|
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 34,261
Campfire 'Bwana
|
Campfire 'Bwana
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 34,261 |
I had to laugh about the "going to a ranch comment."
I guess guys from the east may not understand some of our ranches. The ranch I'm on goes right up to the wilderness line and we have lots of grizz way down below it. Some ranches are many, many sq miles.
We had several grizz killing and attacking cattle this year miles below the wilderness line.
Most of the country on this ranch is wilder than anything east of the Rockies I suspect.
DITTOS. A 1,000 acre farm back East is a monster farm. Most working farms back East are around a 160 acres, up to about 300 acres.
Don't vote knothead, it only encourages them. Anonymous
"Never underestimate the power of stupid people in large groups." Anonymous
"Self-reliance, free thinking, and wealth is anathema to both the power of the State and the Church." Derby Dude
|
|
|
|
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 14,474
Campfire Outfitter
|
Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 14,474 |
He recommended that, in addition to my .30-06 bolt gun, I also bring a bear stopping handgun to wear while hunting. Dumb, dumb, dumb, if not plain stupid. What are going to do if you see a grizzly bear, drop your rifle or sling it and shoot him with a handgun? Dumb. And if gutting or quartering, just have your rifle ready to go nearby, its all you need. No need to carry the extra weight of a handgun when you already have a rifle. The only time I can see packing a handgun is when you take an early morning dump outside of camp. Ewwww! bear stories! scawey!
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 2,143
Campfire Regular
|
Campfire Regular
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 2,143 |
I always felt that the rifle in the sleeping bag was a bit bothersome.......
|
|
|
|
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 14,474
Campfire Outfitter
|
Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 14,474 |
Yeah, a handgun in camp. But packing one? No.
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 2,143
Campfire Regular
|
Campfire Regular
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 2,143 |
Yeah, a handgun in camp. But packing one? No. Seriously guys, if an additional 3-lbs is bothersome, y'all need to get in better shape. It really isn't a pain to carry a handgun around and I really can't imagine it being problematic. Plus, if you bust the scope on your rifle beacause of a fall or whatever, you are not out of the game.
|
|
|
|
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 14,474
Campfire Outfitter
|
Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 14,474 |
Seriously guys, if an additional 3-lbs is bothersome, y'all need to get in better shape. You obviously haven't hiked the mtns in Idaho have you? One of the reasons I pack a Titanium rifle. Bust a scope? You're still better off pointing your rifle.
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 2,143
Campfire Regular
|
Campfire Regular
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 2,143 |
I've hiked and hunted in many mountainous places both here and abroad, and I hunt with handguns and I know that they are not as limited terminally as you perhaps may think. And yes, scopes do break. This wasn't an attack on you, just a reaction to those who constantly cite the additional weight as a deal-breaker.
|
|
|
|
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 14,474
Campfire Outfitter
|
Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 14,474 |
No problem, I didn't take it as an attack on me. You don't need to pack a handgun on a hunt when you have a rifle. For over 40 years I have hunted the Rockies and Cascades, never needed one and never will. I know that they are not as limited terminally as you perhaps may think. I never mentioned their terminal performance. Curious, where did you hunt with a handgun abroad?
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 2,143
Campfire Regular
|
Campfire Regular
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 2,143 |
I rifle hunted abroad. I hunt almost exclusively with a handgun nowadays. I took a cow moose in Maine last month with a revolver -- I just find it more challenging.
SU35 -- PM heading your way......
|
|
|
|
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 651
Campfire Regular
|
Campfire Regular
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 651 |
I'm usually the guy carrying a handgun when no one else is. It wouldn't be worth it to me to carry mine while rifle hunting --- but there's nothing wrong with it --- some people like belts AND suspenders.
I'd surely take it with you on the trip though. Great for around camp -- by your bedside, going to the john @ night, etc ... Don't know if you'll use horses, but that's another place where rifles are useless and handguns can help a lot. Also, you might get an Elk and then go fishing -- lots of handgun opportunities.
In the Bob Marshall I carry a 5" 629 (also a .44 mag) with 285 grain HardCasts at 1235 fps.
Last edited by LarryfromBend; 09/30/11.
|
|
|
|
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 34,261
Campfire 'Bwana
|
Campfire 'Bwana
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 34,261 |
He recommended that, in addition to my .30-06 bolt gun, I also bring a bear stopping handgun to wear while hunting. Dumb, dumb, dumb, if not plain stupid. What are going to do if you see a grizzly bear, drop your rifle or sling it and shoot him with a handgun? Dumb. And if gutting or quartering, just have your rifle ready to go nearby, its all you need. No need to carry the extra weight of a handgun when you already have a rifle. The only time I can see packing a handgun is when you take an early morning dump outside of camp. Ewwww! bear stories! scawey! You ought to tell that to a firend of mine who packed a hand gun and a rifle as well as a 12 gauge in camp. He'll tell you bear stories that will make your hair crawl. He was a guide, outfitter, and trapper for over 20 years in the Bob Marshal Wilderness.
Don't vote knothead, it only encourages them. Anonymous
"Never underestimate the power of stupid people in large groups." Anonymous
"Self-reliance, free thinking, and wealth is anathema to both the power of the State and the Church." Derby Dude
|
|
|
|
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 6,766 Likes: 1
Campfire Tracker
|
Campfire Tracker
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 6,766 Likes: 1 |
hmmm. let's see... this? Good luck with the condiment with an angry bear on you
A handgun is the sane choice for sure
or this? (from THIS THREAD ) Another vote for buying bear spray when you get to Alaska i bet Phil has more experience with bears. laffin...
