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I'm leaning towards 40cal.
http://www.the-m-factor.com/
http://www.glock.com/english/pistols_intro.htm
http://www.the-m-factor.com/
http://www.glock.com/english/pistols_intro.htm
What would be a good choice for protection in the woods?
- Thread starter Grouse
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Tom,
I am assuming you are concerned about black bear?
If you are wanting an auto... I personally would not go under a 10MM.
I honestly think a 10mm is too little stopping power for a Bear of any kind.
I would start with something like a .44mag and move up from there. It will likely be cheaper too.
http://www.taurususa.com/products/produ ... y=Revolver
I am assuming you are concerned about black bear?
If you are wanting an auto... I personally would not go under a 10MM.
I honestly think a 10mm is too little stopping power for a Bear of any kind.
I would start with something like a .44mag and move up from there. It will likely be cheaper too.
http://www.taurususa.com/products/produ ... y=Revolver
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When we used to bait, the smallest we would carry is a .357 magnum. Although one guy used to carry a 9mm but like he said, it would be for up close and personal with the bear. I carried a .357 magnum or a .44 mag.
One other guide actually shot and killed a bear on a bait with a .357 magnum. He shot all six at it, but did stop it. He was confronted when he went in to bait.
One other guide actually shot and killed a bear on a bait with a .357 magnum. He shot all six at it, but did stop it. He was confronted when he went in to bait.
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I take a .40 cal with me in the woods as a back up. I use it because thats all i have for pistol right now, something is better than nothing. I plan on getting a 44 for a back up (someday) to be honest i feel safe with my 40 cal i have 11 rounds to play with. Black bears and grizzlys are two different animals, id be a little worried around those guys with a 40 cal. That just my two cents iv never shot a bear with anything but we seem two cross paths in the woods quite often. 
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I thought 40cal AND 10mm are about the same? I do want auto.
protection
How abut a hand grip pump shoutgun. Light, can throw it in my pack or over shoulder and i garuantee will put the bears to sleep w/ some slugs coming out the spout! Same thing i use in my home for self defense. Clack that pump, if your still staying around after hearing that rounsd jacked into the barrel you deserve the outcome!
How abut a hand grip pump shoutgun. Light, can throw it in my pack or over shoulder and i garuantee will put the bears to sleep w/ some slugs coming out the spout! Same thing i use in my home for self defense. Clack that pump, if your still staying around after hearing that rounsd jacked into the barrel you deserve the outcome!
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Doohan said:
ok, which is a better model at the top of the two i picked?
Glock 20 would be my choice .... or a Kimber 1911 if you are comfortable with a single action.
http://www.glock.com/english/index_pistols.htm
http://www.glock.com/english/index_pistols.htm
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Then there is always the .45acp in auto. The old Colts are sure hard to beat. I had a combat commander in .45 caliber and that had to be one of the sweetest shooting autos I ever owned. It never stove piped on me, and had some excellent down range thump.
I actually thought about getting an auto for exactly the same thing Grouse. I went to my gun dealer friend and asked him what a good .40 cal or .45 pistol that would go off every time and not break the bank for a carry would be.. he kind of laughed.
http://www.impactguns.com/store/752334340108.html He had one of these in the store and told me they are ugly, not the best balanced, but they do go off every time you pull the trigger. (He has a pistol range and shoots a lot). He offered to sell me a .40 or .45 for $189.00 and I almost did it. Then I thought about all the other pistols and revolvers I had at the house already.. and walked out with a rifle instead.
But I will admit that Hi-Point is no Glock..
I actually thought about getting an auto for exactly the same thing Grouse. I went to my gun dealer friend and asked him what a good .40 cal or .45 pistol that would go off every time and not break the bank for a carry would be.. he kind of laughed.
http://www.impactguns.com/store/752334340108.html He had one of these in the store and told me they are ugly, not the best balanced, but they do go off every time you pull the trigger. (He has a pistol range and shoots a lot). He offered to sell me a .40 or .45 for $189.00 and I almost did it. Then I thought about all the other pistols and revolvers I had at the house already.. and walked out with a rifle instead.
But I will admit that Hi-Point is no Glock..
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i have the springfield XD 9. i absolutly love it! it's always with me in the woods, even though its only a 9, it still holds 16 rounds, i think 16 rounds of almost anything will stop a bear. i have just under 2000 rounds through mine and haven't even had one jam. springfield makes a great gun, everything about it is well made.
i've only had to use it once for self defense..... on a charging porcupine :lol: at 2 in the morning in my boxers. one shot with a xtp to the forehead...messy! (it was chewing the bottom of the camper so i jumped out to investigate the noise)
i've only had to use it once for self defense..... on a charging porcupine :lol: at 2 in the morning in my boxers. one shot with a xtp to the forehead...messy! (it was chewing the bottom of the camper so i jumped out to investigate the noise)
I agree on the Springfield quality. I have never fired an XD but I know they get rave reviews. I have a Springfield MC Operator in .45acp that I absolutely love. It has never had a failure of any kind and is a very accurate gun. LOVE IT.
