OT - Handgun advice

[scorpio]

Calling all pistol enthusiasts:

I'm considering purchasing a handgun for backpacking (ideally lightweight), also to be used for home defense. I want something that will stop a bear, if need be. I've been looking at the Glock 30 (.45 auto), but I've never shot a Glock and I know some people have concerns about their safety mechanism. I've never bought a pistol before and all of my experience comes from guns that belonged to friends and family, so I have lots of newb questions. Am I better off with an automatic or a revolver? Single or double action? Do you find that modern designs handle better than say a 1911? Do modern pistols require more maintenance? etc....

Anyway, lots of dumb questions I know, but any advice would be appreciated.

[Hogan11]

Paging Alec Raenos......paging Mr. Alec Raenos.

[watermock]

I have heard that Glocks have a hair trigger, maybe I'm wrong. If your worried about Smokey the Bear, you definitely need a large caliber/magnum tho, and probably keep on the move. They tend to get kinda pissed if all you can do is poke a .22 in a shoulder. .45's have alot of kick tho, it might shoot high if your not holding with both hands. I would get a semi-automatic if your worried about bears. I know that bears have really multiplied while their habitat has shrunk. Don't ever put your garbage near your tent. If you see Cubs, like Slappy, DO NOT approach them, Momma Bear is sure to be nearby. I don't know where you plan on hiking, but if some bear attacks you and your fortunate enough to drop it before it rips your scalp off, some Ranger will probably drag your ass off to jail anyway.

I would agree Alec is probably the right maniac to give you advice. I certainly wouldn't want a gun with a tricky safety. I think Glocks pulled are pretty much made for warfare. Honestly, I don't know all that much, I have a Winchester Model 12 which is basically a collectable. (1912 design, pump 12 gauge). Put some slugs in that puppy and it will drop an elephant.

[Raiders Rock]

[watermock]

Notice the DANGER warning about the trigger in that picture.

[Spider]

Originally Posted by scorpiosnow

Calling all pistol enthusiasts:

I'm considering purchasing a handgun for backpacking (ideally lightweight), also to be used for home defense. I want something that will stop a bear, if need be. I've been looking at the Glock 30 (.45 auto), but I've never shot a Glock and I know some people have concerns about their safety mechanism. I've never bought a pistol before and all of my experience comes from guns that belonged to friends and family, so I have lots of newb questions. Am I better off with an automatic or a revolver? Single or double action? Do you find that modern designs handle better than say a 1911? Do modern pistols require more maintenance? etc....

Anyway, lots of dumb questions I know, but any advice would be appreciated.

Depending on the size and breed of the bear , most bears you shoot with anything Smaller then a 30.06 you just piss him off ........
I dont know where you are going backpacking , but here in Wyoming , the bears havent got that bad yet , though it is still wise to run a tight camp , no need to take chances ....... as for the rest of your question , I like the .357 mag 280 grain man stoppers , revolver 6 shot , but then if you cant hit somthing wit h6 shots you dont need a gun , you need a shot gun @ close range

[Spider]

The best weapon I found is a hot shot ( cattle Prod for the city boys ) you zap someone wit hthat and hold it there pumping juice ...... I would imagine it would work on a bear , just about anything you come acrossed well except for a moose

[Hogan11]

Originally Posted by §Pide®

Depending on the size and breed of the bear , most bears you shoot with anything Smaller then a 30.06 you just piss him off ........

Is that true? They'll laugh @ a couple of .12 hollowpoint slugs??

[watermock]

12 GAUGE slugs out of a shotgun dummy. They are as big around as a nickle and have a full shotgun cartridge pushing them. But it's only effective at relatively close range, 50 yards and in, and it's also cumbersome.

[scorpio]

Originally Posted by §Pide®

Depending on the size and breed of the bear , most bears you shoot with anything Smaller then a 30.06 you just piss him off ........
I dont know where you are going backpacking , but here in Wyoming , the bears havent got that bad yet , though it is still wise to run a tight camp , no need to take chances ....... as for the rest of your question , I like the .357 mag 280 grain man stoppers , revolver 6 shot , but then if you cant hit somthing wit h6 shots you dont need a gun , you need a shot gun @ close range

I do most of my hiking in Colorado's Front Range and San Juan mountains, but I make sure to make at least one extended trip to the Wyoming Bighorns every summer (grew up in Buffalo). I know bears aren't a big concern in Wyoming, but there have been a couple recent bear attacks in Colorado. Anyway, I'm not necessarily concerned about running into a bear (moreso a mountain lion), but I want to have the option.

[Bronx33]

Originally Posted by Raiders Rock

Yep the military picked this weapon for a reason and for what you want it for it's perfect and when your friends ask you can say yaaaaaaaaaaa i got a glock.10mm should be perfect.

