Is a 9mm an adequate Colorado woods gun?

[envonge]

Hello,

I carry a 4" .500 S&W when I go walking into the woods with 500gr hardcasts.

I would not recommend anything less.

- envonge

 

[Alan Fud]

our black bears aren't the monsters you find back east in PA/WVa

Now what is that suppose to mean? I normally arm myself with a .38 +P for coyotes and maybe bobcats. Do I have to go with something bigger for black bear?

 

[DMK]

jlbraun shows his girl his 9mm

Girl: "That's a gun?"



I see heartbreak ahead. This girl's going to leave you for someone with a .45 or a Magnum.

 

[Sundles]

DMK,

Not only would she prefer a big bore, as you pointed out, but she will want some one who doesnt go full auto so easy.

 

[Dr.Rob]

All I meant was the world record black bear came from PA or WVa (if I recall)... they just don't get that big here.

 

[jwh2]

I live in western Co and I typically take a .357 into the woods when camping and hiking. If it's a spur of the moment hike I will take whatever I have with me.

jwh2

 

[targatop]

I carry the 329PD from S&W loaded in Buffalo Bore .44Mag magnaported so it sounds damned mean and shoots steady with quick follow-ups. Makes a great bear gun, is easy to pack, no safeties to worry about.

Give your wife the 9mm just in case you get in trouble.

Also, go concealed carry if possible with a light jacket or some other way to keep it out of sight. Some hippies up here in CO can get pretty verbal about you carrying a gun, and will talk about "bear spray" - which is just human seasoning in the right wind.

Biggest thing to worry about up here is Mountain Lion, there were seveal attacks last year alone. They will come up on you from behind or around the corner and give you no time to react. At that time you want your wife to be a damned good shot with the 9mm, or you better do the same if it is her in that situation.

I prefer wood grips when hiking because they don't snag, although I use hogue rubber wrap-arounds at the range.

I also prefer Buffalo Bore hard-cast FMJ rounds. Penetration is your only hope against a bear - you need to knock out a spine, brain, or several critical bones. You can not shoot a bear 10 times with 9mm hollowpoint and expect it to bleed to death before he tears you a new one.

 

[Az-quailhunter]

I would not be afraid to use my 9mm....but a .357 may be a better choice.

 

[targatop]

By the way, anybody who says a pistol is not good for bringing down a large animal - check this out:

Alabama boy bags monstrously large 1,000lb hog
http://www.denverpost.com/news/ci_5988329?source=rotate

Mind you it took 9 shots with a S&W Model 500 revolver. 8 shots to slow it down, and 1 point blank range to finish it off.

Not sure I'd carry a 9mm in Alabama now.

More on the boy, the pig, and the gun here.

http://www.monsterpig.com/

 

[mountainclmbr]

I live in the mountains in Colorado and have had 2 bear incidents at my home in about 9 years, but no shots fired. I have heard of about equal numbers of mountain lion and bear attacks. One incident was a bear that dragged a boy scout out of his tent on a camping trip. The last one I heard about was in Evergreen where a bear broke into a woman's house and tried to attack her. I think she retreated and called 911. The Division of Wildlife showed up and found 3 bears. One of the bears tried to attack the DOW officer and he had to shoot it. One young boy, around 12yo if I remember correctly, was jumped from behind by a mountain lion. He was able to get a pocket knife out and give the mountain lion enough jabs to make it run away. While hiking I have encountered moose, elk, bear, deer, bobcat, coyote. At home I have 12 ga with slug as first round and 3-inch 00-buck after that. For hiking I usually carry 45 ACP/230gr JHP and IWB holster as that is about the largest that I can carry with immidiate access. If a problem happens I don't think I will have the time to dig in a backpack. I have considered getting one of the S&W 44 mag mountain guns in scandium for just this purpose. If I was carrying a 9mm, I would go with the 147 gr load as you have indicated. The HP is probably OK as a good trade between the threat types. I often carry 230FMJ in spare magazines. I would have the FMJ as the loaded type if I knew a bear attack was in my future, but I consider the two-legged predator to be the greatest threat.

