Best backup handgun for grizzly?
Thanks for all the great suggestions. I never heard of the S&W 329 but it sounds interesting. I also forgot about Taurus. One in 480 or 454 might do nicely. Had a Ruger once and didn't like it but maybe I'll check one out again. The other big single actions are way out of my price range and I don't know if I could handle the 500 S&W.
Years ago an old timer convinced me the best bear gun was a 12ga. slug gun. He also said that when a bear decides to charge, the main thing is to not aim for the head (he once bounced a 45-70 slug off a grizzly's skull, stunned it but didn't penetrate) but throw as much lead at it as fast as you can and try to break something, hopefully a shoulder. Once it is stopped then you can worry about killing it. I now carry a 7 shot Benelli M1 with ghost ring sights and my 29. My wife carries an Ithaca 37 deerslayer and a can of pepper spray. The only trouble with a shotgun (or rifle) is sooner or later you're going to have to put it down (yes, even if it has a sling). Three years ago while looking for firewood I leaned my Benelli against a tree to take a wiz. As I zipped up I noticed what looked like a gunstock sticking out of the ground about 30 feet in front of me. I only took a few steps toward it when I realized it was the lower part of a moose leg. There is no more sickening feeling in the world than realizing you just stumbled on to a fresh grizzly kill and your freakin' bear gun is leaning against a tree 20 feet behind you. And of course that day I left the 29 in the cabin and brought my Colt Woodsman along to shoot something for supper. The bear was standing about 50 feet away just watching me. Why he never charged I will never know but I figure he was stuffed on moose meat and too full to move. Since that day I never left the 29 behind again.
A few other things I learned in bear country. 1. Never run from a bear(easier said than done). Because it is a predator, running will only trigger it to chase and kill. 2. Always run from a moose. Because it is not a predator, if it charges you it has pretty much made up it's mind it is going to stomp you into the ground. 3. Most bears will run away before you ever know they are there, especially a sow with cubs(unless you get between her and her cubs). The most dangerous situation I can think of is what happened to me and while that one never charged, most are extremely protective of their kills and will attack anything they think is a threat. 4.Any big handgun that you have in your hand, even if the front sight is filed down, is better than the one you left back at the cabin.
And as for those little ankle bells they sell for hikers and backpackers who travel in bear country, a much better use would be to put them on your dog's collar. That way you can escape while the bear is eating your dog! And finally, Al Lee has a sign in his Air Taxi office at Tolsana Lake. It too warns people to wear the little bells when traveling in bear country. It also explains that you can tell you're in bear country when you find large piles of poop containing little bells. Pretty funny.
Thanks again. bj
Years ago an old timer convinced me the best bear gun was a 12ga. slug gun. He also said that when a bear decides to charge, the main thing is to not aim for the head (he once bounced a 45-70 slug off a grizzly's skull, stunned it but didn't penetrate) but throw as much lead at it as fast as you can and try to break something, hopefully a shoulder. Once it is stopped then you can worry about killing it. I now carry a 7 shot Benelli M1 with ghost ring sights and my 29. My wife carries an Ithaca 37 deerslayer and a can of pepper spray. The only trouble with a shotgun (or rifle) is sooner or later you're going to have to put it down (yes, even if it has a sling). Three years ago while looking for firewood I leaned my Benelli against a tree to take a wiz. As I zipped up I noticed what looked like a gunstock sticking out of the ground about 30 feet in front of me. I only took a few steps toward it when I realized it was the lower part of a moose leg. There is no more sickening feeling in the world than realizing you just stumbled on to a fresh grizzly kill and your freakin' bear gun is leaning against a tree 20 feet behind you. And of course that day I left the 29 in the cabin and brought my Colt Woodsman along to shoot something for supper. The bear was standing about 50 feet away just watching me. Why he never charged I will never know but I figure he was stuffed on moose meat and too full to move. Since that day I never left the 29 behind again.
A few other things I learned in bear country. 1. Never run from a bear(easier said than done). Because it is a predator, running will only trigger it to chase and kill. 2. Always run from a moose. Because it is not a predator, if it charges you it has pretty much made up it's mind it is going to stomp you into the ground. 3. Most bears will run away before you ever know they are there, especially a sow with cubs(unless you get between her and her cubs). The most dangerous situation I can think of is what happened to me and while that one never charged, most are extremely protective of their kills and will attack anything they think is a threat. 4.Any big handgun that you have in your hand, even if the front sight is filed down, is better than the one you left back at the cabin.
And as for those little ankle bells they sell for hikers and backpackers who travel in bear country, a much better use would be to put them on your dog's collar. That way you can escape while the bear is eating your dog! And finally, Al Lee has a sign in his Air Taxi office at Tolsana Lake. It too warns people to wear the little bells when traveling in bear country. It also explains that you can tell you're in bear country when you find large piles of poop containing little bells. Pretty funny.
Thanks again. bj
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I have a place in Alaska in the middle of grizzly country. I normally have my 12 ga. slug gun with me and my model 29 for backup but it has an 8 3/8" barrel and is a pain to carry. I'm thinking of getting a 629 with a 5" barrel. Any other suggestions? Thanks. 0 -
500 s&w
it's not the type of gun you have in the heat of a battle that counts, only if you have enough ammo for it, lets face it, a gun without ammo is only as good as a base ball bat!!0 -
I lived in AK in the mid 80s and the smallest acceptable caliber for Bear protection then was a 357 mag. 44 mags were preferred. I carried a 357 because 44s comanded such a premium I coudn't afford one at the time.
Now with all the big bores available, I might opt for a 480 Ruger. If you want to lighten the load, consider a S&W 329.
MOLON LABE!
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quote:Any other suggestions?