[Spider]

Originally Posted by Hogan11

Is that true? They'll laugh @ a couple of .12 hollowpoint slugs??

a bear is an awesome creature , I have came acrossed 1 my entire life , I screamed like a school girl and ran for the truck luckly for me the bear ran the other direction , But yeah a buddy of mine 5 years ago was in the rattle snake mountian Range , he came acrossed one , He shot with a 44 mag 3 times hitting the bear Shoulder and the Belly , and the bear still kept comming , he locked himself in the camper , and the Bear damn near came through , he fired 2 more time, and the Bear left , Him and tim followed the trail of blood , untill they couldnt follow it anymore , so no one knows for sure if the bear died ........ I asked if it was a Grizzley , he gave me a funny look and said , Spider I didnt ask ....

[Mediator12]

All depends on price range. Definitely .40 cal or up. I have a H&K USP .40 CAL. 3,000 ROUNDS W/O misfire. Special forces uses an even more robust H&K Mark 23 .40cal.

If you want to stop bears with a handgun though, you would probably need an illegal load for the gun.

[Spider]

Originally Posted by scorpiosnow

I do most of my hiking in Colorado's Front Range and San Juan mountains, but I make sure to make at least one extended trip to the Wyoming Bighorns every summer (grew up in Buffalo). I know bears aren't a big concern in Wyoming, but there have been a couple recent bear attacks in Colorado. Anyway, I'm not necessarily concerned about running into a bear (moreso a mountain lion), but I want to have the option.

Buffalo , sweet country there ..... I bet you miss it ...... Yeah it is odd Bears have not been active for a few years now .... Those Cats are a-holes Bro ...

[watermock]

Someone posted a picture of a Grizzly here, which makes a black bear look like a kitten. I can't remember the thread, but I guess the thing was looking into a second story window.

[Hogan11]

Originally Posted by watermock

12 GAUGE slugs out of a shotgun dummy. They are as big around as a nickle and have a full shotgun cartridge pushing them. But it's only effective at relatively close range, 50 yards and in, and it's also cumbersome.

Well a thousand pardons there chief.....I've never seen a bear in the wild much less know what it takes to bring one down....hence, my question.

[Spider]

Originally Posted by watermock

Someone posted a picture of a Grizzly here, which makes a black bear look like a kitten. I can't remember the thread, but I guess the thing was looking into a second story window.

Some Grizzly's are black in color , you cant go from Color , the ears and the infamous grizzly hump are the easist , you can also tell from the shape of their muzzle , but if you are that close it realy doesnt matter , you are in deep ****

[watermock]

Don't worry, he's just sleeping PETA. BTW, I doubt they brought that big fella down with a pistol.

[Hogan11]

They had some pretty gruesome pics of a bear attack on here somewhere as well I believe......

[Spider]

This is a black bear

[GreatBronco16]

How bout these?

http://world.guns.ru/handguns/hg72-e.htm

Lots of handguns listed there that you can search through and read up on.

[watermock]

JEDEDIAH S. SMITH



Mountainman Explorer


Jedediah S. Smith was a trailblazer, brigade leader, and partner in two fur-trading companies whose travels took him throughout Utah and the West. Born in 1799, he was the first American after the Astorians to cross west over the Continental Divide, rediscovering South Pass; the first to cross overland to California, and in so doing journey the length of Utah; the first to traverse the Sierra Nevada; and the first to cross the Great Basin Desert.

In 1822 Jedediah Smith became one of the original "Ashley Men," trappers under the command of William Ashley. He ascended the Missouri River that spring under Andrew Henry's command and spent his first winter on the Musselshell River. In the spring of 1823 Smith was sent downriver to find Ashley's main group, at which time he proved his worth as a leader.

Though he was an accomplished outdoorsman, Smith did not fit the stereotype of the typical mountain man. He never drank, never used tobacco, never boasted and was rarely humorous. Another rare quality was his strident faith. Smith was very religious and often prayed and meditated. When fellow trapper John Gardner died, Smith gave the eulogy, as recorded by expedition member Hugh Glass:

"Mr. Smith, a young man of our company made a powerful prayer which moved us all greatly and I am persuaded John died in peace."

Smith proved himself a leader quickly on the trail. On his second expedition, he was attacked by a grizzly bear. The bear came out of the thicket and mauled Smith violently, throwing him to the ground, smashing his ribs and literally ripping off his scalp. When the attack was over, the scalp was hanging on to his head by an ear. Smith instructed Jim Clyman to sew it back on. Clyman did the best he could, but thought nothing could be done for the severed ear. Smith insisted that he try. According to Clyman,

"I put my needle sticking it through and through and over and over laying the lacerated parts together as nice as I could with my hands."
After two weeks of rest, Smith resumed his duty as captain of the party.

[GreatBronco16]

Here's a nice .357 magnum. The one with the 8 inch barrel.

http://world.guns.ru/handguns/hg83-e.htm

[Raiders Rock]

Originally Posted by GreatBronco16

Here's a nice .357 magnum. The one with the 8 inch barrel.

http://world.guns.ru/handguns/hg83-e.htm

Thats a nice weapon but it is probably a bit bulky to carry in a back pack.

[scorpio]

Cool ****, thanks to everyone so far for the advice