Bear and other critter gun

60 buckscash

60 buckscash

Joined
Oct 21, 2008
Messages
913
Likes
63
Location
Sunny Florida
Feedback: 19 / 0 / 0
My mom is looking at hiking The Vermont Long Trail from MA to Canada. She has come to me, the gun nut of the family, with what would be the best thing for her to have during her 270+ mile walk in the woods. I have come up with a short list of "anti bear" guns, and am wondering what you all think and may be able to offer for advice.

44 mag revolver: Pro simple, easy to use, rugged, light, quick follow up shot
Con heavy recoil, limited use

45-70/44mag lever action: Pro less recoil, rugged, long gun
Con heavy, slower follow up, limited use, long gun

12g w/assorted loads(already owned): Pro versital(food gathering if needed), rugged
Con heavy, slower follow up

I would be joining her for at least 1 week and she would be traveling with about 5 people (2 of them minors). I would be sending her with 2 guns (a 9mm and one of the above), spread out between 2 of the adults in the group. Weight is a concern, but not as high as safety. What do you guys think?
 
A S&W 329PD has been on my shopping list for awhile, I always wanted a light (26oz unloaded) 44 mag to bring backpacking. Plus is purrty.
 
Another option might be one of the mossberg 20 ga pistol grip only shotguns. These will weigh a little more than a 44 mag/500 S&W bear gun, but pack one hell of o wallop, and a little easier to control. Also, multiple types of rounds can be brought for different situations.
 
MA to CA I'd think two legged varmints and maybe a rabid coyote would be the likely problems. Unless they are bathing with bacon fat bears would be a low concern for me in that area. Remember to have a Canada plan for the firearms. Couple of 38 revolvers would probably work. From what I've heard people that hike those distances get real tired of every extra ounce.
 
HareSplitter said:
If you're looking at pistol I'd get the Tarus Judge .410

If you're looking for a rifle buy a Mosin-Nagant M44 7062x54 its easy to use,cheap,and packs a wallop.
Click to expand...

Good idea with the judge or I was thinking a .357 usually packs enough power to handle most jobs & is cheaper/ more available than .44 mag.
I don't think anyone is going to want to carry a Mosin 270 miles.
 
My thoughts would be towards a sidearm of some type, due to ease of portability, deployment, and concealment in any towns. Would the 357 be strong enuf for bear? While i realize that not many animals would be in season during August there is always the opportunity to take game if it is needed for survival, and a shotgun is the best tool for that. I do have a 20g and could get a short barrel and handgrip for it. As to the Canada issue I would probably be on the last week of the trip and then head home from the border.
 
Last edited:
Bear gun... It's New England... how about an air horn?

Now having something for two legged predators, that's a different story.
 
Black bear are not a whole lot harder to kill than deer. A 357 is plenty as long as you do your part. That being said as was stated earlier black bears will generally almost turn them selves inside out to avoid people as long as there is no food involved.
 
Before the weapon is picked, I feel a good class in bear and "critter" encounter procedure should be considered, then practical exercise in how to engage a bear with a handgun, probably at close range. Shooting a passing furry with out cause is "hunting". Any close bear encounter is going to be fast, ugly and in the bears favor. My fealings are maybe training in multi-level protection, educate, and then only if encounter occurs, increasing force from anti-bear spray (good pepper spray has had good results) and then escalating force, up to deadly. Education can bring on the best outcome.... Avoidance
Just my opionion.
Tank
 
Last edited:
with the remote odds of a bear encounter and the distance to walk with the loads they'll already be carrying, I'd go with a handgun, not a heavy cumbersome long gun. Odds are if a bear is encountered, she could handle the one or 2 shots needed with a 44mag.

Just give her some time to practice with it before she goes.

My wife loves shooting my 44 mag.
 
A big gun isn't needed all you have to do is shoot the bear in the head while it is chewing on your ankle. Easy shot.
 
A 3"-4" .357 revlover and a can of bear mace. As others have said the mace is for the bear and the .357 for the other creatures who walk upright.

Investment in some high quality bear containers and some good rope is one of the best bear defense tools a hiker can have.
 
Just make sure she doesn't carry it into Canada, as they are not very amenable to folks who carry guns for protection.
 
Thanks for your input guys. While everyone will have some bear spray we wanted to have another tool incase things escalated. Taking this trip in the middle of the summer will help in avoidance, as they should have full stomachs. We have camped in many of the State Forests in the Berkshires and practice bear safety. I saw a SW 327, 8 shots of 357 looks interesting!
 

Similar threads

Bolt gun - paralysis by analysis
Replies
3
Views
143
MickeyD’s
M
Gunsmiths for pistol slide and frame work
Replies
11
Views
436
DW357
DW357
Boston/North Shore Area looking to test fire a Keltec KS7? Or other cheap bullpup semi-auto/pump shotguns
Replies
0
Views
102
mmsteady
M
.357 Magnum Leverguns - Pros and Cons
2
Replies
58
Views
2K
P71Cemoto
P71Cemoto
All of a sudden I need a FFL-07 and a Glock 44
Replies
3
Views
189
chris_1001
chris_1001
Back
Top Bottom