Sidearm for Black Bear.

[JJB11B]

Interesting fun facts:

Since 1997 Washington state has averaged 10 weapon related hunting accidents per year.  Average of three per year is from self inflicted wounds.  This is down dramatically from the height of the states hunting weapon related accidents which averaged more than 50 per year in the 60's.  No details I can find as to what the self inflicted numbers back then were.

In the past 100 years there have been seven reported black bear mauling's in Washington State.  One single fatality - a four year old playing at home in 1974.

So roughly you are 3X more likely to shoot yourself in Washington than be mauled by a bear.  And you are almost 8X more likely to be shot by someone else while hunting in Washington than being mauled by a bear. 

Does anyone know where I can get a camouflaged flak jacket?

Ive got a couple, and a matching helmet....

[MountainWalk]

I allow my kids to play in the woods without packing.


I've killed 12 bears, even had a close call or two, but never anything to whine about.  Rad Sav's post earlier this afternoon sums it up, pretty much.     There's nothing I can do better with any sort of pistol, than I can do with my peep sighted rifle.  Wonder how many Kodiak and Afognak. And Raspberry island bear guides pack pistols in thick brush as opposed to a rifle.  Brush grows thick up there I hear......

[Torrent50]

I carry a Glock 22 .40 s&w.  Not bashing but have a hi point .380 and I would never carry it as a side arm.  I love plinking with it though.  I need something i can drop in the mud pull it out and shoot.  The glock can do that.  Maybe i am harder on guns:'(

Make sure you get that fireing pin changed in the glock, they are known to fly out the rear of the slide while being fired. My firearms insructor recommended to many in my class who own that firearm, (he had pin fly out and go through nose into eye orbital). I believe it's  around $35.00 for the upgrade. Wish I could afford a glock, for now my Hi-Point does me better than nothing, and I would trust my life to it. If you keep them cleaned and lubricated than they function just fine.

Odd.  I carry a Glock 29 in the woods and have been shooting and instructing with Glocks for between 15 and 20 years.  I have also been to several armorers courses for them and I have NEVER seen that happen or heard of that happening.

Well, that's the first thing that my instructor Garry Johns told or class about Glocks. 15-20 years more experience than I have, but Garry John's is a retired police officer of 30 years, shoots competition still to this day, and has more than 40 years of experience with handguns/pistols.He also had a fireing pin from a GLOCK go through his nose into his eye orbital. Ill ask him in next Mondays class about which type of replacement he recommends for the Glock. And if you were implying that that was a lie, I can ensure you that Garry wouldn't lie, he is a man of 100% INTEGRITY.

Touchy, touchy, touchy.  Who said anything about it being a lie.  I simply stated that I have extensive experience with Glocks and have spoken to others who have even more and are advanced level Glock armorers and have never heard of that.  To say they are known to fly out the back of the slide is a bit of a stretch.  The only way that could happen is if the plate on the rear of the slide failed or was installed improperly.  I have also never heard of one of them failing, not to say that it couldn't happen.  I would be very interested in talking to or corresponding with him about his experience as I am still in that field of work and carry a Glock every day.  If you have an email address for him and would be willing to PM that to me I can reach out to him and find out the details. 

[fisheral87]

I carry an Sp101 3 inch .357 mag, mostly cuz it makes me look cool. 

[RadSav]

The accidents are down since the 60's because all the crazy people moved to archery.   

    Funny

Maybe it's because all the crazy rules and regulations there are 75% fewer hunters in the woods

I know there are fewer young hunters in the woods these days.  Somewhere in the WDFW archives they have a graph of accidents by age.  I remember that being pretty high for 10-20 year olds.  Not sure if that graph was only Washington hunters or nation wide.  Probably much the same either way.

I carry an Sp101 3 inch .357 mag, mostly cuz it makes me look cool. 

Didn't they make a 6 round model recently?  I've only ever shot the 5 round and never at an animal.
As a guy with small hands I always liked the SP101. 

[tgomez]

Some good selections, keep em coming. Anyone take a Judge style with them? You know the one that shoots the .44 and .410 shells. I've always wanted one of those, that's a nice piece!

[mountainman]

454 Casull and 44 mag M629. have stopped several more with rifle, one at barrel length..it happens if your out there enough..

[tonymiller7]

I think im going to wrestle one since there is nothing to worry about. Do you think a Rock bottom or people's elbow will do? Ask someone who has been mauled by a bear if there is NOTHING TO WORRY ABOUT! SIDEARMS SAVE LIVES. Look I've never had an bad encounter with a bear either guys/gals, but I know we all have family that depends on us returning safe and sound. My recommendation is to bring and pack your sidearm.

I guarantee a bear would kick out of a Rock Bottom or People's Elbow, however the Stone Cold Stunner would put them down for good!   

