Protection When hiking

[DDG]

I hike a lot in the local mountains when camping. I’m looking for a small gun to carry for protection against wildlife. I know some will post that I need to be more concerned about the “two legged creatures”. However, on two occasions I have had to give my food to bears. My concern is what happens when the food is not enough.

Realistically, it needs to be something small and light enough that I will have it with me. Otherwise, I would bring the shotgun. I feel my 92FS is too big for comfort.

Please, for the sake of this discussion, assume that I am legally carrying. It will be a rostered gun in CA.

I would like it to be comfortable enough to shoot that I can use it for plinking. What’s the point of having a gun you don’t want to shoot?

FYI - The California Black Bear is the biggest thing I'm concered about.

[ap3572001]

I carry a Smith nd Wesson 3" EFFECTOR ( by Jovino's of NY) 629-1 in 44 magnum and a spare speed loader. OR A Glock 23 with 180 grain HST ammunition OR a 3" model 66 with 145 Grain W-W silvertips or 147 HS 357 magnum .

[cineski]

3 Choices: Glock 29 w/ 200 grain XTP's (IMO your best choice if not considering a Glock 20), S&W 329PD 44 mag, S&W airlight 357 mag snubby. With what you're looking for, the Glock 29 will be the most comfortably shooting of these choices (although I've not shot the last two examples).

[hamster]

I'm thinking some revolver in 44mag. You could use 44spl for plinking. But I think a revolver might be too big if you already think that your 92FS is too big. Perhaps a 10mm might do, but ammo is somewhat hard to come by and might be too costly for plinking.

[Ballistic043]

your wanting protection from bears but you dont want to carry a large handgun because its heavy.



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first of all, bears will laugh at you and your 38sp, 9mm or 45. i have no idea how you think anything less than a .44 magnum could be suitable for a black bear with retractable claws and thick skin. these things will take DEER SLUGS and keep coming at you, my friend. its been documented.

what you do, is stop feeding wildlife first of all. then get (At the bare minimum) a .44 magnum revolver with some quality ammunition. then at least you will have a chance at not becoming some bears poop on the trail. otherwise you can just do something more practical, like get bear spray.

ill be damned if i carry something inferior because it makes my hike more comfortable

[jdberger]

your wanting protection from bears but you dont want to carry a large handgun because its heavy.



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first of all, bears will laugh at you and your 38sp, 9mm or 45. i have no idea how you think anything less than a .44 magnum could be suitable for a black bear with retractable claws and thick skin. these things will take DEER SLUGS and keep coming at you, my friend. its been documented.

what you do, is stop feeding wildlife first of all. then get (At the bare minimum) a .44 magnum revolver with some quality ammunition. then at least you will have a chance at not becoming some bears poop on the trail. otherwise you can just do something more practical, like get bear spray.

ill be damned if i carry something inferior because it makes my hike more comfortable

....reminds me of the old joke about the bear and the hunter...."you're not really here for the hunting, are you?"

[sonico]

USFW Bear attack facts: 50% of people who defensively engage a bear with a gun are injured. 98% of those who used bear spray escaped injury.

Concerned about bears? Carry bear spray. Concerned about people while hiking too? Unless you have ccw, carry bear spray (shh).

I would go out in the middle of nowhere and practice so you see what kind of distance/spread you get with your spray.

[Z ME FLY]

Glock 29?

[Bug Splat]

I used to carry my Tracker in 357 in my backpack while hiking. We only have mountain lions where we hike. Bear spray is a great idea and is very effective and its easier to carry than a RPG.

As far as CCWing, unless a park ranger is willing to come with me and my family to protect us I will carry. No one for miles, no phone service, no roads, no help. I have zero regrets.

[neuron]

USFW Bear attack facts: 50% of people who defensively engage a bear with a gun are injured. 98% of those who used bear spray escaped injury.

Concerned about bears? Carry bear spray. Concerned about people while hiking too? Unless you have ccw, carry bear spray (shh)...

How about carrying BOTH? Maybe good advice (carry both OC and gun) when CCW'ing, too. Situational awareness applies while hiking as well. Try not to get surprised by a bear (or a big cat...which is more likely in the CA wilderness). Keep your eyes open and don't hike listening to your i-pod...

If your spray fails, resort to your gun. I can't say what handgun would be good "bear defense," but I'd guess the biggest handgun you can shoot accurately and quickly with good followup shots if needed. Maybe a 9mm like your 92FS with a full capacity mag loaded with good ammo would serve in the gravest extreme. It might be a question of "bear defense" vs. "bare defense."

Bare defense may be better than no defense. What about the 2% of those relying only on spray who didn't escape uninjured? Were they killed and eaten?

[professionalcoyotehunter]

The worst thing you can do is feed the bears.

[nmerced]

1. Bring a friend.
2. Make sure you can outrun your friend.

[gun toting monkeyboy]

Most places out in the boonies are legal for LOC. Check to be sure before you go, but most are in unicorporated areas.

As for what to carry, the bear spray is nice. But I also like to have something a little more potent with me. I normally carry one of the following:
.38 Super
.40 S&W
.400 Corbon (my favorite)
.44 Special
.45 Colt
.45 ACP

Charter arms makes a .44 Special bulldog revolver that is on the list here in CA. It is a dandy plinker, with enough ooomph to deter most critters, regardless of the number of legs. And it makes nice .44 caliber holes in Bre'r Rabbit without ruining all of the meat. A real handy lttle gun. The only limitation is it only holds 5 rounds. I have never had to use more than 2 (the stupid bunny ducked), but a couple extra would be nice if there were actually bears around.

-Mb

[willm952]

From my understanding, bear spray needs to be relatively close within 10 feet or less. Since its a spray, be careful of the wind direction. Getting it back in your face would suck and be a humiliating death.

Also, there's more and more reports of marijuana farms in the national forests, usually by a source of water and quick escape path. Definitely carry a gun for the illegal aliens planting that crap in our forests. Bear spray for the "bears".
Defense whistle that can heard a mile away or so as a previous poster mentioned.

Hope this helps. Have fun and be safe.

[k1dude]

Between the 2 legged predators, bears, cougars, rattlers, and the wind strength and direction, a gun is often better than pepper spray.

There are good lightweight titanium (or scandium for S&W) revolvers from S&W and Taurus in .357 magnum, .41 magnum, and .44 magnum with 2" to 4" barrels that would fit the bill perfectly. If I happen to find myself in a wrestling match with any of the above predators while trying to squeeze off a shot, I don't want a semi-auto. Give me the reliability of a revolver.

If you want something really light and small but with far less punch, consider a Kahr PM40 (unfortunately a semi-auto). It'll work on most everything in California if you have good shot placement and the right load. Unfortunately the Kahr PM45 isn't on the roster.

Edit: I just checked and it appears Taurus has discontinued their total titanium .41 and .44. But you might still find them somewhere.