Just one. File the front site off , this will make it easier to remove from whichever cavity in your body the grizzly decides to stick it in.[:D][:D][:D][:D]
I've always followed my father's advice: he told me, first to always keep my word and, second, to never insult anybody unintentionally. If I insult you, you can be damn sure I intend to. And, third, he told me not to go around looking for trouble.
John Wayne0 -
It is my opinion that there is not a hand gun large enough to confront a Griz. That being said the 44mag, up to the 50A&E would be your only safe choice. These weigh as much as a good rifle. My pixk would be a modern 45-70 in a carbine configuration. My 2 cents [8D]
Greg
Former Marine
A N G L I C O0 -
casaul 454.(sp?) 0 -
If you are down to a handgun, regardless of caliber, in a fight with a grizzly remember one thing...
SAVE ONE ROUND FOR YOURSELF.
Justice through Valor
"Blessed be the Lord, my rock, who trains my hands for war" Psalm 1440 -
A 454 Casull, 480 Ruger, or 500S&W revolver would be a good choice. A DE 50AE would be good as well. Then there is the 45-70 BFR[;)]
Love them Beavers0 -
minimum .44 magnum / 6" BBL
a modern revolver (RUGER, BFR, FREEDOM ARMS, etc...) in .45 long colt with modern hunting ammo would be ideal.
the .500 S&W, .480 RUGER, .475 & 500 LINEBAUGH, .50 AE, etc... are good, but often very pricey.
best regards, mike.
What other dungeon is so dark as ones own heart, what jailer so inexorable as ones own mind.0 -
629 Classic, 5" barrel, preferably w/ power port, loaded with the heaviest solids you can get, would be a good compromise, 454 and 480 are good, but getting a shorter barrel is going to take some doing, or your going to end up with something like a Freedom Arms SA and that's going to cost some big money. Also get what ever you decide to use equipped with a lanyard. Now with that said you can always get your M-29 a new, shorter barrel and still use the heavy solids, even if that new barrel is not ported. You'll just have to muscle it a bit more.
Handgun is the last resort, the fight will be short and probably bloody as hell on both sides. Either you didn't get the job done with your long gun, or the "Griz" snookered you into a situation where you can't get it in play. Anyone that has spent time in Alaska knows the importance of a large bore handgun.
If you only have time to do two things so-so, or one thing well ... do the one thing!0 -
BJ;
Alaska you say, well I'll be darned, what part?
don't scrap your 8 3/8 yet, look for an upside down carry shoulder holster. the frame & butt of the gun ride under your arm & the barrel points up infront of the shoulder. not the best for consealment but the best way to carry a hand cannon comfortably.
the 44 mag loaded with 300 gr. bullets is a handfull (make you look for a place to attach a second handle) remember what ever gun or load you choose, DO NOT, DO NOT I say DO NOT use hollow points. if you should (& let us pray not) ever have to use it on a bear, you want maximum penetration to reach his vitals. hollow points mushroom and make a large shallow wound, probably a kill but not an instant knock-down. you will have to get the spine or heart to knock them down. best tack when in bear country is make plenty of noise, whistle a tune, talk, play a radio or tape player so you don't accidently sneak up on one. some hikers & workers attach bells to their packs & clothing to alert bears to their presence.
"all I really need to know I learned in kindergarten" Robert Fulghum
anyone who says "nobody needs a full auto" has never been in front of a brown bear charge0 -
one of them 12mm GyroJets would be a good choice, ammo is scarce though!!
SEMPER FI MAC, SEMPER FI0 -
A handgun, two cannisters of bear spray and alot of common sense.
Read the book "Mark of the Grizzly", detailing attacks on humans by grizzlys and the aftermath of the attacks.
Chris8161
Admit nothing, deny everything, demand proof!0 -
Freedom Arms Model 83 in .454 Casull or .475 Linebaugh with 6" barrel. Great gun, good balance, stainless, great action and fit, and not too heavy to carry.
Boomer
"Success is to be measured not so much by the position that one has reached in life as it is by the obstacles which one has overcome while trying to succeed"
. and the antithesis to this philosophy was uttered by Bill Clinton "I smoked it, but I didn't inhale."[V]
NRA Life Member0 -
Just shot my new Taurus 480 Ruger 8 3/4" barrel for the first time this past weekend. Put 15 rounds through it - after seeing the penetration results - I would definatly recommend it for a "last ditch stand" against a grizzly or any other life threatening animal where a rifle cannot be used.
John
Vietnam - Some Gave All -All Gave Some0 -
have to add my .02 on this topic... my BFR 45-70 with 300 JHP will blow clear through a pressure treated 6x6 post at 80 yards... i'd feel comfortable carrying it in Grizzlyville 0 -
thompson with 30 round mag,shoots pistol bullets so it qualifies! 0 -
12 ga shotgun with slugs. Personally, would not want it to get down to a handgun against a bear, especially a big one. On the other hand, the Eskimos use a 22 Hornet to take Polar bears and they are pretty tough too. Make up your own mind but there's my opinion. 0 -
Couldn't pass on the hikers and bell comment[}:)]
Several years back I'm up there and see these things for sale, and my buddy who live there year round said "yep, neat little things ... we call them dinner bells for bears"[:D]
But with the attempt at humor out of the way, making some type of noise will help alert a bear and if they are not on the "prod" they will move off. Most bears want nothing to do w/ people and I believe the majority of incidents are due to suprise, especially sows w/ cubs.
And in closing I will repeat the "lanyard" thing ... in a tussel you want to stay attached to your revolver as you may get the hell swatted out you. Also when camped and in your "kip" you want the handgun attached to you if something decides to start ripping away at your tent.
If you only have time to do two things so-so, or one thing well ... do the one thing!0
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