Bear/woods pistol

[American_Fusilier]

What pistol do you strap onto your hip when you go into Indian country? Be it hunting, camping, hiking, or around the ranch/homestead, what your go anti wildlife pistol?

I'm not taking concealed carry.

I take with me either my EAA Vindicator in 357 mag or my RIA 1911 in 45.

My ideal gun, would be a Glock 20 in 10mm

What about you?

 

[Terry G]

Two, actually. I hike four or five day's a week weather permitting. CZ P09 and TX22, each with a spare magazine.

 

[jonnyc]

I have two designated "woods" guns, but neither has been out on the trails yet. The completed one is a snub-nosed Colt 1917 project in .45 Colt, and the in-the-works project is a snub-nosed S&W 1917 in .45 ACP. Otherwise anything from a S&W 317 to a Glock 43X, to a Browning HP is just fine.

 

[Buckeye63]

Glock 20 .. 200gr XTP Underwood ammo
Taurus Tracker 44 mag
Ruger Security Six 357mag
Charter revolvers in 44spl & 45acp

But seems like I carry my Glock 23 with 180gr FMJ FN , often

 

[WrongHanded]

The easiest choice is a 5.5" barreled Redhawk in .44 mag with 300gr Swift A-Frames at around 1270fps.

But if I'm being lazy I just put a mag of 124gr FMJ-FN .357 Sig (1425fps) in one of my Glocks.

 

[mcb]

No bears were I hunt and play in the woods.



An old S&W Model 10 in 38 Special does everything I need.

 

[Obturation]

Bear thread!!! Sweeeeeeeeeeeeet!

Best woods gun in existence - 454 super redhawk- 5" barrel


If there's no chance of anything big, a distant 2nd- g20


Both of these should be on your list of guns to buy, bears or not.

 

[bannockburn]

Obturation

Best woods gun in existence - 454 super redhawk- 5" barrel

You forgot to mention that it was also voted "Ugliest Woods Gun in existence" as well!

 

[Ru4real]

The SS S&W Model 25 Mountain Gun 45 Colt when I’m archery hunting in the Rockies. The Blue Model 25 when I’m gun hunting.

 

[Obturation]

Obturation


You forgot to mention that it was also voted "Ugliest Woods Gun in existence" as well!

A proud title, I think there are worse though. The good thing is, looks got nothing to do with being the baddest (in a good way, to me ) kinda normalish sized handgun on the block.

 

[WestKentucky]

It’s a bear thread... somebody’s gotta do it...

but in reality when I have been in territory where bears are expected I carry a 357 or a 9mm loaded fairly hot. Usually the 9mm because I currently am without a decent .357 for walking around purposes.

 

[Blue Jays]

"...Bear thread!!! Sweeeeeeeeeeeeet!..."

Concur 100%. There has not been a new bears / woods thread at THR in several years. We finally have one.

 

[Armored farmer]

Or maybe......

 

[Rexster]

Oh, mercy; bears, again. Well, OK, for the nearby East Texas Piney Woods/Big Thicket area, where black bears do, technically, exist, but where it is feral hogs that will actually kill and eat a person, Ruger GP100, my choice for about thirty years. 180-grain hard-cast loads make sense, if I believe that quadrupeds are the greater threat than bipeds.

When actually walking my wife’s family’s property, where poaching and arson have occurred, in the past, I will probably have a Benelli M2 with me, as the “primary” weapon.

 

[Pat Riot]

My woods / desert / camp guns.

S&W 327 Night Guard & Glock 45


Now, if I think bears will be attending and or if I am camping my Winchester 94 30-30 is on hand. It’s the one gun I have confidence in to hit a running bear in the nose at least once at 50 and less yards within 3 seconds. I am not fooling with large animals with a handgun.

 

[DocRock]

BEAR THREAD, YAY!!!!

I don't live or do much hiking in Grizzly country. And in seven years in Colorado, including during their season, I have seen a black bear precisely twice: once, sitting on the verge off I70, in a manner that very much appeared to be a bear sniggering at morons in traffice, and once in binoculars at between 1500 and 1750 yards, making tracks in the opposite direction to me. Back East, in VT, saw black bears a lot and hunted them successfully on five occasions as I recall. 30 WCF was very effective.

So, I'm not much worried about brother bear in the woods. Mama bear? A little bit, but mainly in the Spring thaw when the wake up skinny, hungry and with cubs to feed. I am much more concerned with the wandering meth head or backwoods whacko. So, my woods pistol is something in 45 - a 1911 if I'm feeling jaunty or a wheelgun in 45 LC if the comfort of big iron outweighs the weight of said iron.

If I were concerned about Senor Grizz, my respect for him would have me carrying a 12 ga pump with 2 slugs ahead of 3 #00 buck shells. And travelling with a random fat guy. With a limp.

 

[3Crows]

If we are talking brown bears then any handgun that can STOP a brown bear is nearly as big and heavy as my Guide Gun and possibly more cumbersome and which is far more accurate (for me) in practice, more powerful and arguably more reliable and throws 430 grain chunks of lead that can go end to end and then some in a bad attitude bear:



Sling it or use a gun tote/bearer like the Kifaru type. Make my handgun a Marlin SBL.45-70. Now, if we mean two-legged varmints of nefarious intent, my Glock 19 or Kimber 1911 .45ACP. If black bears might be afoot then my Ruger Black Hawk in .45 Colt with Bear level loads. And just stomping around in a low threat environment were a pit viper might be crawling (or swimming) about, my Ruger Single Six and with .22 Magnum cylinder installed.

 

[Martin248]

Used to carry my 40 s&w p320 loaded with underwood hardcast. However last time I was at the range it stovepiped a couple of them so I'll be carrying my 9mm with 147gr fmjfn until I figure out what's up with the 40.

