Hey anyone out there have an opinion on whether a Taurus Judge would be adequate defense against grizzly bears? My father-in-law is going hiking out in Yellow Stone and was wondering if his revolver would be adequate for bear defense versus having to go buy another pistol. I told him that he would probably be better off buying a new .44 mag or bigger. I'm just looking for some other opinions.
Taurus Judge any good for self defense against Grizzly Bears?
- Thread starter Mr. T
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ArchAngelCD
Member.
IMO the velocity from a 410 slug from such a short barrel revolver will not provide adequate penetration. I don't think a .45 Colt round will do much better but it might. As you probably know a shotgun or levergun will probably be a much better choice because Grizzlies are a tough breed.
BTW, are you even allowed to carry a gun in Yellow Stone? I would check for sure before you go just so you know where you stand.
(I'm betting this thread goes at least 6 pages and you get opinions ranging from a .357 Magnum all the way up to a S&W 500 with a dozen rifles thrown in for good measure. Break out the popcorn because these bear threads always get crazy.)
BTW, are you even allowed to carry a gun in Yellow Stone? I would check for sure before you go just so you know where you stand.
(I'm betting this thread goes at least 6 pages and you get opinions ranging from a .357 Magnum all the way up to a S&W 500 with a dozen rifles thrown in for good measure. Break out the popcorn because these bear threads always get crazy.)
RugerMcMarlin
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First question I have is do you like your BIL or FIL?
Yeah it should be fine.
Make sure he shows it to the Rangers they're all gun guys they dig that stuff.
It shouldn't make much difference what he uses for shells either.
He will either be arrested or making bear turds by sundown.
Yeah it should be fine.
Make sure he shows it to the Rangers they're all gun guys they dig that stuff.
It shouldn't make much difference what he uses for shells either.
He will either be arrested or making bear turds by sundown.
colt1911fan
Member
@RugerMcMarlin I thought the same thing but i remembered hearing about a new law that lets people carry in national parks so I googled it, http://www.yellowstoneinsider.com/2...gun-rules-you-can-pack-but-you-cant-shoot.php so basically your allowed to carry but not allowed to shoot if that makes any sense
First question I have is do you like your BIL or FIL?
Yeah it should be fine.
Make sure he shows it to the Rangers they're all gun guys they dig that stuff.
It shouldn't make much difference what he uses for shells either.
I have to disagree, buckshot would be the best choice. They leave more wounds that might get infected and end said bruins life. You however will be bear poo before the bear is worm poo.
RugerMcMarlin
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Carry it, but don't shoot it?
Well don't that give you a warm fuzzy feelin, a mildly pissed off, 1200lb warm fuzzy feelin.
Guess it'll be the second choice then
Well don't that give you a warm fuzzy feelin, a mildly pissed off, 1200lb warm fuzzy feelin.
Guess it'll be the second choice then
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RugerMcMarlin
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MrT i'm sorry were havin a little fun with it. See there have been some truly rabid coversations about what the Taurus Judge is good for.
When you asked I thought you might be pulling our leg.
On the chance you aren't No bad idea. dont do it. Un less like I said, maybe you dont like them. ..Then?... Eh.
When you asked I thought you might be pulling our leg.
On the chance you aren't No bad idea. dont do it. Un less like I said, maybe you dont like them. ..Then?... Eh.
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Shadow 7D
Member
MR.T
quite frankly the er. shot pistols aren't well regarded,
see there are other guns that do SO much better
Secondly
HAND GUNS ARE A PISS POOR CHOICE FOR DEFENSE AGAINST BEARS
let me say this again, handguns are QUITE OFTEN WORSE THAN NOTHING when it comes to bears
knowledge, understanding and proper woods craft will get you MUCH further than a gun in NOT being eaten.
NOW that said
might I suggest some good ol bear spray, see it works, and works well, and when your done, the FEDERAL AGENTS (of the wildlife kind) aren't crawling in and out your orifices find a way to send you to the Pokey so Bubba, your new 'boyfriend' can do the same...
quite frankly the er. shot pistols aren't well regarded,
see there are other guns that do SO much better
Secondly
HAND GUNS ARE A PISS POOR CHOICE FOR DEFENSE AGAINST BEARS
let me say this again, handguns are QUITE OFTEN WORSE THAN NOTHING when it comes to bears
knowledge, understanding and proper woods craft will get you MUCH further than a gun in NOT being eaten.
NOW that said
might I suggest some good ol bear spray, see it works, and works well, and when your done, the FEDERAL AGENTS (of the wildlife kind) aren't crawling in and out your orifices find a way to send you to the Pokey so Bubba, your new 'boyfriend' can do the same...
The .45Colt would be suitable with Georgia Amrs 320gr or 330gr? hard cast lead at about 1300fps. The side of black box had warning about what guns it was suitable for one was TC Contender the other was the beast of a Ruger line. The only affordable revolver I would shoot that in is the "Super" Ruger.
oldfool
Member
nope
there ain't no watermelon patch in Yellowstone, last I heard
(we presume he was planning on feeding the bears...watermelon)
there ain't no watermelon patch in Yellowstone, last I heard
(we presume he was planning on feeding the bears...watermelon)
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Sam1911
Moderator Emeritus
National Park gun laws are now the same as the laws in effect in the state in which the park is located. (Yellowstone is in MT, WY, and ID.)
