357 in BEAR COUNTRY??

[Dale53]

I've spent considerable time in the mountains of Tennessee and North Carolina backpacking and fly fishing, mostly alone, for up to two weeks at a time. I was treed by a momma bear with two cubs for several hours one night. I guarantee you one thing, there is no black bear alive that will withstand a GOOD shot with a .44 Magnum. I have no experience with Grizzlies (and will try to keep it that way) but a cool head and a good shot have little to fear in bear country. I set in on the autopsies of 35-50 bear (I didn't count them) and am quite familiar with their awesome bone structure. However, a good .44 Magnum with a 250-300 gr Keith or Round flat will NOT stop when hitting bone in the bear. They have to open their mouths to bite and that also leads the way to success (I would never let them get THAT close).

The only bear I shot was with a rifle (I was in Canada and they wouldn't let an alien hunt with a revolver) but would have gladly used my .44 Magnum if permitted.

Bears are awesome and admirable creatures but they are NOT bullet proof.

FWIW
Dale53

 

[davidj]

I had no idea this was so controversial...

I am not saying you have no chance of surviving a bear or moose attack with a handgun. What I am saying is that if this happens -- and it is highly unlikely -- then it is also rather unlikely that you will stop the attacking animal with a handgun. The abstract ability to kill the animal is not the same as the ability to stop it instantly with a handgun. You can definitely kill a bear with a handgun. Since a handgun is (general premise) too small, the larger the better.

If a bear attacked me and I had a handgun (of any caliber) I would try to protect myself. Maybe I would be lucky...but I'm not very optimistic... Common sense will do a lot more to protect you. Things like, do not approach a moose, do not leave things in your campsite that will attract bears, have something that makes noise while you are walking, etc.

 

[Nygma]

It's the damned chickadees that have me worried. They're everywhere. And they look right through you with their god-awful souless eyes. Their constant threat of Chick-A-Dee-Dee-Dee is enough to get the hair standing up on your back....Lord help me, I've never been so scared of any wild animal.

What handgun would you recommend for dealing with these nefarious ruffians. There so damned fast and small ~ I can never seem to draw a bead fast enough and fire my 500 Magnum on them.


giz

Are you nuts?
NEVER provoke a confrontation with these critters!
I suggest carrying a bag of Cheetos to toss as a decoy while deploying your car keys from some sort of tactical quick draw rig. If all else fails lay on the ground, play dead and cover your head. Lord only knows what a pack of 'Dees could do in your hair.

 

[rds95991]

The muzzle flash and noise of a 357 might deter it, but bigger is better and I feel a 44 mag is the lower end of what I would (and do) carry.

I hunt primarily with handguns now and the only thing I would consider hunting with a 357 magnum is deer and this is with an 8" barrel.

Anything else (especially things with teeth) I would consider the 44 magnum as the minimum.

Hunting is usually a controlled situation waiting for an ideal shot and placement. Something coming at you is not.

When I go out, I usually carry my S&W Backpacker.

 

[M29since14]

I had no idea this was so controversial...

Ha-ha!

I admit I enjoy reading these discussions when they crop up from time to time, but rarely add to them. Davidj's comments notwithdtanding, and otherwise they seemed sensible to me, I would sure rather have a .357 Magnum than nothing at all.

 

[PAPA777]

Common sense will do a lot more to protect you. Things like, do not approach a moose, do not leave things in your campsite that will attract bears, have something that makes noise while you are walking, etc.[/QUOTE]

[I have been reading with amazement that no one has jumped on the "file the front sight off" bandwagon yet Alaska probably sells more 44 Mag handguns per capita than any other state. The old "I'm in Alaska got to have one" deal. Has alot to do with why 44 ammo is tough to come by. Note to C&L I see the tabs on my plates have expired. gr8 in regards to the Brush episode with the 454 Casull in my mind the jury is still out on wither or not it was a DLP situation. Lastly gizamo. It's not the Chick-a-dees up here it's the skeeters cuz they can stand flat-footed and mate with a turkey. What do the fish & feather boys up here carry? Shotguns What do I carry? Model 60-15 357 go figure

 

[hittman77]

.44 Mag or larger.

If this is a one-time trip....44 Mag. If you're going on a regular basis, go bigger.

 

[gizamo]

Are you nuts?
NEVER provoke a confrontation with these critters!
I suggest carrying a bag of Cheetos to toss as a decoy while deploying your car keys from some sort of tactical quick draw rig. If all else fails lay on the ground, play dead and cover your head. Lord only knows what a pack of 'Dees could do in your hair.

