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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always trust your cape...

If it's heavy or uncomfortable to carry, it will stay home on her second outing. Something light with a good sling would be my recommendation.

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Insert short witty words here

Marlin 1894c chambered in .357 magnum is one of my favorite rifles.

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.

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War Eagle! '10 BCS & '13 SEC

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. 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.

Oh Goody!, a Woman VS Bear thread!!!!

UDAP Bear Deterrent Pepper Spray

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Still Running Against the Wind

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!

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.

Too bad hand grenades arent legal!

She has bear spray, but keep in mind this is my chance to buy "her" a new rifle....

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always trust your cape...

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.

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.

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always trust your cape...

The cheap route, relatively, in a rifle may be a used Marlin .30-30. But you do have to carry it to have it.

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.

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Dick Burg

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....

I vote for the Ruger 44 mag auto carbine with a sling

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Steve

How about a Rossi Ranch Hand? Interesting little 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.

I got my wife a bullhorn. I want whatever messes with her man or beast to have a warning.

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Vaya con Dios

I have a Browning B-92 in 44mag that is light and carries the mag power. The gun is a copy of the old Winchester 1892 lever gun and a very safe gun to carry for somebody not into guns. They don't make them anymore but you see them at gunshows and on GB. They are very well made! and shoot great, plus they will shoot regular 44 special ammo.

Although one MUST actually place his/her shot - A T/C Contender carbine is small, light, and there are killer barrels available. You can also get a .22 barrel for practice, practice, practice...
As an added bonus - They're very accurate

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In dog years I'm dead.

This one seems obvious if you insist on buying a gun, since it is so light and easy to carry. It doesn't even kick much, compared to a shotgun. But the 20-gauge side-by-side should be OK, too, with good slugs, if she likes it.

If you're just looking for an excuse to buy a gun, buy what you like. If she ends up not liking it, she can always carry the 20-gauge.

I had one of the Rossi "92 clones in .45 Colt for a while, and that was a quick handling soft shooting carbine. They make one in .454 now, which will also fire the .45 Colt cartidge. It's worth a look if you can find one.

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Even older, even crankier....

I vote for the Ruger 77/.44 mag bolt action. My wife has shot some nice deer with hers. Accurate out to 100 yds, low recoil, compact and not very heavy.Easily carried with a sling.

At the risk of asking an obvious question why are you NOT looking for a used Stevens or Savage 20 ga SXS? You should be able to find one in decent shape for <$300. Trim the barrels to 24", install a high vis front sight, a sling and a Limb Saver recoil pad.

How about a pistol grip, 20" barrel 20 gauge in a shoulder rig which allows the short weapon to be carried on the chest? I don't know of a specific maker, but there's a lot of nylon stapping out there.

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Term limits!

Now that I think about it a bit more... there is another good option. The Heym Professional Hunter grade double rifles in .470 NE... you can get a spare set of bbls in 20 gauge fitted to one. Costs about as much as the average decent American made sedan, but eh...

NO,NO,NO!!!
Purchase your wife a good pair of running shoes and a Beretta .22 short semi-auto pistol.
Always go with her in bear country.
Instruction to her- "should we meet a bear, shoot me in the knee and then run, run away. My insurance policy and the key to my gun safe is in my underwear drawer".

Greater love has no man.

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I always take precautions

Buy her something you always wanted!

I was given that advice while shopping for a rod and reel for my wife. I was glad I listened.

All right Dominus i read you. I think she deserves at the very least
a Kimber 84 classic with select walnut in say .280 caliber
This should make you, oops i mean her very happy in the woods.


chuck

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They hold no Quarter

Alexander Arms .50 Beowulf Entry Rifle. I hear they kick like a 20 gauge, and I don't think a black bear would present a problem to one.

ECS

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CPT, Armor (Ret)
Luke 22:36