45acp +p for backpacking in WA.

[Bobarino]

i also live in WA and have done a good bit of hiking in the boonies from the Olympics to the Cascades. i've run into black bears (oddly enough on the Bear River near Ilwaco) and Cougars in the Cascades. in both cases i clapped my hands loudly and yelled and they ran away. surprisingly, the most aggerssive animal i've run into was an Elk. it began to paw the ground and grunt and i really thought it was going to charge. i slowly moved away and out of its sight and we both went about our business. a shot fired into the air is probably enough to scare away most animals. unless its injured or you're too near its young. then you could be in trouble. my point is, your chances of actually having to shoot an animal in self defense is slim and a handgun, no matter what the caliber, is not going to be as effective as we would hope. personally, i would choose capacity over caliber when it comes to wild animals. i'd rather have lots of chances to hit it somewhere where it will hurt enough to make it stop attacking. i agree that hardball is the way to go in the wilderness. i have never had to test my theories (thank goodness) so i have no facts to back up my claims, its just personal preference. enjoy your hikes!

Bobby

 

[J. Parker]

This past weekend I spent three days remote camping in SE Washington State. I was packin' my P-220 with 230gr hardball. I'm not a fan of hollow points in the boonies. You want penetration and if you over-penetrate so what?
Also had a 10mm Glock. IMO, the 10mm Glock is just about the perfect "trail gun". I went through the "drag a 44 mag around the woods scenario" for a few years and finally said "the hell with this". Now I carry a couple of quality semi-auto's. It's a whole different story when you can distribute the weight of two pistols versus one heavy revolver.
Just my thoughts, John

 

[Glockorama]

As mentioned earlier, what about the .357sig? I have an HK usp in 357. What about fmj's in that? Or stagger hp's and fmj's?

 

[Amish]

I carry the Winchester Range 230gr +p round when hiking in my USP45. I also recommend the +p+ 230gr FMJ round. The +p round will equal a 10mm power.

 

[Glockorama]

Winchester makes a +p and a +p+ fmj round in 45? Where can I buy this stuff? It isn't on their web catalog? Anyone else make +p 45 fmj?

 

[J. Parker]

I spend so much time in the woods I always thought 45 hardball pushed to +P velocities made good sense for the boonies. I remember getting a box of 45 185gr TMJ in +P form but I don't recall what brand it was. Frankly, I've never seen +P+ FMJ in 45 calibre.
You might check www.buffalobore.com. They could have a 45 FMJ bullet at +P velocity. Best, John

 

[TallPine]

a shot fired into the air is probably enough to scare away most animals.

Um .... maybe into the ground would be a better idea ...?

Sure, you are "way out into the woods" but you never know where that bullet fired into the air will end up.

My plan - untested - is to fire into the ground below the critter, maybe throwing some dirt on him/her. That is, assuming I do a warning shot at all.

Black bears have been killed with a .38 - just last year a guy camping out in AZ woke up to a bear chewing on his head, and pulled a .38 out from under his pillow and killed the bear (contact range, of course).

I believe cougars are a lot more dangerous than black bears, because a cougar WILL stalk and attack a human as prey.