Black bear sidearm

[444Marlin]

I run with a 41 mag single action. Cowboy Style

Me too!  I love the .41 mag!

 

[BKMFR]

Currently packing a Glock 20 Gen 4, just added Leupold Delta Point Micro... 5 minute install(no need for milling, remove back sight slide in dovetail)) I was afraid it would be to small of site window compared to Leupold Delta Point I have on other handguns, but find it to be just fine - very fast, as a Red dot should be. Also just finished installing a Timney Alpha trigger, along with Wolfe barrel, and replaced rod and went with heavy spring for shooting 200 grain HSM cast lead bullets.... shooting good - fast and accurate with no issues. Probably never need it but fun putting it together and will be prepared if ever needed.... Practice does get expensive though!

[BKMFR]

Black bears might be carnivore, but honestly they are just big raccoons.
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I would worry in grizzly county, but honestly...
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Defence?
Only if you wound one.
..
Honest, I worry more about cougars ..
Them sneaky *censored*s have actually followed me.
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Whatever you can shoot quick, and accurate.
Or, a 12 guage..
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Nothing beats a shotgun at close range.
Most bears I see look like cubs, and they run away faster than anything.
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I know seeing all the pictures of bears people kill might scare you, but the actual average weight is less than 200 lbs..
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But, I hunt on the coast, and rarely see them.
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Unless they are dead in the back of somebody's truck, and usually around 100lbs, and fit in their cooler.

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I don't carry a sidearm to protect me from bears, but if I need one, my .357 is enough.
.

So how many black bears have you been involved in, just out of curiosity?

[KFhunter]

I've never had a black bear charge me (yet), even when I was baiting them when it was still legal here. 

I've had them popping their jaws, huffing and making displays, I've had them roar at me even when I scared a few but none have ever charged me (yet)

My buddy had one charge him, he had grouse dripping blood on his ATV exhaust pipe and he thinks that's why it ran at him, and the ATV was running! 
I didn't witness it, but he's not full of bs either so...there's that.




I've had grizz roar at me too, that was impressive!  but no grizz charges (yet), thank god!



I've had more mt lion encounters than I can remember, one followed me and the kids and dog out for a good 1/2 mile before I was armed all the time in the woods (that taught me!)
One lion sat behind me for who knows how long when I was sitting waiting for the other guys to meet up, I was blowing cow calls "just in case" and called that cat in, I turned around and it was..I dunno 10 feet behind me tail a going, I stood up and it spun around and booked it
plenty of other lions trying to ambush me while hunting elk and making calls...

I dunno why I use rabbit or deer distress when I see them so often making elk noises lol


Nothing has ever really scared me yet in the woods (yet)    No moose (yet), no people (yet), no wolves (yet) even though I was encircled numerous times none have charged (yet)


Moral of the story here? is (yet) keeps popping up over and over 

[knob221]

I don't know if it was mentioned yet, but a satellite communicator such as garmin in reach or a zoleo is a pretty good thing to have as your second line of defense when you're out of cell range whether it be black bears, broken legs, or hypothermia.

For my first line of defense, it depends on the scenario. I range from carrying nothing at all to just bear spray to both my rifle and my glock 20. There are a lot of reasons I go with a chest holster under my bino harness. Its a great option. The drawback is that aesthetically it is rather tactical and I don't always like the looks I get when hiking with it. That's just me though.

[High Climber]

@knob221
Is that a Razco holster or what do you have there?

[knob221]

@knob221
Is that a Razco holster or what do you have there?

Yes! I bought the combo bino harness and razco holster directly from marsupial gear. The holster is great, but I did have issues with the fasteners. A few of them had self-loosened and fell out after probably 15 days of use afield. I emailed razco and they sent me replacement fasteners, and in the future I will just periodically retighten them.