I'm not sure if this post is in the right place but here it goes. I am currently planning for an indefinite trip into the North West starting from California and going North up as far as BC and then east towards Montana. I will be by myself without a dog for most of the trip. I am fairly new to guns, shot a few shotguns, rifles and handguns. I'm looking to purchase one all around hand gun and was wondering what everyone carries to help make my decision. I will keep the firearm in my camper (popup) while sleeping and would potentially carry it on a holster when hiking in bear country. Although I am not planning to shoot a grizzly bear, I figured more of a noise maker than anything, I've hiked in Northern Montana and carried bear spray for that. I would like something super reliable, something that can get dirty and a little wet and still shoot. I want something not too heavy and not a huge hand cannon that I will most likely not be able to shoot consistently at a target. I will consider both revolvers and service pistols. What suggestions does everyone have? :REOutShootinghunter
Popup FWC traveling and guns
- Thread starter 4whtundra
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leelikesbikes
Adventurer
hmmm
well if your gonna carry a gun you should be pretty familiar and comfortable with it, otherwise it is a liability, do you have time to buy said gun and put at least 500 rounds through it and have shooting it be second nature? with that being said, i carry a glock 10mm, the 10mm round is ballistically very similar to a 357mag but being a semi auto has less recoil, it also holds 15 rounds, the most you can get in a 357 revolver is a SW 686 plus with 7 rounds. i have spent quite a bit of range time with this gun and it is very accurate and powerful enough to knock down most 2 or 4 legged vermin you should encounter. just my 2cents
well if your gonna carry a gun you should be pretty familiar and comfortable with it, otherwise it is a liability, do you have time to buy said gun and put at least 500 rounds through it and have shooting it be second nature? with that being said, i carry a glock 10mm, the 10mm round is ballistically very similar to a 357mag but being a semi auto has less recoil, it also holds 15 rounds, the most you can get in a 357 revolver is a SW 686 plus with 7 rounds. i have spent quite a bit of range time with this gun and it is very accurate and powerful enough to knock down most 2 or 4 legged vermin you should encounter. just my 2cents
GCecchetto
Adventurer
Just a heads up, it's next to impossible to get a handgun across the Canadian border. That being said, I would recommend a shotgun with a slug barrel with sites. Extend the magazine and load the first half of it with slugs and the second half with 00 buckshot. If a brown or a grizzly is coming at you he slugs will stop'm in his tracks. If you miss, most likley due to the panic that sets in when you see one coming at you, you'll have the forgiving coverage of the 00 to get the job done when he's getting close.
fwc gun
hello
spent 3 months in alaska a few years ago.took the alaska marine highway to kodiak to fish silvers.brought a shot gun with slugs for bear protection."saw many"
very easy to get accross border with this weapon.in the lower 48 just use common sense,bear spray,air horn.if i was traveling to montana i would be sure to cross
the border and go up thru sheep mtn park,banf and jasper
just my 2 cents
kevin
hello
spent 3 months in alaska a few years ago.took the alaska marine highway to kodiak to fish silvers.brought a shot gun with slugs for bear protection."saw many"
very easy to get accross border with this weapon.in the lower 48 just use common sense,bear spray,air horn.if i was traveling to montana i would be sure to cross
the border and go up thru sheep mtn park,banf and jasper
just my 2 cents
kevin
Thanks everyone for the advice. I've been shooting a couple 9mm's lately, a Sig Sauer and Glock. I was on the road to getting the Glock but thought to ask here first, I think I will shoot a .357 again and most likely go that route. Also I will most likely buy a "security" shotgun at big 5. Does anyone recommend a Mossberg over a Remington or visa versa? This way I will have the revolver for backpacking, I can leave it in the states while traveling into Canada and have the shotgun for that. I appreciate all the responses!
A handgun for protection against bears is marginal, and I wouldn't suggest that you rely upon it as a noisemaker. If you just want to make noise or repel bears, get an air horn or bear spray.
A handgun for your purposes (as opposed to target shooting, concealment or competition) should be the most powerful one that you can shoot accurately. You're on the right track with a large caliber Glock. You can easily have a 15+ round magazine of .40 or better, at least outside of CA. The long slide guns are very easy to shoot accurately. Consider a frame mounted light as well. But the shotgun will be better all around, if less portable.
And training, and a lot of it, please. Do a few IDPA-type competitions to get used to drawing from a holster and shooting quickly and safely and under a little stress. Buying the guns is the first step, but not the most important step.
A handgun for your purposes (as opposed to target shooting, concealment or competition) should be the most powerful one that you can shoot accurately. You're on the right track with a large caliber Glock. You can easily have a 15+ round magazine of .40 or better, at least outside of CA. The long slide guns are very easy to shoot accurately. Consider a frame mounted light as well. But the shotgun will be better all around, if less portable.
