642 for woods defense?

[wolverine]

Ton of great information, v thank you all !! I'm still mulling it over but I'll throw this at you...I know this is a revolver page but I also have a sd9ve, what do you think about that loaded with buffalo bore? I'll ask over on the other page but if you have anything to add about that I'd love to hear it, thanks !!

Evening a_finelli

You are a little more limited on bullet choice in the 9mm
BUT 17 rounds of 9mm beats the he!! out of 5 or 6 .38.

A bit heavy but it is a step up.

If you are going to carry a semi auto might as well step
it up to a round that has some power (like a .38 super or
10mm)

 

[a_finelli]

I'm trying to stay with what I already have, I don't have $500 for a glock 30 or a ruger sp101, believe me if I did we wouldn't be having this discussion lol. I'm in ny so I'm limited to 10 rd mag but it's better than 5...

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[JJEH]

Ton of great information, v thank you all !! I'm still mulling it over but I'll throw this at you...I know this is a revolver page but I also have a sd9ve, what do you think about that loaded with buffalo bore? I'll ask over on the other page but if you have anything to add about that I'd love to hear it, thanks !!

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In that case I'd rather pack the 9mm. I use both BB item 24I and 24L in my pistols and they both work great. And I don't feel under-gunned in any way!

Look at here:

NRA Articles - Phil Shoemaker & OUTDOORSMAN

 

[wolverine]

I'm trying to stay with what I already have, I don't have $500 for a glock 30 or a ruger sp101, believe me if I did we wouldn't be having this discussion lol. I'm in ny so I'm limited to 10 rd mag but it's better than 5...

Evening a_finelli

In that case you have your 2 choices to choose from.

You might see if carrying the 9mm semi auto is too
heavy or awkward. If not then find the best penetrating
+P type ammo that will shoot out of that gun without a
malfunction.

Otherwise you have your revolver & a great number
of suggested bullets mentioned in the post above.

 

[garddogg56]

Man all this talk over a few ounces or maybe a pound of side-arm,If your a hiker or a "outdoors" man please get the right tool for the jobI help a buddy guide and do a lot of his baiting ,this past season two sport blew a treed Blackbear while treed they didn't get a good shot in to the bruin and he hit the ground charging my buddy while he was holding the hounds back on a single ringhe popped that bear at 5yds with his 460 with one shot DROPPED him in his tracksHere's a pic of that 375lb Maine Blackbear

 

[THE PILGRIM]

Man all this talk over a few ounces or maybe a pound of side-arm,If your a hiker or a "outdoors" man please get the right tool for the jobI help a buddy guide and do a lot of his baiting ,this past season two sport blew a treed Blackbear while treed they didn't get a good shot in to the bruin and he hit the ground charging my buddy while he was holding the hounds back on a single ringhe popped that bear at 5yds with his 460 with one shot DROPPED him in his tracksHere's a pic of that 375lb Maine Blackbear

Got it Garddog. Your buddy is show nough gunned up.
But the question is - What do you carry?

 

[steelslaver]

You are about 10 times more likely to get killed by lighting than by a bear.

What is the best lighting gun????

Yes, I always carry a gun when I am in the boondocks. But, bears are not all that high on my list, cougars are even lower. More apt to end up with a stupid moose tangled up in my tent ropes. Actually had one walk right beside my tent once, but no problems. Had an elk run through camp once too. Never know what might happen. LOL

 

[JJEH]

Man all this talk over a few ounces or maybe a pound of side-arm...

I think the question is not pound- but money related.

If you can't or won't buy a bigger gun then I'd stick with the 9mm with two spare magazines on me while there's more ammo in the Rucksack

 

[a_finelli]

It's not that I won't buy one but I just can't right now, I have a family and it takes time to save for a pistol that's all...plus I'm in ny and have to conceal my firearm even in the woods so legally ib have to take that into consideration

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[garddogg56]

Got it Garddog. Your buddy is show nough gunned up.
But the question is - What do you carry?

S&W 66.1 IN A .357 Buffalo bore or a SD9VE P+ BUT I've never worried about bear ! PS yer best bet is to run down hill

 

[a_finelli]

S&W 66.1 IN A .357 Buffalo bore or a SD9VE P+ BUT I've never worried about bear ! PS yer best bet is to run down hill

What +p ammo do you run through the sd9ve?

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[TAC]

I guess I was wrong.

Surprising information From the Buffalo Bore web site:

BLACK BEARS

➤ Black bears are very different mentally, than grizzly bears. Black bears come in red, brown, blonde, and black color phases, but they are all black bear species and should be considered "black bears" regardless of color phase. While black bears have much the same physical qualities (normally smaller) of grizzly bears, they GENERALLY have a much different mindset.

