bears/ pistol cals.
- Thread starter diesel64
- Start date
It a standard .44 magnum with a 4-5/8" barrel.
did you choose a ruger cause you tend to use much hotter .44 mag loads?
I used to do crop hail claims around RMNP and thought there was an amazing number of bears in that country. The north side of the park south of Gilbert Plains was heavily infested with them, to the point where the farmers wouldn't bother to grow oats which are one of Mr. Bruin's favourite foods. They would knock down a lot of crop by rolling around on their backs and gathering the plants onto their chests so they could strip off the heads. I still see that kind of damage here in the BC southern interior where the ranchers will sow a new forage crop with a cover crop of barley.
I did claims on wheat fields right up against the park boundary and saw a lot of bear damage in them. One of the farmers had a carte blanche from the wildlife dept to shoot them out of his fields. By the time I did a claim for him in early august he had already shot over 30 bears in his fields
. I called him " Grizzly Adams" and wondered how he would get his swather around the carcasses come harvest time.. He said it really wasn't a problem as the other bears policed up the dead ones pretty well. You bet I carried either a shotgun or an M1 Garand when I walked the fields in that area.
Perhaps it is time to have Boomer's reply stickied? That was a well thought out answer to someone asking a simple question. Perhaps this way someone new coming on to the site has the easiest way to find his answer without "bothering" some of the "old guard" around here.
- Location
- Somewhere on the Hudson Bay Coast
No, I chose the gun because the grip shape fits my hand and handles recoil better than the N frame Smith (my .357 is a M-27 N frame though) and because I think an unaltered Redhawk, Super Redhawk, or the older Dan Wesson guns are physically too large for daily carry. I like the SA due to the mechanical simplicity of the single action. There is no crane to spring, so as long as the base pin doesn't wear, the chambers will always align with the bore without shaving lead. When the base pin begins to wear, there are plenty of oversized replacement base pins available from Brownells. I would consider a Freedom Arms gun built to similar specs: short barrel, fixed sights, and big caliber, but their cost is prohibitive for a gun that gets hard use, although I'm sure they're up to it. The ultimate ATC gun though is probably a custom job from Bowen Classic Arms, but the cross border stuff is complicated and the gun would be in the $3-5K range. A $500 Vaquero looks pretty good by comparison. My load by the way is a 325 gr hard cast WFN over 20 grs of H-110.
Rmnp
That's where we live, Purple, I mile south of the Riding Mountain National Park
And we have lots of bears, as you say. Blonde ones and cinnamon colour variations as well as black ones.
I do crop insurance claims too, spray drift, but I don't take my 9.3 carbine along. Never felt I had to.
That's where we live, Purple, I mile south of the Riding Mountain National Park
And we have lots of bears, as you say. Blonde ones and cinnamon colour variations as well as black ones.
I do crop insurance claims too, spray drift, but I don't take my 9.3 carbine along. Never felt I had to.
For myself I bought a Ruger super redhawk in 454 casull and a couple holsters from Triple K out of the US(full flap and open w/ strap). Never did get my ATC though because I got out of geology last year as I ran into that whole 'geology and marriage don't mix' scenario(now taking up electrical work and prospecting on the side when I finally find time and money again). Anyway I would consider the carry gun calibers to be 44 mag and 454 casull with 45colt acceptable as long as your loading it to 44 mag levels in a Ruger gun. The 460 S&W and 500 S&W guns weigh damn near as much as my Rossi M92 in 454 making them kind of pointless for practical carry and slow to draw.
As far as I recall autoloaders are unacceptable on a wilderness ATC due to reliability issues and generally not being chambered for anything useful in this situation. So really your looking at a S&W or Ruger in 44mag if you don't handload or a Ruger in 45 colt or 454 casull if you do.
As far as I recall autoloaders are unacceptable on a wilderness ATC due to reliability issues and generally not being chambered for anything useful in this situation. So really your looking at a S&W or Ruger in 44mag if you don't handload or a Ruger in 45 colt or 454 casull if you do.
I've heard that the bears are slower and that crop adjusters are faster on the south side of the park.
Personally I always figure the bears might be looking for payback with me because I have the hide of a nice chocolate/cinammon boar on the wall.I took my shotgun for a walk while doing a claim on a ranch in the Beaverdell, BC country today. It's been a pretty active place for bears this spring/summer. The owner shot a 2 yr old grizzly which was killing his sheep this spring and recently saw a big cougar trolling the hayfields for fawns. There are also 3 sow black bears with cubs hanging out on the place. I see bears in the hayfields quite often and I think that they are out there looking for the young fawns which the does hide in the field. Coyotes are out there looking too, along with the eagles which will take a new-born fawn if they see it. Alfalfa is a succulent which is high in protein; just what mama deer likes when nursing a fawn. The hayfields serve double duty as a food source and a hiding place for the young ones. Today I put up 5 fawns, 4 does and 2 bucks (one a nice 10 point by BC standards) while walking the fields. Also saw a hen turkey and chicks as a bonus. No bears though. Last week I saw a dozen fawns on one 160 acre piece.
geology and marriage don't mix' I saw that early on in the geophysics side
The CFO's claim the reason the pistols aren't "allowed" is because the RCMP think they are unreliable, seem they are ok for duty carry though.......
