter weapon on my hip instead of a heavy weapon "close at hand".

Wear your 357 around the house for a few hours. See how in the way it is and ask yourself if it will be on your hip in camp it all times.
 
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VStrom is a great bike. Did a little camping on my KLR 650 and Buell Ulysses. Find a clamp to mount your light on the Ruger. Maybe Midway USA has em. Live near Yellowstone and have family near the Little Snowies who ranch. Their ranch hands killed 3 black bears last year with a ... 22LR. Granted the bears were not charging but shot placement is key. I don't recommend 22LR no matter how good of a shot you are. 357 is good. 10mm is good. 45acp is good too. Use what you got.
 
HPJeep said:
VStrom is a great bike. Did a little camping on my KLR 650 and Buell Ulysses. Find a clamp to mount your light on the Ruger. Maybe Midway USA has em. Live near Yellowstone and have family near the Little Snowies who ranch. Their ranch hands killed 3 black bears last year with a ... 22LR. Granted the bears were not charging but shot placement is key. I don't recommend 22LR no matter how good of a shot you are. 357 is good. 10mm is good. 45acp is good too. Use what you got.
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Just a question. If one`s life was not in imminent danger, why on God`s green earth would someone shoot a black bear with a 22LR?? It seems to me that if you know that you MAY be in a position to shoot something like a bear, you would be better armed for a more effective ( not to mention humane! ) shot (?).
 
While I appreciate .357 Magnum, 44 Magnum would be a better bet if 4 legged furries of Ursus arctos horribilis species are a potential threat.
 
Food is generally what they are after when they come around humans, different than you going to them.

First time my BIL sprayed a bear, he said he felt like he got more than the bear. FWIW, In police training, before you carry pepper spray, you have to know what it’s going to do to you when you get it too.

www.police1.com

OC exposure during training: A survival must?

“The public has access to this product and can use it against us. You have to know how to defend against it.”
www.police1.com www.police1.com
 
Firewood535 said:
OK guys, call me crazy but... I'm planning a motorcycle camping trip to Wyoming/Montana next summer. Early May... grizzly territory. Plan on carrying my 6" Ruger GP-100 .357 Magnum with HSM 180grain hard cast, flat-nose. This ammo is advertised at 1200 fps. My math says that's somewhere around 575 ft-lb. This is not as hot as the Buffalo Bore loadings at 1400 fps, but...I handle the gun well and can make very accurate hits at all ranges out to about 50 yards. Not the ideal power factor, I agree, particularily for a hungry and possibly grumpy bruin that just woke up. But, I feel that shot placement is key and trumps "energy". A well placed shot to the Central Nervous System (brain or spine) is the goal. Broadside shots to heart/lung may kill a bear, but only after it rips you to shreds!
However, this sucker is heavy! But, since I will be mostly on the bike (V-Strom 650 decked out for offroad), I don't feel weight is an issue. If I was going to be humping a pack for miles and miles, I would choose something lighter, like a Glock 20 in 10mm. Hard cast, or flat point FMJ, as heavy as possible. I have a lot of common sense, and I am bear aware. With my wits, my crazy bright flashlight, a big can of bear spray for primary deterrent, and my good ole Ruger in my tent I feel like I will be okay. If not, that's cool too. I'd rather be snubbed out by a bear than some sleaze bag in the city.
Click to expand...

A GP-100 in .44 Special is almost a 1/2 lb. lighter and with handloads, WAY more powerful than a .357.

35W
 
I used to ride a vstrom 1000 as my adventure bike, and I quickly found that hip holsters don't work well while riding. So I had a left hand paddle holster that I put in my front slash pocket of my riding jacket for my Glock. Kinda open carry, but in the back woods it worked. When off the bike I used an IWB holster. During this timeframe though I built a 458socom ar pistol for my camp gun, and it was still small enough to rest in my sleeping bag in the hammock I use when bike camping. I've spent enough time in western Montana and Idaho in the back country to want a bigger gun available than justy carry piece.

Strangely though, I feel pretty safe out there even unarmed compared to any city. I usually carry a cross draw sbh 44mag nowadays. For bike camping, look at a chest rig or cross draw for your gp100.
 
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