Wife's Woods Gun

Dominus_Lex

Dominus_Lex

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After several attempts to get her to carry, while alone in the Outback of Michigan's Upper Peninsula, my wife has consented. While I am not sure what has caused this change of heart, but it may relate to the sharing of a blueberry patch with mamma Ursus Americanus and two cubs last July. She has no interest in a pistol, and she would be fine with her dad's old Savage 20g SXS, I see a chance to add to the stable.

My first though would be one of the Ruger 77/44's or a used .44 mag. carbine. I have no concern for "enough power" as these are Michigan black bear, but again this is one of those golden moments where I have ton of play room to "buy her a gun"...

So help a guy out list mates, what do you like, lust etc.... .44 vs .357 lever gun, semi-auto, bolt etc.... As they use to say in school "discuss and decide"....
 
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My first thought is a short shotgun -- if she is recoil sensitive, probably a 20 gauge, although there are some light recoil defensive 12 gauge loads out there. Don't know if she'd be better served with slugs or 000 buck. Like truck said, a good sling is a must. I have a Ithica M37 I picked up for $300, but a Remington 870 has more "accessories" available for it. Saw a sweet stainless 870 Marine the other day in the Fargo Scheel's, but they wanted about $700 for it!
 
The lighter the better. Low recoil ammo is better, too. The long guns, I'm afraid, may be too heavy and cumbersome to make a lot of trips with, but are a better option.

Look at the prices on those Marlin levers...$$$$ and hard to find the 357.

A 20 ga pump will be cheap, or a 12 (low recoil options).
This will be a very versitile woods gun, too. a few extra shells for rabbits, etc. Keep "loaded for bear" though. A side saddle or shell cuff will allow extra ammo to be carried.
 
People "poo poo" a 44 Mag lever gun but will choose a short 44 Mag pistol. Doesn't make sense. Black bears are not super hard to kill. Anything 20 ga up in a shotgun or 44 mag/45 colt up on a lever gun.

Just remember, bears are fast! We have a Mossberg 590, marinecoat with fire sights for carry when we go to Alaska. Any 12 or 20 pump with an 18-22" barrel will work pretty good.
 
Maybe a Ruger M-77 International in .308. Looks like a Euro stutzen/Mannlicher stock. Nosler bullets, maybe 180 grain. But with iron sights, it'll kick.

The Winchester M-70 Feathrweight in .270-.30/06 calibers with a variable 'scope dialed down to 2X ir 3X may do well, too, and give you a new deer rifle. Or, the CZ 550 is another Mannlicher style (like the version of the Ruger mentioned), and very good quality.

But I frankly doubt that she'll want to carry a rifle or shotgun much. Show her some photos of people who've been mangled by bears. I'll post a news video that shows a kid who was bitten on the face by a cougar. You may need a gross-out factor here. Women often like to pretend that "it can't happen to them." "It just happens on the news."

Tell her that a bear attack could play havoc with her complexion. :D People get scalped in those, too, you know.

Frankly, I'd carry a S&W M-629-3 with six-inch bbl. in something like a Bianchi Cyclone holster. Both should have handguns, because they're always with you. I suggest a medium-framed .357 for her and extensive training in bear anatomy.

If you're going to pick berries, I'd think you'd want a rifle or slug-loaded shotgun at hand, if that won't violate the game laws out of deer season. Check on that aspect.
 
I own both a .357 mag rossi and a browning 92 in .44 mag. They look identical. The .357 is far less a "kicker" than the .44 mag. Two different guns to shoot. The 357 is a "sweetheart" and the 44 a thumper. On mine I put lace on leather pads. Not to subdue the kicking but for LOP (length of pull) as I am big.
For pleasent shooting go with the .357. However for horsepower, the 44 mag. Maybe a .357 is enough for black bear up there?
I used to work at both hancock / houlton area and St. st marie 50 years ago and would like to see it again!

35744mag.jpg
 
I see she has no interest in a handgun, but it sounds like a job for something a bit less cumbersome than a rifle. A handgun like a .357 magnum or a can of bear spray would be a more portable choice (of course you already know that). Maybe a M60 3" if she wants small or a 327 if she wants big and light.

I just can't imagine the rifle will make it on more than one berry picking trip before being left behind. For a rifle, I would vote for a trapper length .30-30. A .44 levergun in trapper length would be fine too.
 
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K1500 said:
I see she has no interest in a handgun, but it sounds like a job for something a bit less cumbersome than a rifle. A handgun like a .357 magnum or a can of bear spray would be a more portable choice (of course you already know that). Maybe a M60 3" if she wants small or a 327 if she wants big and light.

I just can't imagine the rifle will make it on more than one berry picking trip before being left behind. For a rifle, I would vote for a trapper length .30-30. A .44 levergun in trapper length would be fine too.
Click to expand...

