I suspect that we all have suggestions, generally based on what we have and shoot. I personally love the 500 S&W Magnum 4" when hiking or huckleberry picking in griz country. But you have the 625 and there's nothing whatsoever wrong with that particular choice. It's a great gun. Enjoy your vacation!
Trail gun for Yellowstone...
- Thread starter PALADIN85020
- Start date
keith44spl
Member
Huh?
Like in...Hey Earl, I got go in here fer a minute.
Here, hold my Roscoe...I gotta take a leak !
Su Amigo,
Dave
Last edited:
Maybe YOU can do 5 years standing on your head - I can't.
You could ask my brother-in-law how easy it is to wind up in ClubFed for 5 years due to a firearm charge when you wouldn't imagine that it would come up. He's out now.
*They* ARE SERIOUS - If you're caught with a gun in one of their buildings you are going to do at least the minimum and be out a whole bunch of money --- For really!
On edit.
Maybe the federal prosecutors are way easier on *gun crimes* under the current administration vs GW's - LOL
I (we) got to watch fairly up close and personal how this works and watched my BIL's family torn apart and worse.
As an added bonus - Fed sentences are what they are - No parole - 5 years = 60 months.
So yeah - If the can is posted give your Rosco to your bud and take your leak --- It IS NOT worth the risk.
Last edited:
keith44spl
Member
Last edited:
SASABERANGER
SWCA Member, Absent Comrade
Remington Mag 10 with Slugs.
Worked great as a door opener for the Florida Dept. of Law Enforcement guys back in the 1980s. Should take care of man or beast in the hills of WY/MT.
Thom Braxton
SWCA #1474
Worked great as a door opener for the Florida Dept. of Law Enforcement guys back in the 1980s. Should take care of man or beast in the hills of WY/MT.
Thom Braxton
SWCA #1474
sub-moa
US Veteran
Been doing Yellowstone and Teton every year multiple trips in, around and out each 3 week vacation since '00. Go north and add Glacier to the mix every other year as well. Since we fly commercially, it's been easiest to bring one general purpose pistol, suitable for both CCW around town...such as they are 
...and last ditch only in the direst of wildlife emergencies during day hikes and horseback trips adjacent to the parks (where I've seen many more Griz much closer than in the parks, BTW).
My Glock 29 in a gun bag has worked out fine for me, especially with its ability to be unloaded/field stripped instantly just before going into a park and re-assembled/loaded immediately upon exiting. It's loaded with Cor-Bon 135 JHPs in the summer (July 13th.) or Winchester 175 Silvertips/Buffalo Bore 180 Gold Dots otherwise around town. A quick magazine change and Buffalo Bore 200 FMJs went to the woods. More than enough power for the big hairy beasts...around town , but marginal for the even bigger hairy beasts in the woods. I'll be replacing the BB 200 FMJs w/ Double Tap 200 WFNGCs this, a Glacier, year.
I'm looking forward to the reduced park CCW restrictions
myself next week, and must admit to considering bringing my 4" M629 for the woods and my Kahr PM45 for everywhere else this year. I just don't like risking 2 guns at once through the airports. I do a hundred + flights a year for work with a gun so I'm already living on borrowed time as it is 
...
...and last ditch only in the direst of wildlife emergencies during day hikes and horseback trips adjacent to the parks (where I've seen many more Griz much closer than in the parks, BTW).My Glock 29 in a gun bag has worked out fine for me, especially with its ability to be unloaded/field stripped instantly just before going into a park and re-assembled/loaded immediately upon exiting. It's loaded with Cor-Bon 135 JHPs in the summer (July 13th.
) or Winchester 175 Silvertips/Buffalo Bore 180 Gold Dots otherwise around town. A quick magazine change and Buffalo Bore 200 FMJs went to the woods. More than enough power for the big hairy beasts...around town , but marginal for the even bigger hairy beasts in the woods. I'll be replacing the BB 200 FMJs w/ Double Tap 200 WFNGCs this, a Glacier, year.I'm looking forward to the reduced park CCW restrictions
myself next week, and must admit to considering bringing my 4" M629 for the woods and my Kahr PM45 for everywhere else this year. I just don't like risking 2 guns at once through the airports. I do a hundred + flights a year for work with a gun so I'm already living on borrowed time as it is ...
Mule88
Member
Yeah...a .44 at 1400 fps.
How can you argue with that logic?
I have to say I always enjoy Feralmerril's stories. Anyway, I think this thread is just a diversion for John to show us his nice .45 MG again (and I am not criticizing that), but my choice would be my 329PD, though I admit it is not nearly as handsome as John's gun. On the other hand, I have seen so many 329-Kaboom!
threads that I would be a little concerned about it detonating if I ever had to put it to serious use. But that might be as off-putting to the bear as to the shooter, so maybe it would work out after all... ? Nice gun, stocks, and sights, John. Great combination.
Dan Cash
Member
Funny, the latest bear attack survivor leaded up the bear with a .45 Auto. Bear succumbed.
I would carry the lightest .44 mag. I have. Always remember that a pistol is not a bear gun. A .375 H&H is a bear gun.
WPWarhawk
US Veteran
I'll bet these folks wish they had a 45 Colt Mountain Gun in camp ...