I also have a G33 that I carry every day in .357 sig. It too is a great gun.
I suppose if I were going into bear country tho... My Raging Bull in .454 Casull would be on my hip or under my shoulder. ( sans scope )
I also have a G33 that I carry every day in .357 sig. It too is a great gun.
I suppose if I were going into bear country tho... My Raging Bull in .454 Casull would be on my hip or under my shoulder. ( sans scope )
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H&K Expensive but worth the money, iv had mine for twelve years now and never had a jam or problem of any sort, couldnt tell you how many rounds through it. I like this gun becuase i can have a round in the chamber and then decock it, after that its one hard pull and then 10 easy ones. In other words i feel safe carrying one in the chamber and its ready to go when i need it. I never cared for the glocks or other like guns that didnt have this feature. I also have a sig sauer that operates the same way excellent gun.
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.454 casull is great. How about the "Judge" from either Taurus or S&W? Pretty cool gun that shoots eith .45 LC or .410 shot shells or mix with both
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The two i'm looking at can be bought for about $200.00 bucks out the door. Thats mainly why i'm looking at these two.
look at a revolver in .357, nohing less look for a .44 used are popping up all over right now
if you carry anything smaller make sure the sights are removed
that when the bear sticks it up your a$$ it wont hurt as much
if you carry a 9mm the best part is if you getmauled you can shoot yourself and stop the pain
sorry but 300+ puonds of pissed off bear is not gonna stop via a small pistol
its all about shock and knockdown power
if you carry anything smaller make sure the sights are removed
that when the bear sticks it up your a$$ it wont hurt as much
if you carry a 9mm the best part is if you getmauled you can shoot yourself and stop the pain
sorry but 300+ puonds of pissed off bear is not gonna stop via a small pistol
its all about shock and knockdown power
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Grouse said:
Where can you find either a XD or a glock for under $200. i got mine for 475 and that was after an intense searce to find the best deal. at that price buy both, shoot them for a while. sell the one you don't favor for 450 used.
Of the two options you posted I would go with the 40 cal Glock over the 9mm if you're up against a bear.
So far as a good auto round to consider when up against a bear you might want to take a look at getting a quality 1911 chambered in a .460 Rowland. The round was designed to be semi-auto pistol friendly and have the ballistics of a .44 mag which would be better suited when facing a bear than either the .40 or the 9mm that you mention.
Here's just an example of what I'm talking about.
http://www.wilsoncombat.com/p_460.asp
The Wilson Combat Hunter is the Cadillac example but there are many 1911's that can be converted over to a .460 Rowland with a simple spring and barrel change. But a word of caution. Not just any 1911 will do the trick so do your homework should you decide to go this route.
If you're stuck on having one of the two that you mention I believe each maker has a model available in 10 mm as well which again would be a better option when having to deal with defending against a bear.
I'd be really weary about having to rely on a 9mm.
Roach
So far as a good auto round to consider when up against a bear you might want to take a look at getting a quality 1911 chambered in a .460 Rowland. The round was designed to be semi-auto pistol friendly and have the ballistics of a .44 mag which would be better suited when facing a bear than either the .40 or the 9mm that you mention.
Here's just an example of what I'm talking about.
http://www.wilsoncombat.com/p_460.asp
The Wilson Combat Hunter is the Cadillac example but there are many 1911's that can be converted over to a .460 Rowland with a simple spring and barrel change. But a word of caution. Not just any 1911 will do the trick so do your homework should you decide to go this route.
If you're stuck on having one of the two that you mention I believe each maker has a model available in 10 mm as well which again would be a better option when having to deal with defending against a bear.
I'd be really weary about having to rely on a 9mm.
Roach
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For your backup gun pick a 5.5 inch barrel .357 mag or .44 mag using a hot load in the .357 both with cast bullets, nothing less for black bear. IMO pick a DA/SA revolver, when you pull the trigger and it goes bang, less to think about than a semiauto. If you have charging angry bear you are going to be scared to say the least.
BTW, If you can fire 16 shots into the bear you were really not in danger in the first place and you are very unlikely to stop him without a cns hit with 16 shots of 9mm. All you did was piss off the bear and become a target for it's anger. A 9 mm or .40 S&W is just too lite of a load for bear protection.
In PA you have some good size black bear don't take a standard semiauto for a backup gun.
BTW, If you can fire 16 shots into the bear you were really not in danger in the first place and you are very unlikely to stop him without a cns hit with 16 shots of 9mm. All you did was piss off the bear and become a target for it's anger. A 9 mm or .40 S&W is just too lite of a load for bear protection.
In PA you have some good size black bear don't take a standard semiauto for a backup gun.
