Firearm for backup?

[Matt W.]

Another point is the environment you are in.... Is your worry, bears, wolves, or 2 legged dangerous idiots?

Even bear spray requires practice.... Just don't have someone test their bear spray upwind of you.. That sucks.... REALLY badly....
A word of advice I was given when I first moved to Alaska is that if you are going to carry bear spray always carry a tiny little travel size container of baby soap. Its great for washing your hands and eyes out if the stuff is discharged. I've heard of guys just sort of letting their fingers run around the nozzle a bit, then forget about it, and touch their face or rub their eyes. Sometimes just a tiny bit oozes our around the nozzle. Not enough to worry about unless you touch it and then touch something else..

 

[Jason Snyder]

Sometimes just a tiny bit oozes our around the nozzle. Not enough to worry about unless you touch it and then touch something else..

Like when you're scratching your junk?

 

[airlocksniffer]

You can also get dummy containers of some bear spray so you can practice. When I took bowhunter education a few years they had some blank cans of Counter Assault so we could practice spraying. Why I would choose bear spray over a firearm?

Less weight
Can shoot from the hip
Much wider effective area to turn the attack. Best to aim angled toward the ground as the cloud will rise up naturally.
Don't need to be worried about weather, rust, etc
Probably works good on two-legged threats as well.

http://www.counterassaultstore.com/product_p/ca-18h-i.htm

Yeah, you can get blowback in a headwind but it comes out of the container really fast and a surprising amount makes it out ahead of you. I believe none of the victims in recent fatal grizzly attacks in MT had bear spray. A stat I read yesterday said only somewhere only around 8% of YNP hikers carried it. Given how we hunters sneak around, play the wind, etc, we are more likely to have an encounter. I don't take it off my belt all season.

 

[Matt W.]

Like when you're scratching your junk?

That would not be fun....

You can also get dummy containers of some bear spray so you can practice. When I took bowhunter education a few years they had some blank cans of Counter Assault so we could practice spraying. Why I would choose bear spray over a firearm?

Less weight
Can shoot from the hip
Much wider effective area to turn the attack. Best to aim angled toward the ground as the cloud will rise up naturally.
Don't need to be worried about weather, rust, etc
Probably works good on two-legged threats as well.

http://www.counterassaultstore.com/product_p/ca-18h-i.htm

Yeah, you can get blowback in a headwind but it comes out of the container really fast and a surprising amount makes it out ahead of you. I believe none of the victims in recent fatal grizzly attacks in MT had bear spray. A stat I read yesterday said only somewhere only around 8% of YNP hikers carried it. Given how we hunters sneak around, play the wind, etc, we are more likely to have an encounter. I don't take it off my belt all season.

This is one where we will have to agree to disagree... Perhaps the best answer is both.. but for me I prefer solid lead pellets vs. aerosol spray....
You can find a hundred examples to argue either way, its really about doing what makes ya comfortable. In reality our odds of a bear attack are pretty low... Examples of bear spray failures....
www.thetruthaboutguns.com/.../two-more-bear-spray-failures-in-montana

Probably can find a few examples where weapons failed to, so in reality its just a personal choice. I would argue that most people are probably better off with spray, but I base that on the fact most people don't spend the time running a gun to become proficient in an attack....

When my wife and I are hiking with the kiddos she carries an air horn, I carry the pistol. Our strategy is she blows the horn to distract the bear to give me time to draw and fire. Its a great theory, but we have yet to have to prove it. : ) I have seen air horns work on curious bears that were getting to close while fishing, but not sure how that would work on a bear intent on charging. But, it makes the group comfortable so I roll with it. : )

 

[alecvg]

On another note I didn't add to my first post, I used bear spray for the first time last fall on a black bear. Did not work. After spraying him four times, he was just pissed off, and popping his teeth, and bluff charging.

 

[airlocksniffer]

You can find a hundred examples to argue either way, its really about doing what makes ya comfortable.

No I think we fully agree. I don't care if you carry a gun, spray or both. If it allows you to relax and focus on the hunt (and not get mauled), then it's a win either way.

 

[airlocksniffer]

On another note I didn't add to my first post, I used bear spray for the first time last fall on a black bear. Did not work. After spraying him four times, he was just pissed off, and popping his teeth, and bluff charging.

Interesting. Can you provide the details such as brand, wind, distance, etc?

 

[alecvg]

Interesting. Can you provide the details such as brand, wind, distance, etc?

