Ideal field gun for National Park carry?
- Thread starter PALADIN85020
- Start date
arizonaguide
Member
Therein lies the keywords.
DO you prepare for the worst (bear), and carry a Heavy HOGLEG (and expect to be "good" with it under EXTREME pressure), or carry something convenient (like a 1911, .357, or even a 9mm or .38 for "basic" protection) and just suppliment THAT with a small can of belt-clip bearspray.
Arizona: I "compromise" and usually carry a Jframe with Heavy/Hardcasts (soon .357 Jframe) and a belt-clip can of spray.
Alaska...different story: 12ga w/slugs or .300+rifle. (some people DO use 454/500's...but not ME!) and a can of spray.
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arizonaguide
Member
IF you are hiking with a buddy, you can get by with as little as a .22...(or spray) for anything from Bears to Cougers.
..cuz ya just gotta shot HIM in the kneecap (or spray HIM), and outrun HIM instead of the BEAR. Bears are attracted to a blinded buddy who's flailing around on the ground...and tastes like pepper. A .22 is fine for that.
..cuz ya just gotta shot HIM in the kneecap (or spray HIM), and outrun HIM instead of the BEAR. Bears are attracted to a blinded buddy who's flailing around on the ground...and tastes like pepper. A .22 is fine for that.
Miami_JBT
US Veteran
.45 Colt
It's my Everglades Park gun. Bears aren't a problem. Gators and Drug Runners are....
balldboy
Member
Hiking with a mother in-law in flip flops adds a certain something to meeting a cougar or bear.
A round butt model 21 or 22 might work just fine, I'd opt for a 581 with some weigthy hard casts and a speedloader of Fed. 125 JHPs.
Pete
A round butt model 21 or 22 might work just fine, I'd opt for a 581 with some weigthy hard casts and a speedloader of Fed. 125 JHPs.
Pete
arizonaguide
Member
There ya go!
Reminds me of the old "Alaskan Divorce" story...
He and the wife go camping in Bear country, and he gets up EARLY to go fishing....As he leaves (with his fishing pole in his hand)...he lays 3 strips of raw bacon across the top of the tent.
Miami, that's a pretty Ruger (above). Nice pic.
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senecaap
Member
Here in the Smokies we have black bears, but they usually head the other way. If they don't the .45ACP is more than enough to handle them, my grandfather was probably the first handgun hunter in the area (by neccessity, we was po' and surplus .45 was cheap) and he took most of his bears with the GI 45. When I hike around here, I usually take a Colt Det. Special, because around here it is the human animal that is the biggest threat, ditto when I am in the parks of the Southwest. In the Grizzly areas, I start getting comfortable at the .45acp-.44 special threshold. The main concern for my park guns is always Human threats first and Animal threats second. I have to rule out the .460-.500 and any other howdah, they are just too big for any appication but dedicated hunting.
My nearest NP is Glacier, and griz attacks have happened there over the years, sometimes fatal ones. Crime isn't much of a problem, or hasn't been. When I hike in Glacier NP I'm going to be packing a 4" 500. I agree that they might not be the way-to-go in many/most NPs, but Glacier is an exception to that IMHO, at least here in the lower 48.
VAdoublegunner
Member
For most of my purposes, I carry a 3" Ruger SP101 and Speer 158 Gold Dots. Most of my National Park time is seakayaking eastern coastal areas or hiking the Appalachians. That will work fine unless I go to Alaska. Not too worried about bears, moreso predatory humans.
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Right you are! Odds are higher in Glacier.
Catshooter
Member
Paladin,
The only problem I see with either of your sixguns is they're empty!
Cat
The only problem I see with either of your sixguns is they're empty!
Cat
If you are serious about your safety and not brand loyal, Glock 20. Good for man or beast.
buckeyefan
Member
My 629 Mountain Gun in a Simply Rugged Sourdough packed with 305grn Buffalo Bore hardcasts is on my backpack(hipbelt) when I bowhunt here in Washington. More than enough for the most likely problem(humans) and the least likely(black bear). Actually cougar would be the least likely, and my setup takes care of them too. I prefer having more than enough rather than enough when it comes to my or my family's protection. Just have to do my part with the revolver. We can open carry here, so it is with me when I am in the woods.
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indiandave
Member
My property boarders the DWNRA. I walk my two dogs there every day.What ever is my carry gun at the time is what I use. Lots of black bears here but they tend to be very shy.
arizonaguide
Member
I still think I'm going to stick with my Bear Spray.
