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

Firewood535

Firewood535

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Somewhere in the desert SW
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.
 
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I used to hike the mountains in Southern New Mexico twice a year for a week + for 20 years.

I carried a SW Mountain gun in 44 mag on the hip and it did not bother me.

Now the NM Black bears are tiny compared to the grizzlies, so I felt well armed.

I came across a few bears, but they seem more afraid of me than me of them.

Having said that…

I now have a different view now after watching a YouTuber do a comparison of A Ruger SBH and a 10 mm auto facing a makeshift charging Grizzly.

I believe he only got one shot off with the Ruger, he may have done better with a DA revolver, who knows.

With the 10 mm Automatic he only got 2 or 3 shots off. I thought it would have been more.

I totally forgot how the hit factor was.

If I was going into bear country now, it would be a 10 mm or a LAR Grizzley 45 Win Mag.
 
I listen to hunting podcasts quite often while driving. One thing I have learned about bear country is that you should have bear spray for several reasons.....
1. It's effective.
2. If you shoot a bear you're going to be treated like a murderer by the wildlife authorities until you prove that you were in extreme danger.
3. Just having bear spray shows you are giving thought to non-lethal method for protecting yourself.
I'm a big 357 fan, and would(and have) feel pretty well armed with one in bear country. However, a big bore would be my personal choice.
I'm intrigued by your motorcycle camping trip. Post some pics of your adventures.
 
Armored farmer said:
I listen to hunting podcasts quite often while driving. One thing I have learned about bear country is that you should have bear spray for several reasons.....
1. It's effective.
2. If you shoot a bear you're going to be treated like a murderer by the wildlife authorities until you prove that you were in extreme danger.
3. Just having bear spray shows you are giving thought to non-lethal method for protecting yourself.
I'm a big 357 fan, and would(and have) feel pretty well armed with one in bear country. However, a big bore would be my personal choice.
I'm intrigued by your motorcycle camping trip. Post some pics of your adventures.
Click to expand...
Good stuff, thank you! Primary protection= use my head. Second = bear spray. Third, only if absolutely necessary to not "get dead" is the firearm.
 
And realistically, I don't expect to have any problems. Lots of folks don't even carry in the bear woods. And like I said in the first post, if I get turned into bear poop that's OK. Better than getting splattered on the freeway or mugged and killed in some alley. One thing I do know is, these animals are blindingly fast! So... "Sometimes you get the bear, sometimes the bear gets you"...
 
Firewood535 said:
Good stuff, thank you! Primary protection= use my head. Second = bear spray. Third, only if absolutely necessary to not "get dead" is the firearm.
Click to expand...
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.
 
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...
You’re well armed with the Ruger. You’d be well armed with the Glock.

I’d go so far as to say you’d be well armed with a 9MM you can shoot well with 15 good rounds in it.

Personally, camping like you are doing, I would absolutely choose a handgun I could put a weapon mounted light on. Those boonies get dark as tar at night.
 
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.!
Click to expand...
Yes sir! Can you imagine a face full of bear spray, that the bear charges right through? And then there's the face full of bear to deal with 😂
 
Firewood535 said:
Yep! I don't have a light on the gun, but I have a "Voidhawk Trex t2" that kicks ass! On a clear night outside, the thing is like a light Saber!
Click to expand...
understood, but in the middle of the night, a good WML on your pistol means you don’t need to wake up in an unfamiliar place and remember where you put both your pistol and your light.

For me, having a great handheld light is a must have in addition a WML.
 
Power and performance wise I think you'll be about as well off as anyone can be with a handgun. The better 357 mag loads basically match the best 10mm pistol loads.

I personally prefer a semi-auto in 10mm. I've car camped in a tent in Yellowstone twice and we are planning a trip to Glacier and Yellowstone next summer. We will be pulling a small 19' enclosed camper this time.

If you are looking for an excuse to buy another gun a 10mm pistol does offer some advantages. It is lighter and more compact. They can hold 15+1 rounds of ammo that will equal what a 357 revolver will do, but with only 6 rounds. And even though grizzly country is on the agenda you'll spend a lot more time on the trip in areas where 2 legged predators are much more likely. If you're content with the revolver then I'd sleep as well at night with it as anything else.

When traveling I carry multiple mags. One loaded for bear so to speak, and a couple more with loads more suited for human threats. For me the biggest advantage to using a pistol is the ability to mount a weapons light.

I've had a G20 and G29 in the past and I can't say a negative thing about either. I ended up selling the bigger G20 since I shot the slightly smaller G29 just as well and it will take 10 round mags if concealment is important, or 15 round G20 mags.

But when Smith offered their M&P in a 4" barreled compact 10mm I bought one with the external 1911 style safety. As much as I liked the Glocks I was never comfortable with one in my sleeping bag with a round chambered. Having the safety on the Smith is a plus for me and the way I use it.
 
Thanks jmr, my next purchase will likely be a G20 in 10mm. But alas, I live in New Mexico, so it may be a while before I can afford it! Years and years of "Democrat" policies have taken a toll on our state's economy. Mostly we just get by lol.

As far as the safety thing and having a round chambered, my solution is to always keep the loaded gun in a secure holster that fully encloses the entire trigger.
 
jmr40 said:
As much as I liked the Glocks I was never comfortable with one in my sleeping bag with a round chambered. Having the safety on the Smith is a plus for me and the way I use it.
Click to expand...
This. I don't use manual safeties for carry, but for administrative stuff, they are handy.

Firewood535 said:
As far as the safety thing and having a round chambered, my solution is to always keep the loaded gun in a secure holster that fully encloses the entire trigger.
Click to expand...
This too. Some of my lockboxes don't have room for a holster and a gun, so a manual safety is handy. If I have to go grabbing the pistol in a hellfire hurry, in the lockbox, I'd really rather not grab it by the trigger.

Moon
 
Sounds like you are pretty well prepared . As long as you have confidence in you 357 , and a can of bear spray you should be fine .

May is early spring in the mountains , and the bears do a lot of grazing to get their system started when they come out of their dens . Don't really hear of much problems in the spring , mostly in the fall when they are hungry and trying to put the weight on , and there are a lot of people out off of the roads . That's not to say they are non existing , and a sow with cubs can be a problem any time , but camp raiding bears are dealt with pretty quickly around here . Just keep a clean camp and store your food properly .

Are you planning to be in the park ? Or camping in sunlight basin , Crandell , Cook city area ? Be aware they don't plow the highway from Beartooth lake to Red Lodge until Memorial day weekend , at the earliest , and it's not rare for campers to get snowed in that time of year .
 
Well in my opinion dealing with bears is yes they are incredibly fast.
A Semi auto is not for me. If you are subject to an attack you will get one if lucky 2 shots. A mag full of 9, 10, or 45’s is a irrelevant.
If you are familiar with your 6 gun practice double action. A 357 with the hardball flat points are good medicine. If you are attacked the critter is basically on the end of your barrel. You won’t have broadside shots it will be coming in pointy end fast and first. The 357 penetration is pretty awesome. If you’re comfortable with the Ruger, you’re good.
I carry a 3” SP101 with the 180 HSM loads in my back pocket around the homestead as a constant. We have never had a inland Grizzly in my area but black bears are fairly common.
When I venture into Grizzly country I carry a Smith 29 with 310’s, if around the coastal browns I will carry a SRH 480 with 410 cast.
But a rifle is preferred.
It’s fun to war game about bears, but…
And I apologize to the auto loader crowd, I’m just an old fart and was in bear country before the advent of a decent semi came into existence. Except the 1911 which I can’t shoot for beans
 
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