I suspect that they are to "Black gun like"
If you are comfortable carrying and accurately shooting a big calibre revolver than all the power to you. I know my limitations and that's why I would opt the 10mm. All I can say is it's very nice that bears only attack working stiffs who can get an ATC, I wonder if the bears get a updated list of who's carrying every year so they know you to attack.
geology and marriage don't mix' I saw that early on in the geophysics side
The CFO's claim the reason the pistols aren't "allowed" is because the RCMP think they are unreliable, seem they are ok for duty carry though.......
I suspect that they are to "Black gun like"
If you are comfortable carrying and accurately shooting a big calibre revolver than all the power to you. I know my limitations and that's why I would opt the 10mm. All I can say is it's very nice that bears only attack working stiffs who can get an ATC, I wonder if the bears get a updated list of who's carrying every year so they know you to attack.
Ya it's early on really for me too. I just thought it would work. Ah well...I'm living in a geologist's playground now so it's all good(as soon as I find time and money...).
I'd say auto loaders are not allowed because when you're dragging them around the bush there is a higher probability of them not functioning when they get wet and full of dirt(how much dirt/sand/rust does it take to jam a slide?). Personally I'd never carry an autoloader for that reason alone even if I had the option. Police officers never really have this issue as they generally stay on the pavement.
Ya it's early on really for me too. I just thought it would work. Ah well...I'm living in a geologist's playground now so it's all good(as soon as I find time and money...).
I'd say auto loaders are not allowed because when you're dragging them around the bush there is a higher probability of them not functioning when they get wet and full of dirt(how much dirt/sand/rust does it take to jam a slide?). Personally I'd never carry an autoloader for that reason alone even if I had the option. Police officers never really have this issue as they generally stay on the pavement.
Invest in a good flat style holster...will save you much grief. For both style of handguns
My personal favorite defense gun has always been a Beretta Jetfire in .22 short. I've carried it for many years while hikig in the US. I never go without it in my pocket.
Of course, the first rule when hiking in the wildernes is to use the 'buddy system'. This means you NEVER hike alone. You bring a friend, companion or family member because if something happens there is someone to go get help.
I remember one time while I was hiking with my wife in NW Montana out of nowhere came this huge black bear charging at us and boy was she angry! We must've been near one of her cubs. Anyway, if I had not had my little Jetfire with me I would not be here today.
Just one shot to my wife's knee cap was all it took....the bear got her and I was able to escape by just walking at a brisk pace.
It's one of the best pistols in my collection.....
Of course, the first rule when hiking in the wildernes is to use the 'buddy system'. This means you NEVER hike alone. You bring a friend, companion or family member because if something happens there is someone to go get help.
I remember one time while I was hiking with my wife in NW Montana out of nowhere came this huge black bear charging at us and boy was she angry! We must've been near one of her cubs. Anyway, if I had not had my little Jetfire with me I would not be here today.
Just one shot to my wife's knee cap was all it took....the bear got her and I was able to escape by just walking at a brisk pace.
It's one of the best pistols in my collection.....
pisces-guy
CGN frequent flyer
- Location
- West Kelowna, B.C.
According to my friend that wouldn't work with his wife, she's so frigid that the bear would start eating, get a brain freeze, and give up gnoshing on her and go after him.
He carries a 12 gauge 870 with 3" slugs, sporting a 14" Dlask short barrel.
He carries a 12 gauge 870 with 3" slugs, sporting a 14" Dlask short barrel.
re: semi-auto reliability
Lemme see ....
auto-loaders are deemed "unreliable" under field conditions, carried by a sportsman in either a flap holster or under a covering jacket or coat.
That would explain the millions of pistols carried into combat under appalling conditions by soldiers of all nations since their inception, exposed to the elements.
Not to forget the more open design of most revolvers, subject to dust, mud and crud from innumerable sources; even the slightest bit of foreign matter under the ejector star rendering them inoperable.
Who's kidding who? Any competitor will tell you that handgun reliability depends largely on the quality of the ammo and the skill of the user. Most malfunctions are operator caused.
Lemme see ....
auto-loaders are deemed "unreliable" under field conditions, carried by a sportsman in either a flap holster or under a covering jacket or coat.
That would explain the millions of pistols carried into combat under appalling conditions by soldiers of all nations since their inception, exposed to the elements.
Not to forget the more open design of most revolvers, subject to dust, mud and crud from innumerable sources; even the slightest bit of foreign matter under the ejector star rendering them inoperable.
Who's kidding who? Any competitor will tell you that handgun reliability depends largely on the quality of the ammo and the skill of the user. Most malfunctions are operator caused.
I have had an auto on a bc/yt atc since 2006. They have never given me issue.
I do know one fellow here who was refused, but I suspect it was more an issue with him applying for multiple firearms on his atc, which already included a couple large bore revolvers.
My m&p 45, loaded with 10 45 Super rounds, is nine ounces lighter than my 4" 629 loaded with 6 rounds. In a bianchi UM92 style holster it stays clean and dry and I haven't lost it yet.
