Posted on 12/01/2011 9:29:16 PM PST by Stonewall Jackson
I have a friend and colleague who is moving to Fairbanks next week and he is looking for a pistol to carry in grizzly country. He is an avid outdoorsman and will be hunting up there on a regular basis, but the only pistol he currently owns is a Browning 9mm.
He'd thought about getting a 1911A1, but I've pretty much convinced him that a .45ACP is okay against black bears, but is too slow hitting for effective use against grizzlies.
He doesn’t need a gun, just a good pair of running shoes and an overweight, out of shape hiking companion......
I don’t use it for angry Grizzly. LOL. We don’t have those here. I use it to kill large game at 200+ yards.
I happen to live in Alaska, I used to carry a Redhawk, too friggin big. Now I carry a 10mm Glock with my own loads.
Otherwise forget a pistol, use a shotgun with max slugs.
I have an old but fully restored Winchester Model 11 12 ga that uses 2 3/4” shells, but its an auto loader, and its fast.
I think its quantity as most shots will miss, a sawed off pistol grip double barrel shotgun with slugs is best for the last stand. Especially if you can get breacher rounds.
Most people just cannot handle some macho big mans hand cannon and ego boosting such a gun is a bad idea. A black bear can be brought down easily with even a .223, the brownies need maximum firepower, if I was to want to hunt one then I drag out my Winchester Model 70 375 H&H.
With Barnes reloads.
Having lived in Alaska for 12 years, I agree with those here denouncing the pistol. If a grizzly is charging, you are going to have to be VERY lucky to stop it with a pistol.......no matter what the caliber. I recommend a 12 guage with alternating buckshot and slugs. Some people are using flare guns.
one thing i’m not seeing is suggested training. big guns have big recoil. he’ll want to shoot it alot and get *really* comfortable with it.
also practicing draw and fire drills would be advised. a gun’s worthless if you can’t get it out, aquire your target, and hit it quick enough.
...Wonder who inherited that stash?
We got the same joke and the same advice when we went to Alaska. I was hiking with a 9mm and would run into people carrying shot guns with slugs. They said the 9 would just piss the bear off. Luckily, I didn’t have to put it to the test.
I learn something new every day! Thanks absolootezer0
“454 casull”
Yep. My fiancee’ had one when he was living up in AK. He bought it when he got there and sold it before he left. It kicks like a mule but has awesome knock down.
I've always found those that have a problem with it don't actually own it. They typically can't afford it.
They do make a cartridge that’s called a Bear Load.....300 grain 45LC.....I only have one weapon that I’d shoot it in though and it’s not a pistol
That’s a pretty heavy load for a pistol
For sure....you sure can use a Cowboy action revolver...I’ve heard (read) that there are some Rugers that could handle it (Blackhawk?).....the load is strong enough to stretch the backstrap on a revolver if it isn’t beefy enough. I think there may be a Taurus model or two that might handle it...
I’ve got scads of Cowboy actions and I’d NEVER try it in them. The only thing I KNOW that will safely shoot it without any damage is my Winchester 92 Trapper Takedown which has double receiver lugs...
Meant to say “can’t” use a CAR....
I am not a fan of stretching the limits of firearms.
It’s rough on me and its rough on the firearm.
I shot an Ithaca 12 ga pump with a pistol grip and 3.5” 00 buck magnums once.
I got two rounds off, and I think i fractured my hand.
I hurt for over a month.
Let’s see what happens when he engages an angry charging moose with a Model 57. I bet that will be the last you hear from him.
People with .454s have killed large bears with 1 to 2 shots to the vitals. Yes they charge fast sometimes but the small caliber gun is useless. Here are some stories from people from the wild who totally disprove your theory. Tell your friend in Maine to upgun before he gets himself killed: http://www.thefirearmblog.com/blog/2009/08/31/man-kills-charging-bear-with-454-casull/
I already had this talk with him. He's no dummy. He has longarms but can only guarantee that at any moment, he'll have access to a sidearm. Understanding there is no perfect gun, he first considered the range of threats and their probability. In his case, the likely scenarios range from an angry moose, varmit control and a trespasser with ill intent. I suspect he considers the odds more or less even with a little more concern given to the two legged trespasser of ill-intent than an ill tempered moose.
Should he find himself between a cow moose and her calf, a large caliber hand gun gives him a better chance of survival against such a large charging animal only if he can control it well enough to get at least one “good” hit. However, If a moose or black bear confronted at close range is rabid, one shot through the heart with a .300 win mag may not be enough to deter it's attack. So, the large bore handgun for close quarters self defense against a large charging animal is no guarantee of a successful outcome.
A moose being only one potential threat, he also has to be concerned with two legged threats in the form of assorted trespassers presumably armed and having unknown intentions. For these two legged threats, a large bore revolver is suboptimal for self-defense.
For varmit control, the large bore handgun is also overkill. The coyote moving at 50 yards is going to be a challenge with any handgun having open sights but for most shooters, the easier to control gun will result in a higher probability of a hit. Should a rabid fox charge him, the large bore handgun is again impractical. It may be a matter in this case of spray and pray.
Simultaneously, if he runs into trouble with two legged animals, the firepower of a semi-auto with a spare magazine gives him a range of options unavailable with a big bore six shooter. The 5n7 with spare magazine gives him 40 rounds in a lightweight easily controled gun. It gives him a chance of detering the charge of a large animal, enables him to deal with varmits within 100 yards and let's trespassers know he means business. Should trouble occur with a trespasser, the 5n7's firepower enables him to stand his ground, hold out, or make E&A.
There is no perfect choice, a measure of luck is needed to fill in the gaps for each scenario.
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