I cannot remember the brand, but it was one of the more "mainstream" brands. Wind was towards the bear, distance was 20 feet or so. This was a younger boar.

 

[rileybassman]

I carry either a .357 mag revolver, or Glock 23 (.40). Wolves/Dogs are not super thick skinned... as compared to a bear. Ran in to a bear at 35 yards bowhunting once... he turned and ran, and I remember about m .357... after he was gone... so practice and stay sharp!

 

[BigDog00]

I see a lot of guys recommending the G20 10mm. Does anyone carry the G29? I've actually been really considering that over the 20 due to it being more of a compact concealable firearm. Just curious why the full size over the compact.

 

[GibsonKuenzi]

I see a lot of guys recommending the G20 10mm. Does anyone carry the G29? I've actually been really considering that over the 20 due to it being more of a compact concealable firearm. Just curious why the full size over the compact.

I carry a 29 in the woods because I have it for CC. I think why most carry the 20 is for the amount of extra ammo and the longer barrel produces better velocity.

You can use the glock 20 mag with or without an extender and purchase an extended barrel if needed.

 

[CC]

Bear spray is a great option, but I feel more comfortable having a sidearm with me as well. Someone once told me, you can drop a revolver in mud and it will most likely shoot, pistols are more finicky and need more maintenance. For those reason I stick with the revolvers. Good luck on your search.

 

[rbljack]

I used to hunt Boise National forest just north of Anderson ranch damn area in Idaho back in the early 90's. I hunted during both rifle and bow seasons. Back then, the grizzlies were only in the most northern part of the state, and not that far south. I didn't carry a back up handgun when bowhunting back then, but if I went back I would definitely be carrying a glock 20 I think during bow seasons. I had my closest bear encounter up there during rifle elk hunt. Momma bear passed by me on one side, and two cubs ran past me on the other! I never thought id have such a close encounter, but it CAN happen. Nothing came of it. they must have scented me because they were downwind, and moved past me into the wind. We were in an area thick with trees, and they were more concerned about getting outta there. My rifle stayed on momma as they went by. 5 minutes later I came upon an elk carcass (shot most likely by a hunter in the past few days).

So you just never know what might happen. I still don't think I need to carry a handgun while rifle hunting, but have seriously been looking at options for when I scout or bow hunt. The glock 20 seems like a perfect choice for black bear country, wolves, mountain lions, etc.

I recently picked up a 454 casull too, and may be looking at the guides choice holster for scout trips, and maybe even spring turkey season in the mountains of new mexico. Overkill, yeah probably....LOL..and Im still keeping my eye out for decent price on a used glock 20.

 

[dotman]

G20 10mm loaded with underwood ammo.

X2... But mine is the G29.

 

[dotman]

I see a lot of guys recommending the G20 10mm. Does anyone carry the G29? I've actually been really considering that over the 20 due to it being more of a compact concealable firearm. Just curious why the full size over the compact.

I do and prefer a compact over full size.

 

[Violent Hippie]

High Country is spot on IMO.

 

[Violent Hippie]

The point previously made about choosing a platform one is used to is key. First choose a platform you are comfortable with that has a caliber that has enough minimum velocity and energy and train with it. Many seem to forget that a wheel gun is very different than an auto and vice versa when it comes to trigger pull , handling etc. Nothing replaces practice with the weapon you plan to use.

 

[jmden]

Thanks guys, I have a 9mm that I'm pretty proficient with but I don't want to be throwing spit wads if I need more. No experience with wolves and or bear so just want to be prepaid, Rather have one and not need it than need it and not have one. Many wolves or bears in the Boise area?

Actually a +P+ loaded 9mm might not be bad to have more in the mag that 10mm, .40 or .45. I've recently worked up a potent load with 124g Hornady XTPs and Hodgdon Longshot doing just under 1300 fps MV in a short 3 1/2" barrel. That's more energy than commercial .40 loads. Not for any color of bear though...

 

[Matt W.]

You can buy G19s for $425 and G20s for $491
Just need to join GSSF.
http://www.gssfonline.com/hot-topics.cfm
Scroll down to GSSF pistol purchase program...

 

[PJG]

You can buy G19s for $425 and G20s for $491
Just need to join GSSF.
http://www.gssfonline.com/hot-topics.cfm
Scroll down to GSSF pistol purchase program...

This is good advice, plus u can shoot the events for practice.

I think anyone that is really proficient with a handgun will choose the handgun. The downside is that it takes a ton of rounds to become proficient with one.