 

[MachIVshooter]

Nearly every backpacker/hiker/skier, etc. that dies in the wilderness of Colorado dies of exposure, not animal attacks. While I certainly advocate carrying a sidearm for obvious reasons, I would spend more time focusing on your other gear-especially clothing. Several people froze to death out here this last winter after becoming lost, many of them becasue they had not expected to be out after dark when temperatures drop sharply. Make sure you have adequate clothing and enough food to survive at least a couple of days after you're expected to be out of the woods. I wouldn't worry too much about water, as mountain streams are everywhere (might contract giardia, but no biggie once you get home). GPS's are great, but take a good compass. Mostly common sense stuff, but it is amazing how often it is overlooked. When I go hunting, I make sure I have a couple days worth of everything in case I fall down the mountain and become injured, unable to get myself out.

That said, I carry a S&W 1006 and a couple spare magazines when I go hiking. (Usually many, many more, as shooting is most often part of my camping trips )

 

[Pilot]

Good advice from my Colorado brothers. Shelter, warmth, water are the most important issues. I carry at least a 9MM as it will scare away most animals and protect you from human preditors. Most of the time is a .357 mag, but again this is secondary to other survival gear. Get a space blanket, compass and carry water and/or a filtration device with you.

 

[jlbraun]

MachIVShooter,

Thanks for you advice. Indeed, when I go into the mountains, I carry an extensive first aid kit, no cotton anything, full Goretex shell, fleece, winter hat and gloves, heavy boots, GPS, compass, map case, space blanket, water purification filter, water purification tablets as a backup to the filter, etc. I've put a lot of work into picking the above options, and the 9mm is a recent addition, so I wanted to make sure it was right.

Some of youse are making me look at .44's...

 

[redneckrepairs]

As a life long resident of Colorado a 9 will do anything i need to do in the hills . If your close to an urban area feral dogs factor in , but near to urban or not feral humans are about all you will likely encounter . Animals wont stand thier ground in the face of any firearm going off as a normal rule . You can cook up far fetched scenarios where they might , and if you believe any of them you should only go afield with a 300 mag and up . If on the other hand you want to live in our state ( not the state of fantasy ) a 9 is fine , and were it not for the fact that nowdays you find meth'd up idiots anywhere ( i just ran one off a part of a pasture that i get to on horseback ) i would suggest a .22 as ideal .

 

[The-Fly]

Jlbraun, if you want to borrow my 4" 357 and try it sometime, just give me a ring.

 

[boostedxt]

I just did some hiking and camping and had my Magnum Research baby Eagle...thats what I brought every time...but I am in the market for something lighter in the 40.

I usually fear the other hikers more than I do the animals....been hiking a long time and have had no run ins with animals.

Joe

 

[Brian Williams]

Welcome Boostedxt, Most hikers tend to look for the lightest, something lighter would be in order.

 

[boostedxt]

Thanks!

I want some stopping power in something that is small and light.. Still searching for the right find.

joe

 

[leadcounsel]

1) People are more dangerous so a 9mm will handle two legged predators just fine;

2) Invest in a $30 can of bear repellant spray. It will work fine and save the bear and you.

3) Have fun

 

[michael_aos]

I carried a 357PD (lightweight 41 magnum) for a while, camping and hiking but I've since gone to a Glock 34 (9mm) with a Surefire X200.

I typically keep a 16" AR-15 with a Surefire Scout light and loaded with 75gr TAP handy around camp.

I tend to be more worried about 2-legged predators than anything else. Haven't seen any feral dogs, but there are LOTS of coyotes.

I keep toying with replacing the AR-15 with a short bolt-action 308 but I'm not certain it's worth the trade-offs.

Mike