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Post by tomtom on Nov 7, 2011 11:57:52 GMT -5
The question came up: what is the smallest caliber of gun you trust to protect yourself.
My personal favorite bear defense gun has always been a Beretta Jetfire in .22 short!
I've found over the years when hiking in bear country I never leave without it in my pocket.
Of course we all know the first rule when hiking in the wilderness is to use the "Buddy System".
For those of you who may be unfamiliar with this it means you NEVER hike alone.
Always bring a friend or companion, even an in-law, that way if something happens there is someone to go get help.
I remember one time hiking with my brother-in-law in northern Ontario.
Out of nowhere came this huge brown bear and man was she MAD!
We must have been near one of her cubs.
Anyway if I had not had my little jetfire, I'd sure not be here today.
That's right, one shot to my brother-in-law's knee cap and I was able to escape by just walking at a brisk pace.
That's one of the best pistols in my safe!
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Post by buford1488 on Nov 7, 2011 14:11:26 GMT -5
i carry a 9mm and 380. but my favorite is my baby..the s&w500. 50cal. 11 inch barrel......
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Post by Trancebear on Nov 7, 2011 14:41:43 GMT -5
I carry this S&W .44 Mag. but i mainly collect .50 caliber everything. 43 weapons and counting.  My latest .50 cal purchase  |
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Post by ericrockstar on Nov 7, 2011 15:25:31 GMT -5
It depends on where you're at! Bear country....357 minimum. Maybe bigger. At the house, well 870 is perfect. All an intruder needs is to hear that loading sound.
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Post by bullet on Nov 7, 2011 15:59:17 GMT -5
I have complete trust in my Rem. 870 12 ga. 5 shot (right now plugged to 3 for bird hunting) pump. IMO, one of the most reliable guns ever made and you don't have to aim, unless you are hunting. Just point and shoot if its home self defense. With high brass 3 in. No. 4 shot it will clear the hallway. Just don't plan on hearing for the next few days.
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Post by Pony66 on Nov 7, 2011 16:24:46 GMT -5
I had to read the original post about 3 times. Im a bit slow today. Thats pretty funny. ;D I see bears all the time. Injuring a bear with a pea shooter is much more dangerous than just leaving him alone. They are beautiful peaceful creatures. They are hungry and they love our fatty trash. Hike with a bell or something that makes noise. The bear will aviod you. If you do see one, dont overreact. Just remain tall and big and walk away. Rattling a rock in a coffee can is one of the most effective bear deterants. This is literally my back yard.  Your best protection is to leave your food and trash indoors. Now, I do like to carry my Colt .45 1911. I like to go out and shoot blackpowder rifles. I have a couple .50 cals. IMO, shooting a muzzleloader is as fun as shooting gets. |
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Post by inuyasha on Nov 7, 2011 17:45:45 GMT -5
Hi ;D ;D I also collect weapons both projectile and edged Have over 350 different ones at this point in time Best hand weapon for stopping and dropping power imho Eagle 50   Eagle 50 by inuyasha50, on Flickr Heres some thing of interest for those into firepower www.biggerhammer.net/Take care and drive safely Yours Hank |
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Post by Trancebear on Nov 7, 2011 20:34:08 GMT -5
I have complete trust in my Rem. 870 12 ga. 5 shot (right now plugged to 3 for bird hunting) pump. IMO, one of the most reliable guns ever made and you don't have to aim, unless you are hunting. Just point and shoot if its home self defense. With high brass 3 in. No. 4 shot it will clear the hallway. Just don't plan on hearing for the next few days. I prefer not destroying my house while I shoot to death some scumbag. NEVER take your weapon out if you do not plan to kill. |
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Post by Trancebear on Nov 7, 2011 20:36:43 GMT -5
I had to read the original post about 3 times. Im a bit slow today. Thats pretty funny. ;D I see bears all the time. Injuring a bear with a pea shooter is much more dangerous than just leaving him alone. They are beautiful peaceful creatures. They are hungry and they love our fatty trash. Hike with a bell or something that makes noise. The bear will aviod you. If you do see one, dont overreact. Just remain tall and big and walk away. Rattling a rock in a coffee can is one of the most effective bear deterants. This is literally my back yard. Your best protection is to leave your food and trash indoors. Now, I do like to carry my Colt .45 1911. I like to go out and shoot blackpowder rifles. I have a couple .50 cals. IMO, shooting a muzzleloader is as fun as shooting gets. I will not take a chance that any bear has had a bad day. You should see me after a night of drinking..lol I have had to kill 17 animals that think my Grandmother's ranch is dinner time. All trash kept in the garage and so on. if you kill them you guarantee they never come back and the rangers will come pick it up for free to boot. |
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Post by bullet on Nov 7, 2011 21:53:31 GMT -5
I have complete trust in my Rem. 870 12 ga. 5 shot (right now plugged to 3 for bird hunting) pump. IMO, one of the most reliable guns ever made and you don't have to aim, unless you are hunting. Just point and shoot if its home self defense. With high brass 3 in. No. 4 shot it will clear the hallway. Just don't plan on hearing for the next few days. I prefer not destroying my house while I shoot to death some scumbag. NEVER take your weapon out if you do not plan to kill. I agree 100% on never taking out your weapon unless you need to defend life and/or the safety of your family. |
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Post by orehor on Nov 7, 2011 22:41:47 GMT -5
My home defense system includes these two things  and  my cat Fidget is deadly No one that has ever broke into my home in the last 8 years has survived Fidget |
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Post by skuttadawg on Nov 7, 2011 23:16:22 GMT -5
A 22 is nice for target shooting but will not penetrate a bears thick skin and muscles . In Wyoming I rode ATVs in a national park and the require bear spray ( like peeper spray but around 18 feet of blast range ) . If you shot a bear no matter what in a national park you would be in more trouble than shooting a person .
When it comes down to shot or be killed I would go with a S&W 357 with a 6 inch barrel . There are bigger guns but bullets cost alot for nonmainstream sizes . A revolver is ever so reliable and will fire everytime provided an unfired bullet is in the cylinder . I have seen autos get jammed even name brands , elcheapos are more likely too . If you have an auto its very important to clean out the burned powder residue and oil the slide . Never shoot all lead bullets as they leave a film in the rifling grooves and you gotta use a wire brush in gun kit then a clean cloth . I only shoot copper jacketed bullets .
S&W makes a 500 Magnum and claims it will take down any land animal on the USA . I have read several stories that a mad or mama bear with cubs that charges after you may require several shots to drop it . When I was in Wyoming I had all kinds of wildlife to avoid like bears , bison , elk and mooses . Omg a moose is 3xs larger than a horse . I saw one and made sure to keep away from charging distance . A bison is as large as a small car , much bigger in life than on tv . A Grizzly can run up to 35 MPH in bursts and I was glad I was on a Polaris v twin 600 that could hit 60 . I could see for miles away but at the forest end it was real tight trails that you had to creep around in ambush territory . I can reach 8feet with my fingers and saw where a Grizzly mauled a tree at 9 or 10 feet up on the tree . So we turned around real fast .
Check your local laws and federal if in a park like I was in before thinking you could shoot a bear in a do or die situation . The loud noise from a large pistol ( not a 22 ) should scare one off unless its a mama bear and she thinks you may harm her cubs . Bears have only killed a few people , horses byfar have killed people from being thrown or kicked . No person has yet to kill a bear without a gun yet . I am a useless trivia geek so I know tons of data .
So if you must be armed with a firearm , get a revolver that has enough takedown power instead of a 22 that might only make a bear angry .
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Post by inuyasha on Nov 7, 2011 23:30:00 GMT -5
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