WA state, cougars and black bears.

 

[T_Walker]

10mm with heavy buffalo bore ammo.

 

[RETG]

Really, Indian country? I go through an actual reservation once or twice a month; I would not consider going there off the major highway with my handguns displayed and they would have blacks bears. Another rez in WY I go through a few times a year would have both of the two major types in the continental USA. Again, no venturing off the main highway.

What type of bear; noticeable difference between the two and how to stop if needed.

However, spray works for both types. And before any smart remarks; I have used it twice and both times it has worked and I'm here to type this at 3:30AM as proof it worked.

However, when hiking around here, at the most it is a .40 PX4 with Buffalo Bore 200 gr. Black bears! And a canister of bear spray.

When up in MT or over in WY; same PX4 but might include a .44 mag, 300 gr Hunter ammo and when camping in northern WY and/or MT I might also have a 12-gauge in camp loaded with 600 gr Black magic slugs.But at all times, even in a campground; Counter Assault bear spray.

And the campground in Northern WY/Southern MT during the fall close to every other person has a can of spray on their belt as well as a handgun.

 

[defjon]

Well, no bears where I live.

But I spent a ton of time outdoors and hike pretty deep. Lightweight and concealed is important.

A few years ago I did see a massive wolf. Very unheard of in this area. Easily over 120 lbs. Training kicked in and I felt very calm. Ended without incident. The wolf burst out of the woods about 30 yards ahead. Looked to be alone and running from something. Seemed more surprised to see us then we were to see it.

A stare down then, between my 70 lb GSD and this massive ol timber pooch. Decided it liked the odds better the way it came from.

Still scratching my head on what could spook something like that! I was carrying a Ruger ec9 and some bb hardcast. If it ran at us or the dog, I would have had time to draw down and get off probably 3 shots.

Another decade or so before that, I was testing the durability of a trail walking stick by hitting a tree. Up the trail a ways a big cat, obviously thinking the sound was gun fire sprang from the top of a tree and dashed off into the brush.

I was only carrying that stick i happened upon that time. When it ran off, I followed it's lead (in the opposite direction)!

Another time in the same woods as the wolf, I tracked big cat prints in the snow and mud a ways. Came across a kill (deer).

Officially I don't think either one of these animals are supposed to be in the timber here per the dnr.

Yep, but a hunter near Henry IL shot a big wolf recently. Driving to work before the Rona also so a big sucker, hit by a car on i-74. Very familiar with coyotes and coydogs /coywolves. So, you just never go. Spend enough time in the woods and you'll see some cool things.

38/9mm/22 is likely enough for these woods. Choice usually dictated by plans/weight.

I sold that ec9 (probably should have kept it, felt very confident in it). Usually a hellcat with bb hardcast, or a 642/j frame with hard cast wadcutters or critical defense. If it's a 22, I like velociters or plain Jane lrn.

If out west I would step it up. Maybe gp100 with 180 gr bb hardcast, sig 226 with 21 round mecgar and 147 gr plus p hardcast or maybe the Gov. Folks hate that one but standard pressure 45 colt hc or 45 act hc is no joke and mine is VERY accurate. One of my most versatile guns. Lots of power for under 30oz on the hip.

 

[memtb]

I guess the firearm decision weighs heavily upon which bears you have in your neighborhood! If the wife and I are out hiking, camping, shed hunting ect, we will likely be in our elk hunting area, which happens to be grizzly country (fairly high concentration)......I’d have my hunting revolver. A 460 XVR, with my cast 400 grain hunting bullets!

I would feel pretty comfortable with my lighter S&W 629 (44 Mag) also.....but, want to spend as much time as possible getting “very” familiar with my XVR! The more I use it, the better I “should” be with it during hunting season! Familiarity with your hunting firearm, or any firearm...... is a good thing! memtb

 

[beag_nut]

When I was in grizzly country (Yellowstone National Park) for two weeks I carried my GP100 6" in .357, because I had nothing larger. I recently saw this pic, which might prompt me not to do that again.

 

[Pat Riot]

I will say that I have encountered Black Bears in the wild 5 times. 3 times I saw their big hairy butts as they were running away from me in the mountains of Southern California. Once on a trail in Pennsylvania. A couple of bears were strolling down a game path. I was sitting on a hillside just taking Olin the sights when they appeared and disappeared down the trail. Once when I was 14 I was trout fishing in Pennsylvania in the mountains and I was in the River when 2 bear cubs appeared on the shore about 30 feet away. I was in about 3’ of water. Looked toward my Dad who was on the opposite bank. It was loud as we were in a river pool area between rapids. He was yelling something at me that I couldn’t make out when I saw his eyes widen. I looked to see why and 7’ of momma bear was standing in the bushes behind the cubs. I do believe I walked on water to the shore where my Dad was.

I have hunted in areas where there supposedly were Brown Bears in California. I did see fresh bear tracks in the snow that were around 12” in diameter on one hunt. All I had was a shotgun loaded for quail and I had some heavier #4 shot shells in case I came across a turkey. Brownie was headed Southwest. I headed Northeast at a nice walking pace. Of course, I found a brush covered area loaded with Mountain Quail just 150 yards from where I found the bear tracks. I kept going until I got to my truck then went elsewhere looking for quail. That was the first and last time I ever went hunting without some extra firepower.

 

[memtb]

When I was in grizzly country (Yellowstone National Park) for two weeks I carried my GP100 6" in .357, because I had nothing larger. I recently saw this pic, which might prompt me not to do that again.

Yep.....a large grizzly has a very good “understanding”! memtb