Serious heavy-duty "Ruger-Only" .45 Colts will be much more powerful than any common .410 shot shell or slug. Not sure if the Taurus can really handle them, and I'd want to have practiced -- a LOT -- with that gun to make sure I could hit the really small "off switch" on a charging bear with one before I trusted my life to it.
If I was going, I'd certainly have a firearm with me. But also have him look into bear spray and study up on the recommendations of the NPS on avoiding bear encounters.
Serious heavy-duty "Ruger-Only" .45 Colts will be much more powerful than any common .410 shot shell or slug. Not sure if the Taurus can really handle them, and I'd want to have practiced -- a LOT -- with that gun to make sure I could hit the really small "off switch" on a charging bear with one before I trusted my life to it.
If I was going, I'd certainly have a firearm with me. But also have him look into bear spray and study up on the recommendations of the NPS on avoiding bear encounters.
RightCoastBiased
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How about something chambered in .454 casull? That would upset a bear for sure.
For the one carrying the M&P in .45, I wonder if hollow points would be a bad idea. Seems as if they would not get enough penetration. Seems some +P FMJ rounds would be more suitable.
For the one carrying the M&P in .45, I wonder if hollow points would be a bad idea. Seems as if they would not get enough penetration. Seems some +P FMJ rounds would be more suitable.
RugerMcMarlin
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good ol hard ball
hardluk1
member
Bear spray. Chances are If a bear wants to chew on you a bit you will never see him comeing untill its to late. If you see a grizz then grab you spray first.
rcmodel
Member in memoriam
It most certainly cannot!
Don't even think about trying it.
The Judge as a bear defense gun?
It will work just fine.
All you need to do is shoot your father-in-law in the leg with it.
Then you can easily out-run him!
rc
jleyring
Member
45 Colt will be plenty. When walking through bear country like that just be loud and give the bear plenty of warning and you shouldnt have problems. They usually charge because you sneak up on them and they become startled. Have a great time there in Yellowstone. I go to school just a short distance from there it is beautiful country.
twomack2010
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I think it depends on how close you want to get to the bear. Lol.
There was a story in an Alaska newspaper where a bear broke through a door pushing its' head into a lady's kitchen. She grabbed a .22 revolver, stuck the barrel in the bear's ear, and fired. One shot killed the bear.
As you already know a bear carries a tremendous amount of bone in its' skull. Make the bear very tough to kill with head shots. The bear's body is large, covered in tough hide, and full of large bones. So, you have a choice: convince the bear to allow you to place a pistol in its' ear; or make sure you have far more firepower than a 45 LC.
There was a story in an Alaska newspaper where a bear broke through a door pushing its' head into a lady's kitchen. She grabbed a .22 revolver, stuck the barrel in the bear's ear, and fired. One shot killed the bear.
As you already know a bear carries a tremendous amount of bone in its' skull. Make the bear very tough to kill with head shots. The bear's body is large, covered in tough hide, and full of large bones. So, you have a choice: convince the bear to allow you to place a pistol in its' ear; or make sure you have far more firepower than a 45 LC.
Sam1911
Moderator Emeritus
Hee hee. Yes. But I think in the original post, T. was saying that his father-in-law was going hiking, not him AND his father-in-law.
Which leaves us with that age-old question, "If Mr. T ain't there, who's going to shoot your father-in-law in the leg when the bear comes?" I think that's the title of a country song.
1911Tuner
Moderator Emeritus
You can use a Judge against Griz with the following modifications.
Use a bench grinder to remove the front and rear sights. Use a belt sander to "melt" any sharp corners. Polish well.
This is done so that when you shoot the bear with it...and he takes it away from you sticks it where sun don't shine...it won't be quite as hard to take.
Be well.
Use a bench grinder to remove the front and rear sights. Use a belt sander to "melt" any sharp corners. Polish well.
This is done so that when you shoot the bear with it...and he takes it away from you sticks it where sun don't shine...it won't be quite as hard to take.
Be well.
Onward Allusion
Member
Ahem, reminds me of a post on carrying a 22LR for bear when hiking with others.
Bear Spray!
Dr_B
member
Wear a bell somewhere on you so that you make noise when you walk. Or make noise and talk as you go. The folk wisdom around here in North Idaho is that a bear would rather not have anything to do with you. So unless you sneak up on it and surprise it, you have little chance of being attacked. When I head out in the mountains for whatever reason (e.g., picking huckleberries), I go with someone else and I take a .357 revolver and a 12-gauge with slugs. But I also make noise.
rcmodel
Member in memoriam
Reminds me of that old joke about how you can tell black bear scat from grizzly bear scat?
The grizzly bear scat has little bells in it!
rc
The grizzly bear scat has little bells in it!
rc
1911Tuner
Moderator Emeritus
Quote:
>The grizzly bear scat has little bells in it!<
And has the faint scent of cayenne pepper...
>The grizzly bear scat has little bells in it!<
And has the faint scent of cayenne pepper...
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