[tgomez]

I think im going to wrestle one since there is nothing to worry about. Do you think a Rock bottom or people's elbow will do? Ask someone who has been mauled by a bear if there is NOTHING TO WORRY ABOUT! SIDEARMS SAVE LIVES. Look I've never had an bad encounter with a bear either guys/gals, but I know we all have family that depends on us returning safe and sound. My recommendation is to bring and pack your sidearm.

I guarantee a bear would kick out of a Rock Bottom or People's Elbow, however the Stone Cold Stunner would put them down for good!   

Ahh there it is, the good ol Stone Cold Stunner!

[fisheral87]

Steve Austin is a patsy.

There, I said it.

[fisheral87]

Didn't they make a 6 round model recently?  I've only ever shot the 5 round and never at an animal. As a guy with small hands I always liked the SP101.

For its size and the advantage of the .357, it's a great backup gun. The higher power rounds are manageable with the $20 hogue rubber grips. I don't have large hands either. I have had a Smith .460 and .500, they never fit my hand and at that point I'd rather have the shotty with slugs.

I have not seen the sp101 in a .357, 6 cylinder config. They do make a 6 shooter, GP100 3" with Talo Custom modifications that is pretty sweet, but twice the cost of a stock sp101. I anticipate being lucky to get of one maybe two shots in a self defense situation. After that you'll be close enough to put it right in the Bears ribs, if you're lucky.

Knew a guide in AK that had a .41 Mag I believe, nice little piece.

Al

[magnumb]

I have seen a wounded Black bear killed with a 9mm at about 3 feet. I have seen a wounded black bear killed at about 3 feet with a 357. I have seen a black bear shot with a 44 mag 240 grain bullet, soft point Winchester. already wounded, the bullets penetrated about 3 inches. did not kill it.
that said I have killed bear at lots of ranges with lots of guns. I have seen bear shot numerous times with good cartridges, and wounded. it is all, ALL, where then bullet hits.
Carl

Im with you 100% my friend, BULLET PLACEMENT.

Bullet placement is paramount to realizing a responsible and efficient dispatch.....of any animal.  But as important as bullet placement is, it does not stand alone as the only factor in that regard.  If that were true, most would carry .22's for the task the OP is inquiring about. 

All opinions are as valid as one wants to believe they are........mine being no different.  Given that.......a .9mm would be generally considered better than a rock, but that doesn't make it a prudent nor safe choice.  A full power .357, 10mm., .41 through .44mag. on up is certainly better.

Good placement with any of these is no less important, but there is obviously a bit more wiggle room when these cartridges are employed.  Sometimes when we believe that what options we've decided to place are trust in are 'sufficient' for the job or possibilities that we may face, we take chances that we might not otherwise take.  And oftentimes these choices are based on financial, 'gut', economic priorities and other reasons beyond our immediate control and we have to necessarily make due with what we have, ie, "better than a rock".

My 4" 629 is handloaded with 300gr. Beartooth bullets that plain destroy things.....big, thick, hard things.  And when I place them exactly where I want to or even very close to where I intend, there is mass destruction and no thought of it being just a step or two higher on the "better than a rock" scale.

Confidence, especially in traumatic and quickly evolving situations, allows for more calmness in all situations.  In a scenario involving employing a firearm in a protection situation, calmness would also allow for better shot placement.  If there is even the slightest doubt that your chosen cartridge will not stop what is now 100% dedicated to trying to maul, murder or kill you, your confidence level in the firearm and cartridge you've just employed better also be at a full 100%......or better.  If not, as stated earlier, your confidence/calmness level will be compromised, your shot placement compromised and your full attention to the object of your terror will be compromised because you are already thinking about other options that you must now consider to survive this confrontation.

Having a ballistically proven, well documented 'stopper' cartridge and reliable firearm on your person, one that you've become very proficient with, can help to eliminate all of those compromises.  Bullet placement is therefore no more or less important than several other major factors that all need to be in place in order to survive that which itends to do us harm.

Sooo......I would suggest that anytime one feels it necessary to respond to a ballistics related comment with, "well, it's better than a rock", he or she already knows that they are 'undergunned' in regards to the question asked......IMHO.

Good luck........... 

 

 

[tgomez]

Don't feel under armed at all. I'll be carrying a .30-06 and a 9mm, ill be just fine! And like I said, BETTER THAN A ROCK! Seen a man kill a bear with a .243 at 250 yards one shot kill! It is truly ALL about bullet placement. You don't need BIG MAGNUM calibers to get the job done, you just need a well placed shot or two. For you to tell me how I feel about my firearms is just asinine of you my friend!

[BULLBLASTER]

Don't feel under armed at all. I'll be carrying a .30-06 and a 9mm, ill be just fine! And like I said, BETTER THAN A ROCK! Seen a man kill a bear with a .243 at 250 yards one shot kill! It is truly ALL about bullet placement. You don't need BIG MAGNUM calibers to get the job done, you just need a well placed shot or two. For you to tell me how I feel about my firearms is just asinine of you my friend!

I read your posts and just think "wow..."

[MountainWalk]

You really won't leave this subject alone, will ya?