Guns, Bows, Shooting Sports, and Hunting Wilderness revolver .......

[hammersley]

OK - I have a 14 week old yellow lab (girl - named Libby) and a 7 1/2 yellow female (Sophie). Last weekend I wanted to show my little girl what fly fishing on a stream was all about, so I went to a very small remote stream in a deep canyon that is filled with little trout.



Now let me set the stage - my older dog has a memory like an elephant - for example a couple of momths ago - I was running her in a big field - where I use a yellow retriever dummy that I throw for her. Two coyotes showed up and I decided that I ddin't want her chasing them - so I put her in the truck -she didn't want to go I might add... ... these new "dogs" looked like fun... . Well in so doing - I left the dummy by mistake -



The next day I was at a different field - and low and behold I realized that I didn't have her "FAVORITE" dummy - so after a while I remembered what had happened. I then drove to that field - about 2 miles away and when I stopped the truck - before I could say anything - Sophie ran STRAIGHT into the field - about 200 yards - in grass a foot high - and GOT HER DUMMY THAT SHE LEFT THERTE 24 hours before! She has a memory that good - believe you me - I think she is a genius... .



Now - back to this little stream - Sophie knows where we are - she loves this stream - and she was going ballistic knowing she is going to be able to play in a creek - and the little one is learning that when Sophie is excited - good things happen.....



I was just barely able to get my fly rod and gear on before my dogs were going to die from excitement..... and off we went... .



I was there for only about an hour and was 1/2 mile from the truck-when all of a sudden my older dog went into a freeze and began having those extremely deep primitive aggressive growls - very deep and very very rare... . the ones that mean something is very wrong... ... her hair was striaght on her back and she was frozen - all of a sudden - from about 30 feet away a young cub appears - and then another..... they froze and looked at Sophie -now my little lab ran over to Sophie and looked at these two cubs and I was sure they were going to run over to check them out - this is the point where I about crapped my pants - as I always have a revolver with me = EXCEPT THIS TIME!!!!!!



Now I know that mommy bear is someplace and Lord knows where - all I could see was - "This is going to be a Headline"



Well I screamed my head off to get Sophie over to me and back down the creek - the good Lord must have been with me -because she came and so did my pup - and we made it back to the truck in record time... ... .



Now had I had my revolver - I would have felt better - BUT dogs and cub bears are usually a problem... ... however leaving the gun in the truck - is not very smart... ... .



NowI have been looking at some lightweight revolvers - I want firepower so the auto loaders are out... ... . I'm looking at these ..... is it worth spending the extra for the Smith???? I have several of the others.....



Smith - 26 ounces



http://www.smith-wesson.com/webapp/...ted=tech&isFirearm=Y&parent_category_rn=24805



or this one... not especially light ... 34 ounces



http://www.taurususa.com/products/product-details.cfm?id=226&category=Revolver



and real light... NOT ported and 6 rounds..... 28. 3 ounces



http://www.taurususa.com/products/product-details.cfm?id=204&category=Revolver

 

[AMink]

Bears are scary, glad all turned out ok! I honestly don't know about the three guns you showed, but you may want to consider a Ruger Super Redhawk in one of the larger calibers, like this one . I have had excellent results with Rugers revolvers over the years. I don't know that I would let a few onces worry me for what could be a life or death situation. Pick the one you can shoot the best, under stress. The extra weight will help in recoil control. Also, are they blacks or browns? Might want something even bigger for browns!

 

[Boomer II]

I like all of those choices, I was going to suggest that new Ruger too. You can't have too much gun when it comes to bears.

 

[Jong]

There's nothing wrong with Taurus revolvers... my roommate has one of their . 357's and it is a great little gun. If you get the titanium for the weight, don't plan on target shooting with it much because they are a literal pain to shoot... the price you pay for lighter carry. Or if you really want to go for all the gun you'll ever need, try this-http://www.taurususa.com/products/product-details. cfm?id=128&category=Revolver

You can of course get it in a shorter barrel.

 

[PSU-CE]

I know the feeling. We've had several encounters with black bears at our camp in PA. We border over 8000 acres of gamelands with some prime bear territory (we've taken six in the past three seasons). Usually they are gone as soon as you see them, but one stood on it's rear legs and huffed at our partner as he was out walking with his wife. My dad carries a Smith . 357 and I usually have my Ruger . 454 under my shoulder. The Alaskan mentioned by AMink is one that looks to be another good choice. You can't go wrong with the Smiths. The Taurus's I've heard mixed reviews, but I've never owned one to give a fair judgment.

 

[WDixon27]

i can't speak for the taurus . 44s but i love my 6" 608 357 mag 8 shot, i've put many thousands of high power rounds down range compeating in bowling pin matches, trigger is easy to tweak too, i didn't really do more then polish the single action a little, the da is what i use 90% of the time and a good bit of polishing and a couple springs have to the point where everybody is suprised at how smooth it is

 

[rivercat]

go for the 454 casull minimum

smith wheel guns have always been exeptional BUT beware of the semi-autos lots of factory defects.