And training, and a lot of it, please. Do a few IDPA-type competitions to get used to drawing from a holster and shooting quickly and safely and under a little stress. Buying the guns is the first step, but not the most important step.
Don't know what exactly you want the gun for; it doesn't sound like exclusively for bear protection. But in case that's what you were thinking you, may want to read this.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/lifes...zzly-attacks/2012/03/26/gIQAmOfzbS_story.html
http://www.washingtonpost.com/lifes...zzly-attacks/2012/03/26/gIQAmOfzbS_story.html
To state the obvious, hunters regularly and successfully harvest bears with a handgun when they are the hunters and not the hunted. Even elephant have been harvested with a handgun. With that said.....
For aggressive bear protection, blacks or grizzly, forget about a handgun unless you are an accomplished shooter with nerve. Flinch once or twice and you are done. The verified documentation of stopping a charging bear with a handgun are very rare. I only recall one specifically with a .357 that was verified with video by Fish & Wildlife in Alaska and it took all six to do it. There are other incidents, but not many. The odds are greatly in favor of the charging bear when the average hiker is armed with a handgun. The one advantage of carrying a handgun for bear is that you may (falsely) feel secure enough that a bear senses you are not frightened and leaves you be. Bears don’t naturally go looking for trouble.
Picture a large mama bear who feels her cubs are threatened and charges. She comes at you at 30 mph from 40 yards away. You have only a few seconds to react, aim and shoot accurately. Under those circumstances, it takes a cool head to react effectively with a long gun, let alone a handgun.
A 12 gauge or large caliber center fire rifle is what the average woodsman needs if one is determined to draw down on an attacking bear. A long gun is 10x easier to shoot accurately and can be employed nearly as fast as a handgun when shoulder carried upside down. Google African Carry.
If it came down to me facing a large and angry bear with a 9mm / 357 handgun or bear spray, I would choose bear spray. The best bear protection is to be aware of your environment and act accordingly. On the rare occasions I armed myself for bear protection (Alaska), it was a 338 Magnum Winchester or 45-70 Marlin rifle.
Guns and bears are an entertaining and opinionated topic, but bear attacks are uncommon. You have much more to fear from 2 legged animals. For these bipeds a handgun is appropriate as the sight of one is quite discouraging to them and usually enough to make them look for easier prey.
Regarding B.C., check with Canadian authorities in advance as there are a few hoops to jump through to get a long gun into Canada legally.
For aggressive bear protection, blacks or grizzly, forget about a handgun unless you are an accomplished shooter with nerve. Flinch once or twice and you are done. The verified documentation of stopping a charging bear with a handgun are very rare. I only recall one specifically with a .357 that was verified with video by Fish & Wildlife in Alaska and it took all six to do it. There are other incidents, but not many. The odds are greatly in favor of the charging bear when the average hiker is armed with a handgun. The one advantage of carrying a handgun for bear is that you may (falsely) feel secure enough that a bear senses you are not frightened and leaves you be. Bears don’t naturally go looking for trouble.
Picture a large mama bear who feels her cubs are threatened and charges. She comes at you at 30 mph from 40 yards away. You have only a few seconds to react, aim and shoot accurately. Under those circumstances, it takes a cool head to react effectively with a long gun, let alone a handgun.
A 12 gauge or large caliber center fire rifle is what the average woodsman needs if one is determined to draw down on an attacking bear. A long gun is 10x easier to shoot accurately and can be employed nearly as fast as a handgun when shoulder carried upside down. Google African Carry.
If it came down to me facing a large and angry bear with a 9mm / 357 handgun or bear spray, I would choose bear spray. The best bear protection is to be aware of your environment and act accordingly. On the rare occasions I armed myself for bear protection (Alaska), it was a 338 Magnum Winchester or 45-70 Marlin rifle.
Guns and bears are an entertaining and opinionated topic, but bear attacks are uncommon. You have much more to fear from 2 legged animals. For these bipeds a handgun is appropriate as the sight of one is quite discouraging to them and usually enough to make them look for easier prey.
Regarding B.C., check with Canadian authorities in advance as there are a few hoops to jump through to get a long gun into Canada legally.
CJCA,
I think you are right on target with your post so to speak. I think the .357 is most likely what I am going to go with to keep in my camper. If I decide to venture to northern territories I will consider a 12 gauge but will most likely stick to bear spray while I am hiking in bear country. I am headed through Eureka on my trip, do you have any suggestions on good places to camp there or some must see spots before I venture out?
I think you are right on target with your post so to speak. I think the .357 is most likely what I am going to go with to keep in my camper. If I decide to venture to northern territories I will consider a 12 gauge but will most likely stick to bear spray while I am hiking in bear country. I am headed through Eureka on my trip, do you have any suggestions on good places to camp there or some must see spots before I venture out?