High Country Handguns for defense

[5MilesBack]

I carry every day, so hunting is no different. Up hunting I carry my G20 right on my pack belt. If I'm wearing my day pack, it fits great on my hip with a paddle holster.

 

[SoCalHunter]

Evidence clearly shows that bear spray is more effective against, well, bears than a handgun. Unless you are in an area where one might come across 2-legged bad guys I would stick with spray only.

 

[Trial153]

funny thing is I never carried in the backcountry, and I carry everyday and everywhere else....I might want to rethink this.

 

[JWP58]

Evidence clearly shows that bear spray is more effective against, well, bears than a handgun. Unless you are in an area where one might come across 2-legged bad guys I would stick with spray only.

No thanks. Have you ever been exposed to OC spray? I have, and I wont ever use it because secondary exposure is a very high probability. Plus Im sure most guys here are more wary of shady people than bears.

 

[COlineman78]

Evidence clearly shows that bear spray is more effective against, well, bears than a handgun. Unless you are in an area where one might come across 2-legged bad guys I would stick with spray only.

Have you ever tried any of this? My buddy had one about to expire so we tested it out of curiosity and the damn thing barely sprayed 15 feet. I'd rather change a bears mind before they got that close. The effectiveness reports I believe are misinformation to deter idiots from carrying guns and especially those who aren't comfortable with wildlife or have a fear of bears. As I said previously I would advocate that people fitting that description should not carry and probably rock bear spray as the probability of a bad and irrational decision is much higher. I have a friend that I would much rather he not carry his gun as he has a major fear of bears.

 

[AK Troutbum]

Evidence clearly shows that bear spray is more effective against, well, bears than a handgun. Unless you are in an area where one might come across 2-legged bad guys I would stick with spray only.

Yeah, you can keep your bear spray as far as I'm concerned. I don't know how many aggressive bear encounters you've had, but I've been involved in one DLP where we had to kill 2 brown bears on Kodiak and I really don't think I'd be here writing this right now had I only had bear spray. I also saw a BB shot with bear spray just last month on a local river/creek. The bear was just snooping around and got a little close to the guy so he sprayed it. The spray went back a little into the guys face (causing him a fair amount of discomfort), because the breeze was blowing back towards him. The bear however, did get the majority of the spray and he went up into the grass, rolled around a little for several minutes than came back down to the creek and continued sniffing around. The guy that sprayed the bear was out of bear spray and left the area. This bear was obviously just curious and was not looking to maul someone, and it appeared that this guy was just looking to get rid of a little bear spray and the curious bear, he only succeeded with one.

 

[Mike7]

I personally think there might be times when spray or firearms might be advantageous over the other, but regardless of what I think, the research is clearly not "clear" or "evidence". For one thing, there seems to be a huge reporting bias. How many people do you know who have shot a bear in self defense (esp. a grizzly) report it. Would you report it even if you knew you were in the right, because of the crapstorm you would be bringing down upon yourself? How many people/non-hunters shoot bear spray at a curious bear, when the people were never under any real threat...and then this gets added to research numbers as a success for spray.

Here is a little article describing some of the players in this debate. http://gunwatch.blogspot.com/2014/10/wybear-spray-v-bullets-flaws-in-studies.html

 

[jmez]

I agree that the evidence isn't really clear either way in the bear spray situation, nor is it really evidence. On the gun front in general, however, the evidence is pretty clear. Unless you have specialized training and better yet, experience, most people perform very poorly with a handgun in a true life or death situation. That is another factor to consider. For the vast majority of folks, it serves as piece of mind and nothing more.

 

[rbljack]

I agree that the evidence isn't really clear either way in the bear spray situation, nor is it really evidence. On the gun front in general, however, the evidence is pretty clear. Unless you have specialized training and better yet, experience, most people perform very poorly with a handgun in a true life or death situation. That is another factor to consider. For the vast majority of folks, it serves as piece of mind and nothing more.

this is solid advice right here and I totally agree. I realize that once I determine which way im going to go, it will require months of regular practice to become proficient. each gun has its own feel, and quirks....and unless we can shoot them in what I call "reflex mode" than its not really providing protection, but is just a piece of mind. When you watch that video link, the situation unfolds VERY fast and there isn't a lot of time to contemplate "do I go for the bear spray, or pull out the gun"... is this a false charge or the real deal. In the case of that video, there were many comments to hint that it was a false charge...but that momma wasn't messing around. To my surprise, the guy actually fired the round towards the water instead of at the bear for the first shot. Not sure that I could have that much self control and situational awareness to give her the warning shot. All good info guys, and everyone's opinions hold weight.

 

[jmez]

That is a great video and highlights some of the realities of a grizzly charge. If you watch closely, the guide is already drawing the pistol as he is hollering get out of here at the cubs. Bear aware, he knew what was coming. Fred and the cameraman are looking at bears. Momma breaks the bushes and guide shoots. Had he not already been drawing the pistol prior to her breaking the trees he would never have gotten the shot off. The camera man falls down and Fred nearly falls out of the boat. Neither of these two are inexperienced hunters, neither had any idea what was coming. Had they been armed and the guide not in the boat it would have done them no good. On the other hand bear spray would have done neither of them any good.

They didn't see it coming and would have gotten bit had it not been for the guide that makes his living in bear country.

 

[husky390]

Dude, why do these threads always turn into bear spray vs. Handguns? The OP was asking for opinions on what type of handguns and method of carry. Not what type of spray, size of can, and method of carry. IMHO, I'm far more likely to run into some shady nutjobs in the woods than a marauding bear. In fact, I've ran into shady nutjobs in the woods and have yet to run into a marauding bear. Rant over, I'm gonna eat a snickers, carry on.

 

[rodney482]

Glock 36 .45
Serpa paddle on my pack belt. Sits almost in the exact same spot as my duty weapon.

In Grizz country I would also carry bear spray.

 

[melsdad74]

Stainless Ruger Alaskan in .44 mag. in a guides choice chest holster.

 

[AndyB]

Taurus 605/357, had 3 trips out west, (none grizz) carried this on the last one, slept loads better. It certainly adds peace of mind.

 

[rayporter]

black widow 22 mag -always in hip pocket

fine on horsback but only good for a broken leg.

sometimes i carry a ruger auto for squirrels, around here it is a marlin lever 22 for squirels

 

[Takeem406]

How do you guys like your 329's? The thought of the recoil scares me! Thinking about a 69 as a good compromise. It fits my hand better than any other 44.

 

[dotman]

With 240gr it really isn't bad but it hurts with 305's. I have the Taurus ultralite which is around an oz heavier but still weighs less then my glock 10mm. Really it isn't as bad as you think either way.

 

[chindits]

I carry at work, the last thing I want to do is carry off duty. I'm only around people in the woods if I'm on trails or on the DB. I prefer off trail travel and no people. I'm antisocial and bears and cats don't bother me as much as just seeing people in the woods in yuppified CO. We allegedly got rid of the last grizz years ago, 1979 or so I have read.

 

[gelton]

Anyone carrying a judge? I dont, I carry an xd .40 in black bear country (would definitely want more firepower in Grizz country) but a friend of mine keeps offering his judge up for .45 long colt or .410 slugs. Think I am going to stick with the weapon that I know the best which is the xd.

I really dont like carrying a gun on backpack hunting trips in black bear country because it is a P.I.T.A. and might not be necessary but better safe than sorry and I sure aint relying on spray.

 

[Trout bum]

Love the 329pd! Yep. It kicks like a mule but the lightweight frame and the stopping power are worth it. Accurate once you get used to it.