Best gun for hiking/camping in bear country?

Question

It's kind of tough to hike with a shotgun.

Answer 1

You have mentioned that you want to get a pistol. But you may not need get a gun at all. The newest issue of Field and Stream( August) suggest that Bear spray is actually very afective. Also, it has some safety pluses. You can accidentily shoot someone with bear spray. If you do it will just kill. One thing to know when using bear spray is that you should not spray in on your tent overnight. This then becomes a sweet pepper smelling lure for bears.

Answer 2

a 12 ga. remington 870 or .357 or .44 S&W revolver should do the trick. make sure u know ur way around the gun before you bring it with you

Answer 3

Ruger P89-9mm!*

Answer 4

There are a lot of guns that can protect you, the 454 Casull, 480 , the 44 mag, the 460 or 500 S&W.  What is important is to find a gun that fits you well and a gun you like.

If you were to find a shorter barrel 460, then you have a gun that will shoot the 454 Casull, the 45 Colt and the 460!

Don't ever buy a gun because someone says you should, do your homework, check out the guns you are interested in, check the availability of ammo and pick people's brain on recoil.

Take the handguns and pull them up and see how they feel.

Everyone is different and how you hold a gun is a large part of finding a gun that feels comfortable for you. I work in a large sporting goods store in Mich and sell handguns every day.  I am the ammo man.

Answer 5

many options...357 mag...glock 9 (less damage more rounds)....45...38 special...all small guns what good power...i think new england firearms made a single shot handgun that shot out a 12guage shell....but thats a couple of years back...but just imagine having one of those with a buck shot shell in it...your almost gurenteed not to miss...and theres enough knock down power there....

Answer 6

A Taurus Tracker chambered in .44 Mag with a 4" inch ported barrel. Has very bright sights if your hiking at the end of the day after the sun is going down and can be concealed easily and is very light and since it's a revolver it is reliable. A big punch in a small package. They sell used for like $300-$350 which is rather cheap I think but a deals a deal. Since it's a revolver a novice could use it, don't worry with it too much a couple range trips helps a lot and most of the people at a range will help you if you ask, we sportsman tend to be nice. Make sure you get some good hollow point or something to leave a good nice hole in him if they decide to mess with ya. Good luck. Another idea is to go to a big gun store and explain it to them, make sure you think on it and ask us again if they try to sell you something. After all that's what salesmen do, just don't go buy some big expensive  automatic or ridiculously huge gun chambered in a ridiculously huge cartridge.

Answer 7

The Ruger Bisley 45 caliber long colt +p is an excellent choice. It has significant power (greater than a 44 magnum) and it's handgrip is better suited for shooting powerful, large caliber rounds capable of dispatching dangerous game.

Answer 8

I would agree with a Taurus 44mag w/ 4" barrel

that or a ruger super blackhawk or redhawk with a short barrel

The key is portability. You want a 44mag, 45lc (ruger), or 454 but you don't want an awkward or heavy gun.  

Answer 9

44 mag minimum.......12 ga shotgun with slugs much better

Answer 10

If you are in Grizzly bear country a 44 magnum minimum with 320 gr flat nose hard cast lead bullets for deep penetration. Or a .454 Casull, .500 S&W would be better if you can be accurate with them.

If its only black bears a .357 magnum will work.

In any case don’t get a snub nose and have a barrel 4 inches or longer, a 5 or 6 inch barrel creates better performance of the round and is more accurate.

And practice with the gun until you can nail the center of a paper plate at 20 yards every time.

Answer 11

I won't bore you with details but hands on acquired knowledge lets me make the statement that you never take a handgun to a bear fight.  If you do make sure the front sight is filed off so when the bear lets you have it it doesn't hurt as much.  A good short barreled 12 gauge pump works best; and for initial effect get some of those BlamoAmmo dragon type shells that belch out a big blast of flame and one hellacious boom.  Two of those will clear the neighborhood.  Follow those with sabots in the tube.