➤ To stop black bears, all you have to do is hurt them; you do not need to kill them. Almost any center fire handgun cartridge will dissuade a black bear if you hit them well with it. The more powerful the cartridge, the more damage you'll potentially do to the bear, but nearly any black bear will turn tail if he is hit with a cartridge such as good stiff 9mm loads. I know this argues against prevailing wisdom, but prevailing wisdom is based mostly on speculation, not real world experience and is not really wisdom.

We make "Bear Loads" in Smaller Chamberings such as the following:
★ (Item 24F) -- 9MM +P+ PENETRATOR
★ (Item 24L) -- 9MM +P OUTDOORSMAN
★ (Item 20H) -- 38 SPL +P OUTDOORSMAN
★ (Item 19A) -- HEAVY 357 MAG OUTDOORSMAN
★ (Item 23F) -- 40 S&W OUTDOORTSMAN Std Pressure Low Flash
★ (Item 21C) -- HEAVY 10MM OUTDOORSMAN

We do this because a lot of people own those guns and don't want to buy a 454 Casull or 44 mag. I would have no problem defending myself against a black bear attack (and have done so) with the proper 9MM ammo. I prefer a more powerful/bigger cartridge, but the 9MM will get it done, even on grizzlies, if you take their brain with a flat nosed, non-expanding bullet. Of course, making a brain shot under such duress, will take practice and cool nerves.

More info below:

"Stopping" bears with handgun or rifle cartridges

https://www.buffalobore.com/index.php?l=product_list&c=108

 

[THE PILGRIM]

Thanks TAC!
I will get some of that Buffalo Bore 38+P.
I have several carry guns besides the now totally humiliated 642 that I will use it in.

 

[CH4]

Better choices, but anything short of bear and mountain lion you'll be fine. When I backpack, I bring a m60 loaded with Buffalo Bore +P hard cast. Better than nothing.

 

[Supreme]

My woods gun is at least a 10mm with 200gr hardcast. Current woods gun is a Glock 40. With the 6in barrel, it's not the smallest, but it'll do what i need.

 

[jtcarm]

You are about 10 times more likely to get killed by lighting than by a bear.

What is the best lighting gun????

Yes, I always carry a gun when I am in the boondocks. But, bears are not all that high on my list, cougars are even lower. More apt to end up with a stupid moose tangled up in my tent ropes. Actually had one walk right beside my tent once, but no problems. Had an elk run through camp once too. Never know what might happen. LOL

Yep the drive out to your hunting/camping spot is far more dangerous.

I think for most of us the prospect of being mauled and possibly eaten by a predator is way more terrifying than being hit by lightening or in a car accident.

Plus you can't shoot the lightening.

You can shoot the driver who hits you, but I think the law might frown on that.

 

[silversnake]

Yep the drive out to your hunting/camping spot is far more dangerous.

I think for most of us the prospect of being mauled and possibly eaten by a predator is way more terrifying than being hit by lightening or in a car accident.

Plus you can't shoot the lightening.

You can shoot the driver who hits you, but I think the law might frown on that.

Yep.
I think we can all agree that in most cases a black bear is extremely unlikely to pose a threat.
In that unlikely scenario however I still want to have enough gun.
The Buffalo Bore hard cast looks good but I'd be concerned about losing velocity out of that 1 7/8" barrel and difficulty in making rapid follow up shots with such a light gun.

I'd feel much more confident with a 4" K-Frame, but I understand not everyone wants to carry something that heavy.

 

[tops]

I once worked with a guy that always carried a .38 Spec. and made fun of me for carrying a .357. One day he walked up on a bear and he told me that was the biggest bear and the smallest pistol he had ever seen. The bear turned and run but the guy bought a .357 when he got back. Larry

 

[jaymoore]

I have a 642 and am in need of a woods gun. Mainly for 2 legged animals but coyotes, rabid animals and black bear are a possibility. If I load with +p ammo do you think that's enough? Black bear are normally more scared of you and if they come after you hurting them should make them turn around...what's your opinion? I'd rather not buy a 3" 357 if I don't have to...how hot can I load a 642 with commercial ammo? Buffalo bore?

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I often have either a 340M&P with .38 +Ps or a 940 (9mm) revolver as a woods gun. Usually whilst out squirrel hunting or hiking. Black bears could be an issue, but more concerned about rabid critters, four or two legged. In all likelihood the .22 squirrel gun will do the job, but never hurts to have backup!

 

[THE PILGRIM]

We hardly ever have bear attacks here in NM-
But sometimes we do -

Bear attacks woman running marathon in New Mexico