Bear protection

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PAC 762

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I'm going hiking in bear country in a few weeks. Normally it would be a no-brainer and I'd take my 5" Redhawk .44 mag. However, I'm hiking where firearms are prohibited, so concealment is the rule. Also, I am recovering from a severly fractured ankle, so weight is a consideration.

I have the following that I would choose from:
1. 5" Redhawk: .44 mag power, but big & heavy and I don't have concealment holsters aside from a cheapo shoulder rig that I found somewhere. I usually carry in a regular hip holster, but I can't conceal that way. I'll have to make the shouder holster work.
2. Kimber Pro-Carry, .45 acp: Not as much power, but light and I have concealment rigs.
3. Full size kimber custom: Heavier, but a little more velocty and I can shoot it more accurately.
4. Charter Arms Bulldog pug: .44 spl. I can use a heavy wad cutters, but it's coming slow. Light weight and I have concealment rigs... It actually the easiest to carry out of the choices. Occasional light-strikes in double action fire have made me give it up for regular CCW.

What would you choose? Am I that under gunned with .45 acp versus the redhawk?
 
However, I'm hiking where firearms are prohibited, so concealment is the rule.
Click to expand...

Legally prohibited? You realize if you are carrying a firearm in an area where firearms are prohibited you are breaking the law, generally a misdemeanor, but enough to have the gun confiscated and go to court.

Legally prohibited and carrying concealed? Now add on a charge of illegally concealing a firearm, at a minimum this is usually a major misdemeanor and may land you in jail.

Just a couple of things to think about.
 
I was unsure about posting that part...

I realize it's against PARK RULES.... not gov't.

Either way, my life is worth the slim risk of getting spotted and tossed out of the park.
 
I'd think you'd want the Kimber full size and load it with FMJ, unless of course you can find away to conceal that Redhawk.

The Pro Carry is what a 4 1/4" barrel? Probably not a huge difference, but every bit counts. When I go in the woods I leave my light and comfortable CCO at home in favor of one of my heavy steel framed but much more comforting Govt. models. The longer sight radius and it being easier to shoot rapidly are bonuses as well.

I certainly wouldn't trust the Charter if it may not go bang when you need it and it doesn't sound to me like it has a decent sized barrel length anyway. I'd think seven or eight 45s out of a 5" barrel would be be better than five or six 44 Specials out of a 2" or 3" barrel even if they did all fire.
 
Is this park National or State? Both are goverment owned and their "rules" are usually LAWS (almost certainly when it comes to guns)! A gun in a National Park can get you arrested! A gun in a State Park can get you arrested! State and National Park Rangers are State or Federal Peace Officers, I don't think they will just throw you out, they will arrest you!

But , who's going to search you in the back counrty? Keep you gun out of sight (but available). If you do use it to kill a bear and the Mounties hear about it, you will have problems. Chewed-up or locked-up, you choose.

P.S. Carry the Redhawk. If you can hike, your ankle can't be all that bad. A screwed-up ankle is a more realistic danger to you in the back-country than a bear anyway.
 
Since the .45 and .44 special is inedequate for bear and the Ruger is too heavy, it sounds like you need a new gun!;)

How about that super light .44 mag from S&W?
 
Pick whatever you can conceal the best, since it sounds like that is your major consideration. Bears sound like the second consideration.:D
 
I love hearing all the brave gunowners wine like girls "don't carry, you'll get in trouble".

You have more than bears to worry about. Two legged critters can kill too.

They may have a policy against guns. I have a policy against my early death.

Keep it concealed and you won't have a problem. The law is illegal.
 
I have one more comment regarding the nervous nelly ultra-whiners.

I seriously doubt the ability of a gunowner to drop the hammer on a bad guy who does not have the courage to carry a really concealed gun in a wilderness area for his own protection. We all know it is fair and right for us to be able to defend ourselves. It is our human right. Yet, some victim gunowners accept the denial of their rights. A victim of the government would most likely also be a victim of a badguy. It is a victim nature.