Nygma...

So if I toss the bag of Cheetos should I turn and run away screaming like a twelve year old girl, or stand motionless and hope they gorge themselves and forget their hunger for human flesh. Maybe I should invest in a drum fed tactical semi auto shotgun...

Does anyone know if Chickadee Packs hunt at night? I swear I've heard them just beyond the roaring campfires I have to build at night ~ you know....just in case.

giz

 

[Nframe357]

Nygma...

So if I toss the bag of Cheetos should I turn and run away screaming like a twelve year old girl, or stand motionless and hope they gorge themselves and forget their hunger for human flesh. Maybe I should invest in a drum fed tactical semi auto shotgun...

Does anyone know if Chickadee Packs hunt at night? I swear I've heard them just beyond the roaring campfires I have to build at night ~ you know....just in case.

giz

I share my cheetos with no one! Seriously those darn chickadees do hunt at nite, I knew a guy who knew a guy who knew another guy who's cousin was pecked very badly, happened about 0 darkthirty. Horrible stuff...

 

[hittman77]

You sure those weren't Snipes??

 

[DJINCO]

.44 Mag or larger.

If this is a one-time trip....44 Mag. If you're going on a regular basis, go bigger.

Larger than 44Mag is not really necessary.

Bear, moose and cat attacks are not really common. More people probably die from hitting a deer or elk with their autos.

 

[617fan]

The "bear" experts sure can fill a thread. I will be sure to take notes from all the 1st hand accounts.

 

[winter1857]

You people talk as if being turned into bear turds is a BAD thing. Hell, you COULD be a U.S. congressman.... Imagine how bad that must be.

When I'm in the boondocks I pack iron based on confronting two-legged varmints (my daily carry Model 13-3).

If the bad luck lottery strikes and I get et by one of the four legged types I'd try to take that as a compliment...at least in "Big Picture" sense. But I guess in the immediate "I'm about to be digested" sense I'd be a little less philosophical!

On a strictly statistical basis you're much more likely to be hurt driving to the trailhead than by any animule in our steadily shrinking wilderness. Probably the safest thing any of us do is buckle up and think pleasant thoughts.

Go with what makes you feel good. Some folks could have a Apache gunship fly along and still feel vulnerable. Try to be realistic...... 99.9999% of it is in your head.

 

[thomashoward]

Moose? Bear? if attacked you could always shoot yourself.
Seriously unless you come upon them suddenly they will likely move on rather than risk confrontation... however that being said what would you risk your life on/ I'd feel comfortable with a .460 or above., or you could wear tinkle bells

 

[gizamo]

Fun thread,

I've live trapped black bears for relocation. Had feuds with them over dumpsters. Tussled with one or two over grease traps on Gas Grills.... I'd rather deal with bears that were not habituated to humans....every black bear I found out into the weeds was respectable....


giz

 

[jspick]

My son shot a charging grizzly bear with a 20 ga. with slugs twice. Thankfully the bear turned and went 100 yards before it died.

A 357, or any handgun will only scare the animal if shot in front of the animal to haze it. Deer can be a hazard too. It is not the species, it is the attitude of the animal involved. Grizzlies do have an attitude.

Bring a 357 that you can shoot well and save the last shot for yourself!

 

[Titan]

If you already have a .357 (and I suspect you do), carry it of course and be very alert to danger.

Save the big bucks and don't buy an S&W 500, unless you need this as an excuse to get one.

.

 

[Rocky Mountains]

FINALLY! Titan, you got it. Just looking for another excuse to buy one more!!

 

[akjaeger]

Being a bear guide in Alaska, I could go on and on about how fast they can get onto you and how hard they are to kill. I pack a .44 Magnum or a heavily loaded .45 Colt.
BUT, a friend of mine had to kill a black bear this past summer with a .357. He said it was about a 200 pound animal and the 357 worked great, putting him down in a hurry.
It was in his campsite and acting very aggressive. After he had killed the bear the park rangers showed up looking for a problem bear. They were trying to kill it. They still gave him a ticket for saving them the trouble. No fine, just a citation to cover their butts. Typical.
Remember the three S's
Shoot
Shovel
Shut up

 

[alaskavett]

God I love the bear stories... You should carry a handgun IF you can actually shoot one. You would be surprised at the amount of folks that can't hit a barn door. If you cant hit a tennis ball and keep it bouncing away from you then by all means a short bbl shotgun with slugs and 00 Buck shot loaded alternatively. Key is to be vigilant in someone else's backyard and be able to shoot what you carry.