66SLOWDRAW686
Member
NAT PARK
WELL I CARRY 66-5 3'' OR 686-4 4'' 7 SHOT & PEPPER SPRAY BEAR SPRAY WHAT EVER YOU WANT TO CALL IT. I'M GOING TO BUY S&W460 5'' THATS RIGHT IF YOU CAN PACK IT WHO CARES WHAT SIZE YOUR FIREARM IS. ITS THAT YOU HAVE ONE PRACTICE ENOUGH TO USE IT WHEN YOU NEED TO. DON'T FORGET ABOUT THOSE POT GROWER TAKING OVER OUR NAT PARKS. THEY CATCH YOU YOU COULD BE DEAD. THEY CARRY AR-15 MAC-90 & THEY DON'T CARE WHO YOU ARE. THEY ARE THE ONES I'M WORRIED ABOUT THEN THE OTHER IDIOT TWO LEGGED HUMAN. I CARRY THE BIGGEST BEAR SPRAY I CAN FIND LATELY 55OZ CAN ALWAY FOR ALL 4 LEGGED CRITTERS UNLESS IT HUNTING SEASON. SOMETIME I CARRY MY 357 SIG P.P. DON'T GET CAUGHT WITH YOUR PANTS DOWN...
WELL I CARRY 66-5 3'' OR 686-4 4'' 7 SHOT & PEPPER SPRAY BEAR SPRAY WHAT EVER YOU WANT TO CALL IT. I'M GOING TO BUY S&W460 5'' THATS RIGHT IF YOU CAN PACK IT WHO CARES WHAT SIZE YOUR FIREARM IS. ITS THAT YOU HAVE ONE PRACTICE ENOUGH TO USE IT WHEN YOU NEED TO. DON'T FORGET ABOUT THOSE POT GROWER TAKING OVER OUR NAT PARKS. THEY CATCH YOU YOU COULD BE DEAD. THEY CARRY AR-15 MAC-90 & THEY DON'T CARE WHO YOU ARE. THEY ARE THE ONES I'M WORRIED ABOUT THEN THE OTHER IDIOT TWO LEGGED HUMAN. I CARRY THE BIGGEST BEAR SPRAY I CAN FIND LATELY 55OZ CAN ALWAY FOR ALL 4 LEGGED CRITTERS UNLESS IT HUNTING SEASON. SOMETIME I CARRY MY 357 SIG P.P. DON'T GET CAUGHT WITH YOUR PANTS DOWN...
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I'd carry according to the area.
I don't make it to Alaska or big bear area much, so my 9mm Glocks and S&W J frames are fine for what I'd run in to around the areas I hike and camp.
I have taken my Glocks hiking, kayaking, etc. and count on them as they are so rust resistant, durable, reliable and so easy to detail strip after they have been dunked and need a good cleaning.
If I was to go to bear country I'd likely take a Glock 20 SF that had been souped up with Double Tap or Buffalo Bore ammo.
I am well aware that it's rather small for bear, but my carpal tunnel and arthritis REALLY don't like bigger calibers.
In Alaska I'd likely get a Ruger Alaskan or a S&W .500 snub, strangely enough the friend's .500 that I have shot wasn't too bad recoil wise.
I find that pocket and/or fanny pack carry are great for hiking with a pack due to getting the gun away from the lower back and hips. The old "Tanker" style holsters work well for this also.
A big +1 on the Tuff Strips, great product that was way overdue.
I don't make it to Alaska or big bear area much, so my 9mm Glocks and S&W J frames are fine for what I'd run in to around the areas I hike and camp.
I have taken my Glocks hiking, kayaking, etc. and count on them as they are so rust resistant, durable, reliable and so easy to detail strip after they have been dunked and need a good cleaning.
If I was to go to bear country I'd likely take a Glock 20 SF that had been souped up with Double Tap or Buffalo Bore ammo.
I am well aware that it's rather small for bear, but my carpal tunnel and arthritis REALLY don't like bigger calibers.
In Alaska I'd likely get a Ruger Alaskan or a S&W .500 snub, strangely enough the friend's .500 that I have shot wasn't too bad recoil wise.
I find that pocket and/or fanny pack carry are great for hiking with a pack due to getting the gun away from the lower back and hips. The old "Tanker" style holsters work well for this also.
A big +1 on the Tuff Strips, great product that was way overdue.
As Feralmerril knows, only Rangers in Alaska were issued .375H&H rifles for bears. My wife's cousin worked at both Denali and Kodiak and brown bears are a serious threat there. When he worked at Glacier (Montana), he was a ranger working the backcountry and they were not even allowed power tools like chainsaws. The cousin and his wife are now armed "police" rangers ( in Utah and soon going back to Alaska) and they have more problems with humans than wildlife.
The year my wife and I visited him in Glacier, two tourists were eaten by brown bears and I would have liked to have had a powerful handgun with me. At the time, the park service recommended wearing bells to alert the bears you were coming. "It's Dinner Time."
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