Now, I know that the legal eagle types will tell me that I will go to jail for carrying in an unapproved area. And, that I will be bubba's girlfriend. That comment will solidify my opinion of them as victims. Why do gunowners always see themselves the girlfriend in prison? Answer = Victimhood. Why isn't the otherguy the girlfriend? It is just as probable. Victimhood.

Think about it. If you don't have the courage to break an immoral law that puts your life at risk, how are you going to have the courage to kill a human being out to hurt you?
 
"You have more than bears to worry about. Two legged critters can kill too".


BEAR SPRAY !!! Works on 2-legged and 4-legged animals.
 
Why isn't the otherguy the girlfriend? It is just as probable.
Click to expand...

Yuck! If I went to prison, I would neither be nor have a "girlfriend".

Though, a good reason to train in a martial art as well as firearms.
 
Know Your Enemy

PAC 762,

It sounds like your biggest worry might be taking the felonious advice of a stranger.

Respectfully,

jdkelly
 
In August, I killed my 3rd bear, my first with the bow. (Shameless bragging mode off).

So if you're worried about playing by the rules, you could handily avoid the "firearms" rule, although concealment of the average bow -- compound, longbow, recurve -- might prove to be more of a hassle than it's worth.

I think Alessi -- or maybe it's Bianchi -- makes an IWB for strongside carry of an average compound bow. From what I've heard, it makes it rather tough to walk.

And the quiver...and the arrows....makes IWB something less than comfortable, too, I am sure.

:D
 
Believe me, I don't want no prison "girlfriend". I was just making the point that many gunowners see themselves automatically as the victim.

I have 10 years of karate, 6 years of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. I am not disarmed just because I don't have a gun.
 
I'm not a huge outdoorsy type. I never really paid attention to what is proper bear protection. Does that bear spray actually work?

The park is in a state I have reciprocity with. I can legally carry concealed there. The park is a state park with a no hunting / no firearms rule. I assume the firearms rule is just a measure to keep hunters out, but I'm not going to ask and get an answer I don't want. If it means proitecting my life, I'll assume the rule does not apply to CCW holders. If I actually got caught, I'd act stupid and show my CCW permit.

My buddy only said that there are bears everywhere. He only owns a 9mm, so he carries that. He never had to use it, so I'm guessing they're not the biggest threat. This is NE, so I assume it's black bears.
 
yep Black bears in the NE, but they do get some BIG black bears up there....From the bear experts I have talked to, bear spray will work on all but the most determined bear, some of these experts are personal friends with first hand experience with griz and the big AK variety. I still pack iron 95% of the time. Most people working in bear country are going to the spray, replace it often the old stuff "may" lose some effectiveness, or so I have heard. Yearly is the recommendation I have been given, for spray replacement. I'd bet it would deter most 2 legged animals too:D . It would make super mace!

Have a nice hike. Go slow ankles are slow to heal.
 
Bear spray does not work well on Black Bears. It is effective on Browns and Grizzlies.

A black bear will usually only attack because it has killing on it's mind. It would rather avoid you.

Grizzlies and Brown bears are more territorial and will sometimes bluff. Sometimes they will take a few bites and leave. Playing dead and curling up sometimes works.

Humans will kill for no reason at all. Sometimes they are armed. Make sure you are too.
 
Shoudn't it matter what the bear knows? Karate, Japanese Ju Jitsu, French face slap or American ass whoop?

Now if the bear is wearing a western rig, you wear the same out of politeness and all this right. Don't be carrying on with no semi-auto hi-cap crap or I'll shoot you myself. :neener:
 
dave3006, I'm not quite sure what your point was with the "w[h]ine like girls" and "ultra-whiners" comments. No one was whining. Instead, they were pointing out that carrying in a park may be illegal, which was a rational response to the original question.

Also, when I go to National Parks, I don't bring a gun. According to you, that makes me, and anyone else who chooses not to carry, a "victim." I respectfully suggest that you reconsider that opinion.
 
Why do gunowners always see themselves the girlfriend in prison?---Dave3006
Click to expand...
Perhaps we realize the best way not to become "the girlfriend" is to obey the law.

Why isn't the otherguy the girlfriend?---Dave3006
Click to expand...
Perhaps because we don't see ourselves as the aggressor in a sex crime.


Respectfully,

jdkelly
 
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