She has bear spray, but keep in mind this is my chance to buy "her" a new rifle....;)
 
I had the perfect woods gun and like a big dummy I sold it Israeli arms Timberwolf what sweet little slide action carbine it was. They are made in .357 and also .44mag there is a take down screw so it can be broke down for backpack.
 
Texas Star said:
Maybe a Ruger M-77 International in .308. Looks like a Euro stutzen/Mannlicher stock. Nosler bullets, maybe 180 grain. But with iron sights, it'll kick.

The Winchester M-70 Feathrweight in .270-.30/06 calibers with a variable 'scope dialed down to 2X ir 3X may do well, too, and give you a new deer rifle. Or, the CZ 550 is another Mannlicher style (like the version of the Ruger mentioned), and very good quality.

But I frankly doubt that she'll want to carry a rifle or shotgun much. Show her some photos of people who've been mangled by bears. I'll post a news video that shows a kid who was bitten on the face by a cougar. You may need a gross-out factor here. Women often like to pretend that "it can't happen to them." "It just happens on the news."

Tell her that a bear attack could play havoc with her complexion. :D People get scalped in those, too, you know.

Frankly, I'd carry a S&W M-629-3 with six-inch bbl. in something like a Bianchi Cyclone holster. Both should have handguns, because they're always with you. I suggest a medium-framed .357 for her and extensive training in bear anatomy.

If you're going to pick berries, I'd think you'd want a rifle or slug-loaded shotgun at hand, if that won't violate the game laws out of deer season. Check on that aspect.
Click to expand...

If I'm with her there is either a .44mag (300gr Federal Cast Core) .45 colt (250gr Buffalo Bore) or .357 mag (180gr Buffalo Bore). If it's my son (who's still in High School so the revolver is a no no) a Weatherby 308 (180gr TXS) with a 20" bbl. This short 308 is on reason I was thinking about the .44 carbine, in addition to being able to use it for whitetails in a slug zone.... though the M77 International is rather tempting, lots of pretty wood.
 
The cheap route, relatively, in a rifle may be a used Marlin .30-30. But you do have to carry it to have it. :D

When I was faced with a similar problem in Newfoundland while stationed there with the USAF years ago, my intention was to carry either a surplus .303 or a Husqvarna .270, the only rifles I had. I had a Colt Gold Cup .45 auto, too.

But the RCMP liason told me that guns weren't allowed to be carried out of hunting seasons. He especially stressed that I was not to be caught off base with the Colt.

I've never had much desire to visit Canada since. But I did see some sporterized .303's from Parker-Hale at the Hudson's Bay Company store for a nice price. One of those would make a great bear protection gun. I'm sure they were popular with moose hunters, in season.

When I got orders to go to Newfoundland,I was directing traffic at the gate of the base in Denver,, Lowry AFB. A car with an Alberta plate pulled up with two really hot blondes in it, and I mentioned that I was soon going to their country.

"Ooh," said one."You won't like it. It's all primitive and poor." She hit the nail on the head, but it did have salmon rivers that the public could fish. And lots of pretty wild country. I just couldn't feel comfortable being gunless there whenever I left base. My best available weapon was a Randall Model 3 sheath knife with six-inch blade ! Never saw a bear, though.

Years later, I met Jean Hugel, the Alsatian vintner, at a wine tasting. I believe that his family firm was founded in 1639. Anyway, we got to talking fishing and found that we'd both fished Harry's River in Nfld. Small world!
 
Funny thread. I wonder if my buddy Joe is reading. His wife goes walking with a handgun. I think it varies by the mood, but he says she's a much better shot than he is, and she looks pretty formidable with the gun belt slung on her. My general impression is that one shouldn't mess with anyone carrying a gun. Because its so out of character in this day and age to see a woman armed, they're probably doubly scary.

I sure wish my wife would carry. I'd buy her a half dozen guns to amuse her (and maybe me.)

I'd suggest the OP here consider some other alternatives. Maybe push the idea of a handgun anyhow. The nice light ones that come to mind are the 396 44 special or the 337-1 38 special. Neither are brutal with recoil, but are amazingly light. They're very comfortable to carry, especially if you select the right holster. This is probably the duty for a full flap to keep water, sticks and debris out.
 
How about a M1 carbine 30 cal.
Short, lightweight, semi auto, 5, 10, 15 round clips and comes with a sling.
I own one and they are great litte rifle....
 
Check what the DNR regulations are for walking around with a rifle out in the woods if you don't own the property. Even if state law allows it, it might violate game laws. Then again... it is the UP... Eh.

If you skip the current - and relatively heavy - M4 clones and get a lightweight AR carbine (like the old SP1 carbine) it'll be as comfortable to carry as an M1 carbine. Might look odd to tote it around though.

Since you seem to want a new toy, take a look at the Ruger scout rifles. I think the Steyr offering is also going to be imported again. Scout rifles tend to work well in the walking around the woods role.
 
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