Guns don't kill people, drivers with cell phones kill people.
|
|
|
|
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 30,987 Likes: 7
Campfire 'Bwana
|
Campfire 'Bwana
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 30,987 Likes: 7 |
The Condiment will only make you taste better. The Bear on the left of the picture came in on me while working a Moose kill, my rifle was leaning against a tree. The revolver was in my shoulder holster and was instantly available. Pepper spray in that situation is not an option
I got banned on another web site for a debate that happened on this site. That's a first
|
|
|
|
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 30,987 Likes: 7
Campfire 'Bwana
|
Campfire 'Bwana
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 30,987 Likes: 7 |
This comes up since I've been invited by an old friend to join him and a local hunter friend of his in Idaho (where they live currently) to do some elk hunting there, and he informs me that there are grizzly bear warnings for hunters up there recently, some having been attacked. He recommended that, in addition to my .30-06 bolt gun, I also bring a bear stopping handgun to wear while hunting. Most powerful handgun I have is a .44 Magnum. Have three, in fact, but the lightest one is my S&W 329PD, which is what I'm thinking of packing. But I seem to recall reading an article about ten of fifteen years ago that suggested that there's never been a successful self-defense against a grizzly bear with a handgun, regardless of caliber or load, and that your best self-defense against one is whatever rifle you're hunting with. Thoughts?
PS I remember reading accounts of bear attacks, also, where the hunter attempted self-defense with his rifle, and had the rifle knocked from his hands, resulting in a long drawn out mauling because he had nothing else. This is the opening post, don't believe that he asked about "pepper spray". He asked about the viability of a handgun for bear protection
I got banned on another web site for a debate that happened on this site. That's a first
|
|
|
|
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 7,920
Campfire Outfitter
|
Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 7,920 |
Ok...for those of you who do carry a gun for bear defense...
What do you carry;
How do you carry it;
What load do you carry?
Opinion please....my load is a 230 grain Leadhead Keith at 975 fps... Federal CastCore 250s from the same gun clock 1080 (4" barrel). Is that enough or should the velocity be upped?
Bob
If you can not deal with reality, reality will deal with you....
|
|
|
|
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 34,261
Campfire 'Bwana
|
Campfire 'Bwana
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 34,261 |
Bullet placement is what really matters. Place the bullet right and a .22lr will kill the baddest bear out there. Poor bullet placement and a .460 Nitro Express won't kill a bear.
Don't vote knothead, it only encourages them. Anonymous
"Never underestimate the power of stupid people in large groups." Anonymous
"Self-reliance, free thinking, and wealth is anathema to both the power of the State and the Church." Derby Dude
|
|
|
|
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 14,474
Campfire Outfitter
|
Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 14,474 |
You ought to tell that to a firend of mine who packed a hand gun and a rifle as well as a 12 gauge in camp. Believe me I've heard all the stories my family members were Govt. Trappers. And like you said, in camp
|
|
|
|
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 48,411
Campfire 'Bwana
|
Campfire 'Bwana
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 48,411 |
when I have elk hunted in griz country (Idaho and MT), I always kind of figured if that .338 wasn't enough to stop a grizzly, a pistola would just slow me down running for my life.
and anybody who doesn't think a big handgun becomes a drag at the end of a day working through blowdowns at ten K feet hasn't done it or is way younger than I am.
Proudly representing oil companies, defense contractors, and firearms manufacturers since 1980. Because merchants of death need lawyers, too.
|
|
|
|
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 13,428 Likes: 7
Campfire Outfitter
|
Campfire Outfitter
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 13,428 Likes: 7 |
You would be too scared to do anything should a bear come running....They are A LOT scarier than a guy in a truck... In that case, why even bother to carry a rifle ... or bear spray?? Just lay down and play dead, until you are dead... just like the two girls in Glacier Park in 1967, when they were mauled and killed by two separate Grizzlies in separate incidents, on the same night. They did as advised by "experts" and "played dead" until they were dead. One of the dead girl's boy friend also "played dead" and was only badly mauled. " Glacier Park, Night Of The Grizzlies," www.montanapbs.org.I'll just continue to depend on my handgun or rifle, and being careful. Works for me. L.W.
"Always go straight forward, and if you meet the devil, cut him in two and go between the pieces." (William Sturgis, clipper ship captain, 1830s.)
|
|
|
|
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 6,766 Likes: 1
Campfire Tracker
|
Campfire Tracker
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 6,766 Likes: 1 |
This is the opening post, don't believe that he asked about "pepper spray". He asked about the viability of a handgun for bear protection
i was not the first to mention bear spray in this thread. and in the thread i linked, the OP diddn't ask about bear spray either, but Phil (among others) advised getting it anyway. [gasp!] but i suppose it sounds cooler on the internet to say 'i'll just blast 'em with mah hawgleg'...
Guns don't kill people, drivers with cell phones kill people.
|
|
|
|
616 members (219 Wasp, 1eyedmule, 219DW, 1badf350, 10gaugemag, 66 invisible),
2,371
guests, and
1,267
robots. |
Key:
Admin,
Global Mod,
Mod
|
|
Forums81
Topics1,194,078
Posts18,521,793
Members74,024
|
Most Online11,491 Jul 7th, 2023
|
|
|
|