 

[Todd T]

Aren't dogs the greatest? you are all three very lucky my friend.



I have a Taurus Raging Bull . 454 casul in polished SS with a ported barrel I was considering selling. It's only 20 onces heavier (LOL) but has the cool factor pegged.

 

[SHobbs]

I have gone the other way, yes I love the semi auto handguns. I have two of them, a Bersa . 380 cal my carry gun and a Glock . 40 cal model 23 for either carry or the house. I have really gotten into blackpowder rifles and handguns lately as well as my bow. I have had good luck in the field with a . 44 cal blackpowder pistol granted you only get 6 shots but it has some knock down to it, now the . 50 cal rifle is really sweet up to 100 yds.

 

[Ol'TrailDog]

In addition to the dogs, my border collies are my extra eyes, ears, and nose in the wilderness, I would say your first purchase would be learning about the appropriate behavior to dissuade an aggressive situation to begin with. I'd recommend "Staying Safe in Bear Country" and "Working in Bear Country". Also learn about the difference in Black Bear and Grizzly behavior if applicable.



Second purchase a can of pepper spray. I carry pepper spray every day in the field. Statistics are the pepper spray has been 80% effective in stopping an aggressive bear encounter and firearms have been only 50%. So play the odds. Plus, it works on moose, lions, dogs, and even the occasional A-hole. Biggest benefit is it is the best back country sleeping pill ever invented. I call it the original can of whoop-arse.



Third purchase for pepper spray backup is a 12 ga. , a 30-06 or larger, or last choice a 44 mag or larger pistol (for shooting the injured friend).



Last bid of advice is to learn about your adversary, e. g. the difference between Black Bear poop and Grizzly poop - the Grizzly poop has small hiker bells embedded :-laf okay, okay, so you already heard that one.

 

[Buffalo]

Ol'TrailDog,



You, Sir, are a comedian!!!



What a great reply. I'm still laughing. "Little bells", damn, that's funny. Thank You!!!



All seriousness aside, there seems to be some pretty good advice, here. I've always liked the S&W's. Good, industrial-strength weapons. Can be modified to work just beautifully.



I've seen a Taurus that self-destructed with a double loaded . 357 Magnum. However, I've, also, heard that they are good & a lot of folks really like them.



I don't think I like the idea of only five shots. Six would be better & a speedloader, backup, even better. Only problem with that is, how much "stuff" do you want to carry around, with you.



If you are located in a larger metropilitan area, some gun shops, with indoor target ranges, will let you borrow rental handguns for a "try before you buy". That way, you'll know how much "kick" the weapon you are interested in, has. If it's so powerful that you can't hit anything with it, it's pretty much useless.



Good Luck with your decision.



Joe F. (Buffalo)

 

[JR2]

I have a Ruger 454 Casull and a Marlin 45/70 Guide Gun.



As for pepper spray, there was a very intersting article in the local paper up here in AK. They sprayed the ground with it and bears would actually come up and lick it up and roll in it. Funny stuff.



Oh ya, whatever you do, do not pepper spray a moose unless you have a way to get far far away fast. It puts them into this moose overdrive mode and they will stamp the bejesus out of everything nearby.

 

[Crazy Horse]

Here's my companion of choice, Mossberg S/S takes 3" magnums, shoulder strap w/ pistol grip: #ad




It makes it through Canadian Customs also.

 

[Crazy Horse]

Here's the hole maker:#ad

 

[hammersley]

I have one of those also and

shot it ONCE with heavy slugs - NOT FUN AT ALL!!!!!!! I need somethinh real light... ... that's why I am choosing the 44 S&W Tit

 

[Ol'TrailDog]

They sprayed the ground with it and bears would actually come up and lick it up and roll in it.

Thats why when I'm doing oreintation to newbies or fire crews I always remind them that it is like "catnip" to bears AFTER it has been sprayed. So don't test spray where you or others will be camping. After all it is just peppers - food to bears.



My bear weapons are my brain, my experience, my border collies, mules around camp, pepper spray, 12 ga. Winchester Defender, and a S&W 44 mag in that order.

 

[bighammer]

You gota check THIS VIDEO out...

poor guy needed something.

 

[Crazy Horse]

Here's one you may have seen: Charge Vidio. I don't think this guy's got any bussiness being out there.

 

[Tim1]

Hey fellas, I don't hunt or shoot, but have 2 guns for home. A 9mm auto and a . 38 smith revolver. I load with hollow points. Which should i take with when i take my 4 year old grandaughter on my quad into the forest on trails with black bears in Oregon. I really do not see them, just hear neighbors spotting them. The Honda make noise as we travel. I really do not feel comfortable with just pepper spray. Do have the dog with on these rides. Should I think of a 44mag or something? Thanks Tim

 

[Boomer II]

Either gun will **** off a bear equally well, I'd think of a 44mag minimum.