Yellowstone bear attack kills one, injures two | Out There
My choice would be a 629 Mountain Gun, since that's what I have. But a .45 Colt would be just as good.
Yellowstone bear attack kills one, injures two | Out There
My choice would be a 629 Mountain Gun, since that's what I have. But a .45 Colt would be just as good.
BEARS!! At least .30 caliber and belt fed. disguise it as a baby stroller.
Two hand grenades also. Plus a M1911A1 .45acp if the above items don't stop the Hungry Bear you can killed yourself before being eaten.
Scarey Cat Jimmy (I chose being goodlooking and sexy instead of brave and courageous)
Two hand grenades also. Plus a M1911A1 .45acp if the above items don't stop the Hungry Bear you can killed yourself before being eaten.
Scarey Cat Jimmy (I chose being goodlooking and sexy instead of brave and courageous)
Model29Lover
US Veteran
629-1 for me
I got mine for deer hunting and for open carry, but it will work for bears too!!!!!
I got mine for deer hunting and for open carry, but it will work for bears too!!!!!
Paladin: I have a 625, 45 Colt caliber Mountain Gun. I load it with 7.9 grs of W 231 behind SAECO's #458, 250 gr bullet. There's nothing magical about the 7.9 grs: it's what the #13 rotor for the RCBS Little Dandy powder measure throws. #12 gives 7.2 grs, too little, and #14 gives 8.6 grs, too much. My bullets are cast soft: 1 part linotype to 2 parts lead. If I were carrying it in bear country, I'd cast them of straight lino for more penetration.
I have an El Paso Saddlery Tom Threepersons holster for it; as I live in El Paso, I got it off the shelf when I went down to the shop. Mountain gun or no, that thing is heavy and worn on your belt, it will take your pants plumb off in no time.
Possibly a better bear gun is one of the Scandium 44 mags; I understand they're real big amongst Alaskan guides. However a handgun is only a last ditch gun against bears. When I was stationed in Alaska, I carried a 458 Winchester for a while when we went out berry picking. It got heavy, so I went to a Remington 760 pump carbine (18 inch barrel) in 30-06. Loaded with 220s it's pretty good in case that guy picking berries on the other side of the bush turns out to be a bear. Probably not too feasable to carry a rifle in a National Park, however.
I have an El Paso Saddlery Tom Threepersons holster for it; as I live in El Paso, I got it off the shelf when I went down to the shop. Mountain gun or no, that thing is heavy and worn on your belt, it will take your pants plumb off in no time.
Possibly a better bear gun is one of the Scandium 44 mags; I understand they're real big amongst Alaskan guides. However a handgun is only a last ditch gun against bears. When I was stationed in Alaska, I carried a 458 Winchester for a while when we went out berry picking. It got heavy, so I went to a Remington 760 pump carbine (18 inch barrel) in 30-06. Loaded with 220s it's pretty good in case that guy picking berries on the other side of the bush turns out to be a bear. Probably not too feasable to carry a rifle in a National Park, however.
Last edited:
OP
Thanks for your comments! Win. 231 is a slower-burning ball powder usually intended for magnum loads in quantities that almost fill the case, and usually requires a magnum primer to ignite properly. It's roughly equivalent to Alliant 2400 in usage. I use it in .357 and .44 magnums for the longer barrels. Your load of 7.9 grains does not take up much space in the case. Do you have any problem with incomplete burning? I'd think Unique would be better suited for relatively heavy loads in a shorter (4 in.) barrel. Faster burning, regular primers are suitable, accelerates the bullet faster, does not need to fill the case.
I understand the weight problem - it's a weigh-off (no pun) to balance the factors of power, manageability, and weight. My 442 is an excellent packing revolver, but suffers from lack of power. I do hear you on the larger gun weighing your pants down over time.
Decisions, decisions.
John
WPWarhawk
US Veteran
I think you made a typo here, don't want to see anyone blowing up their guns using a full case of 231.
I think you meant Winchester 296 powder.
Just to add a little perspective.
I'm not trying to minimize the serious nature of a close encounter with an enraged grizzly, but In the lower 48 States, the average weight of grizzly bears is generally 400 to 600 pounds for males and 250 to 350 pounds for females. I don't know how up to date that website is, but I do know that the "range" shown on that map is very much out of date. Also, several years ago, there was a male grizzly, killed by a truck, southwest of Helena, MT that was estimated to weigh 830 lbs (this was a huge bear for the L48). L48 grizzlies are not coastal brown bears -- still nothing to trifle with.
Grizzly bear home page
Grizzly Killed by Pickup: The Photos | Matthew Frank | Missoula | New West Missoula
I'm not trying to minimize the serious nature of a close encounter with an enraged grizzly, but In the lower 48 States, the average weight of grizzly bears is generally 400 to 600 pounds for males and 250 to 350 pounds for females. I don't know how up to date that website is, but I do know that the "range" shown on that map is very much out of date. Also, several years ago, there was a male grizzly, killed by a truck, southwest of Helena, MT that was estimated to weigh 830 lbs (this was a huge bear for the L48). L48 grizzlies are not coastal brown bears -- still nothing to trifle with.
Grizzly bear home page
Grizzly Killed by Pickup: The Photos | Matthew Frank | Missoula | New West Missoula
Similar threads
