Back Up Gun in Woods

[JLK]

Which would you cconsider the best back up gun in the woods against either a Bear or a Large Boar. 45 acp 357 magnum.
Also being that most hangun ammo is made for expansion in a thin skinned Human. Would you use a Full Medal Jacket.

[g.willikers]

If it had to be a handgun, the .357 with penetrating, heavy bullets in hunting loads would be my choice.
A .44 Magnum would be even better.

[Doyle]

In Fl, definately the .357. I keep the first 2 cylinders loaded with CCI snake loads. If I need a solid bullet, I can thumb the cylinder around twice.

[MandolinMan]

between those two choices definitely 357 magnum as it is much deeper penetrating cartridge. If 45 auto was my only option I would go a round like this one from DoubleTap: http://www.doubletapammo.net/index.p...product_id=650

The better choice would be a larger caliber revolver, a shotgun loaded with slugs, or a rifle in .30-30 and or larger caliber. Bears and Boars are both extremely resilient creatures.

[JLK]

I have ben thinking of getting a 44 Mag. but every where I look there is no 44 ammo available.

[jmr40]

My personal choice is a Glock 10mm loaded hot. A 357 revolver, properly loaded will do just fine. Both are about equal with the best loads out of comparable sized guns. The Glock just gives me more ammo and a lighter more compact gun. The only reason to step up to 44 over 357 is if larger grizzly's are a concern. It is more about bullet choice and shot placement than caliber.

[L-NH]

I carry a Ruger GP100 with a 4.2" barrel when I am out in the woods. It is one of the best 357 magnum revolvers on the market in my humble opinion.

[Biff Tannen]

Between the two I'd pick the .357 with a 4" barrel or over.

[loademwell]

Bigger the better in my book. .357 For sure if I had to chose between them. But I would have to say YES on 44 Mag.

Be careful, I think you can get in some trouble if you have ANY FMJ in any gun while hunting. I know that's the case here in WI.

[Auto5]

My woods gun is a 3" Ruger SP101, but coyotes are far more common than bears or boars in my neck of the woods. If I needed something bigger, I'd probably take my 5 1/2 inch Super Blackhawk, or at least my .45LC Vaquero (Yeah, I'm a Ruger guy.)

[montanaoffroader]

If I lived down south, I would go for the .357 magnum. Plenty of gun for the job, lots of ammo flexibility.

I carried a Colt .357 for years out on the West Coast, nowadays I live in grizzly country so I pack a 5 1/2" Super Blackhawk. But I still have the old
Colt, and I wouldn't hesitate to bring it out of retirement if the need arises.

[boondocker385]

you said "back up gun"....what primary are you thinking to carry?

[Theohazard]

Originally Posted by jmr40

My personal choice is a Glock 10mm loaded hot.

I agree 100%. Loaded with the right ammo a 10mm is no slouch. And I'm much more accurate with follow-up shots from a Glock 20 than I am with a revolver thanks to the trigger and the lower felt recoil. Also the extra capacity and durability of the Glock is a plus, along with the fact I'd much rather rough up a Glock than a nice revolver.

[tangolima]

I will drop the .357 Sig barrel in my Glock 23 and load it with warm hand loads.

-TL

[TimSr]

you said "back up gun"....what primary are you thinking to carry?

My question also.


Go .454 Casull and never worry if yu brought enough gun.

[Mannlicher]

Not much chance of needing it down here in North Florida, but I always carry a Ruger SA in .45 Colt, or .44 Mag, when hunting.
There are times when I'll lean the rifle against an Oak tree, and wade into a swamp, or crawl through the Palmettos though. Then, the revolver becomes very necessary.

[JLK]

You ask what's the Primary gun.
Win model 70 in 308

[Rifleman1776]

Black bears and boars are skittish critters and present no threat to people. I don't live in grizzly territory so that is not an issue. I used to carry a Ruger Old Army during muzzle loader season and a Redhawk .44 mag. during modern rifle season but gave them up as being heavy and unnecessary. Now, if in the woods I'll have my Ruger Single Six with mag. rounds in it. Only possible threat are mary-jane farmers and they are around only in summer weather.

[boondocker385]

.357 mag given the choices.

[Colt46]

More penetration is key with larger animals. Choose a heavier weight bullet as well- they will penetrate deeper.

[SansSouci]

JLK,

CA has some of the largest black bears in the nation. I've seen bears that weighted at least 400 lbs roaming the Sierra Nevada. There are huge bears roaming the San Gabriel Mountains that are just outside of LA. When you get a chance, Google: "Samson hot tub bear." That 700 lb+ specimen came out of the San Gabriel Mountains.

A game warden told me that CA black bears are among the largest in the nation because our temperate climate allows for shorter hibernation periods, and campers and homeowners in bear habitat leave a substantial food supply for them.

When I'm off trails in the Sierra Nevada, I carry a 1911A1 loaded with 9 rounds of 230 grain +P .45 ACP ammo. For me, a 1911A1 is easier to carry, quicker to reload, and has a natural point. However, I can see the rationale of going with a .357 Mag. In fact, the .357 Mag might just be the best trail weapon.

BTW, another factor influencing my decision to go with a 1911A1 is CA has over 30 million people, not all are law abiding. Years ago "Outside" magazine ranked Angeles National Forrest as the most deadly in the nation. The San Gabriels are in Angeles National Forrest.

[SansSouci]

Rifleman1776,

A male black bear in rut is the most dangerous animal in North America. National Geographic airs a program now-and-then about how dangerous male black bears can become when their mating and how many people have been killed by them.

When we fish in the high Sierra, we ALWAYS give bears right-of-way. If a bear meanders into our fishing area, we leave. If a bear wants what we have, we will drop it and back away. We never confront bears. Thank God, I have never had to shoot one. However, I would w/o blinking were a bear to endanger my kids. I have no interest in shooting a bear. I do have interest in keeping my kids alive.

BTW, at least a decade ago I was watching a fishing show on ESPN when it aired such shows on Saturday mornings. In one episode, a fisherman talked about how a black bear in a remote locale in Canada took a 3 year-old girl off of her front porch, and she was never seen again. That would be beyond devastating.

[SaxonPig]

You have a rifle in your hands and you want to carry the extra weight of a "back up" pistol? Call me kooky but if I have a 30-06 rifle in my hands and I need to shoot something I think I'll use the 30-06.

Animal attacks on humans are very, very rare. If it does happen, you probably won't have time to be drawing a pistol. Better use the gun in your hands.

Be aware that in some states where handgun hunting is not allowed it may be illegal to carry a pistol while hunting.

[JLK]

If I was hunting I would have a rifle in my hand, I am not that good at folowing a fast moving animal with a scope . Also if I was fishing I wouldn't have a rifle in my hand. But the real purpose of my question wasn't as much about the guns in my hand but what bullets are the best against these animals.
Thanks, I learn alot from these discusions

[buck460XVR]

Are attacks from Wild boars while fishing a real threat? If not and all you need is protection from bears, I suggest bear spray. In the hands of someone that unfamiliar and inexperienced with handguns they need to ask, which gun and which ammo, the spray is more accurate and more effective.