Not sure where to post this - protection in bear country ??

Help Support Ruger Forum:

Joined
May 1, 2022
Messages
834
Location
New Jersey
Handguns, hollow point ammo etc. all illegal in New Jersey. Going through the state non-stop from a place where you are legal to a place where you are legal with the guns and ammo correctly locked up allows the transit. Have a vehicle break down, take a side trip etc. and you can be arrested, put in jail, suffer confiscation etc. Some other states may be about as bad. Long guns usually given more slack than handguns. Industrial size spray for bears will probably serve you well. A shotgun will probably be able to handle all of your defense needs. Some ammo better than others, research it.
Not exactly right. They are legal for home defense and sportsman. However, if in the home you have to claim to be a sportsman ( range or hunt). Weird piece-work laws around them. The real problem comes in when one tries to transport them from one place to another.
 

trebor44

Blackhawk
Joined
Dec 18, 2012
Messages
623
Location
Idaho, East of Boisemento, or is it Boisangelos
So over a half century of woods walking, I've seen more bears while driving than hiking. Oh, and I did work in the woods for about 20 years. Most bruins were booking in the opposite direction from. There were a few trying to get the food cache but that was in the National Parks!
 

Paul B

Hunter
Joined
Dec 4, 1999
Messages
2,131
Location
Tucson, AZ
"All that said, most of the wild critters will leave you alone if abide by their rules. It is their turf after all, not yours. People are the invasive species in the wild."

There's a lot of truth in that comment.

A word about heavy bullets in handguns. Mostly I shot/shoot the .44 magnum but also shoot a hot loaded Ruger Bisley in .45 Colt. I have a heavy 300 gr. Keith style semi-wadcutter bullet mold by RCBS and a 305 gr. RNFP by Lyman in 45 caliber. Both shoot well but they've shot from 6 to 9" high at 25 yards. Seems to me if one is going to use bullets that heavy, they might have to change to a higher front sight. Ruger, I believe has different front sights for the Redhawk as a higher one might be available there. For now, I'll just stick to Elmer keith's original bullet. It's worked quite well for me so far.

For Mountain Lions and Black Bears I've seen both not only in the local mountains but out in the desert as well. Usually it's a bear, probably thinking the chow is better over on the mountain 20 some odd mile away across the desert. See that quite a bit when we're having a rather bad dry year. A few years back we had one that would sneak into town and take over someone's swimming pool. Scare hell out of the homeowner with the pool. game & Fish would come out and "trank" the bear and haul it back to the mountains. I don't have a pool but two of my close neighbors do. Lady across the street said if one got in her pool she'd call me first, then 911 after I got there. So far it hasn't happened.
Paul B.
 
Joined
Dec 19, 2001
Messages
10,104
Location
Alaska, Idaho USA
Not sure who brought this back to life, but it was a bad idea. Way too much bad information.

The OP never answered the question how much experience he has with firearms. Still not convinced the guy could safely handle a gun.

Someone that sees a bear behind every bush, could be a danger to others.

I've spent 33 years in Alaska, been around black bears, grizzlies, and polar bears. Grew up in the western part of the country and not been at serious risk. I've been in South Central, the Alaska Peninsula, up and down the Yukon River, in the brooks range, Kotzebue, Nome, Barrow among a lot of other villages and never had to actually fight one off. Don't get me wrong, I've seen plenty,
Don't get me wrong I've been so close a few times that I had my gun in my hand, just in case.

You don't really need to shoot the heaviest, fastest, hard cast out there. Bears are thin skinned and moose have heavier bones. Have I killed a brown bear, yes I have. I went looking for him. Do I carry a handgun, just in case, but I've been shooting for well over 50 years, with everything including the 357 mag, 44 mag, 45 Colt, 454, and 480. Last one I'd carry is the 454. For one thing, it's not necessary. For another I know two different guys whose heavy bullets, pulled during shooting at (DLP) bears that have gotten too close, and for another, they aren't necessary.

Guessing the guy could go looking for one and not even find one. Which is the goal for him anyway. As Contender said, go through 3-4 big cans of bear spray, putting the clip on. Take it off and spray, then do it again. Do it over and over. See what it's like to get overspray in your face. Learn to think on your feet.

Rant off. Sorry if I offended, don't be so sensitive. We're family here. I can say for a fact, Polar bears are much more risk.

Someone brought up cougers (mountain lions) they can easily be killed with a 38 Special, if that's an issue. Not really sure what else to be afraid of. You are certainly at a greater risk just getting lost, so keep some survival gear attached to your body. By the way , when is the last time you've started a fire with just what you carry in your survival pack or on your person. If you are going to get out there spend some time thinking about that.

If you really want to get a butt pucker, have a plane drop you off in the bush and fly off, then wonder if he can find you again, especially when he's a day or two late. Happened to me 2 times. One was severely late. Considered shooting the pilot, but the fact that I can't fly saved his life. :)
 
Last edited:

Sudsy

Bearcat
Joined
Aug 17, 2022
Messages
49
Location
Central NJ
Still not convinced the guy could safely handle a gun.
You got that out of the OP ?
You need to read before posting

Shot my first gun at 6. Got my first gun for Christmas when I was 10 (50 years ago) Been reloading for 357 magnum for 30 years, casting for almost 10.

Me shooting 1968 newspaper.jpg
 

jgt

Buckeye
Joined
Jul 30, 2008
Messages
1,000
Location
coleman texas
I remember visiting my uncle in Alaska in 1962. He was a third generation Alaskan. He let me read a book he had about a famous grizzly back then that had killed ten people. Among them were both hunters and guides. The guide that killed him used a double barreled 12 gage shotgun and emptied both barrels at the same time. His ammo was 00 buckshot. When they autopsied the bear they found bullets in many places. His heart had a couple, lungs, brain, several around in his shoulders and neck area. They said he could no longer eat well and were amazed some of his wounds had not kill him. The buckshot load was to midsection when he was on his back feet standing upright and penetrated enough to break his spine and knock him down. A finishing shot was able to be put into him before he could do anything else. It was an amazing story to read and gave me the respect I have had for them ever since.
I have read first hand accounts from people living in Montana that grizzly bears attack on two occasions. Both times the bears were killed with a 444 and 240 grn cast bullet. I would not hunt them or mess with them except in a kill or be killed situation myself. I too, read the Louis & Clark journals and have no interest in partaking in such activities. I did meet up with a black bear in survival school when all I had was a puma skinner for protection and that was frightening enough for me.
 
Last edited:
Joined
Dec 19, 2001
Messages
10,104
Location
Alaska, Idaho USA
Thanks for answering the question. Maybe you could carry the 357mag in your motor home if that's what you feel competent with.

No I didn't pick up on your answer in the entire post. I mostly picked up on panic.

My point is, there are plenty of things to worry about than bears.
 
Last edited:
Top