[442Wrangler]

That could kill a bear if needed. Moving out west for the summer to Yellowstone for a park job and was looking at a few pistols.

M1911 in .45 ACP (would be an original 1918 batch gun) I've heard the bullets move too slowly? Is this true or what?

M1858 New Army conversion in .45 colt

1872 Peacemaker in .357 Mag

Mo. 3 Schofield in .44 Mag.

Which could do the trick and which would you guys reccomend...kinda a history guy who wants practicality as you can see.

[P0paWheelie]

I don't want to be offensive man, but if you are asking this kind of question then you may not be ready to pack a handgun. Are you trolling? If you had an original of any of those guns it would not be a shooter and would most likely not be safe to fire with todays loadings.

.45 ACP bullets do travel slower, around 800-1,000 FPS.

You have a lot of flaws, to begin with the peace maker was developed in 1873 and .357 mag did not exist. Today that style is called a Single Action Army (or SAA). You can get them in big calibers from Freedom Arms, which is what I would recommend if you like this style.

If you are really serious then you need a big revolver, there are pretty much no semi automatics that would be able to get the job done. A desert eagle in .44 or .50 may work but it would be stupidly heavy and awkward. A 10mm could also work, but it would still not be as good of a choice as a hot .44, .45, .460, .475, .500

Ideally get a large caliber rifle or shotgun with slugs.

Or just buy this

http://www.survivaldigest.com/2008/0...-survival-kit/

Only shoot 5, #6 is for you

[sonoran_Tj]

Originally Posted by P0paWheelie

If you had an original of any of those guns it would not be a shooter and would most likely not be safe to fire with todays loadings.

This isn't necessarily true. The M1911 should be able to handle modern .45 cartridges as long as they aren't +P. I wouldn't use smokeless in the older SA revolvers though. Cartridge pressure standards are maintained to the original specs so that stupid people don't blow themselves up, so using an old gun with modern cartridges usually isn't an issue. The exceptions to that are cartridges that are sometimes smokeless or black powder, especially damascus steel barreled shotguns.


On topic- I would not choose a historic handgun at the cost of my personal protection. If you need to carry one, you might as well carry the best you can. I'd recommend a double action revolver chambered in something that starts with a .4 and ends in a magnum (or might as well end in magnum).

[Dr. Marneaus]

Originally Posted by 442Wrangler

That could kill a bear if needed. Moving out west for the summer to Yellowstone for a park job and was looking at a few pistols.

M1911 in .45 ACP (would be an original 1918 batch gun) I've heard the bullets move too slowly? Is this true or what?

M1858 New Army conversion in .45 colt

1872 Peacemaker in .357 Mag

Mo. 3 Schofield in .44 Mag.

Which could do the trick and which would you guys reccomend...kinda a history guy who wants practicality as you can see.

Yeah, uhm....

If it;s anything bigger than blackbear, I'd choose something bigger than .357.

Pick up a modern double action, or single action if you're into that, magnum caliber revolver.

ruger makes plenty that would fit these needs.

[Ross]

Originally Posted by 442Wrangler

That could kill a bear if needed. Moving out west for the summer to Yellowstone for a park job and was looking at a few pistols.

M1911 in .45 ACP (would be an original 1918 batch gun) I've heard the bullets move too slowly? Is this true or what?

M1858 New Army conversion in .45 colt

1872 Peacemaker in .357 Mag

Mo. 3 Schofield in .44 Mag.

Which could do the trick and which would you guys reccomend...kinda a history guy who wants practicality as you can see.

I think the park will have an issue with you carrying a weapon or having it with you while you work. If there is a real danger of bear attacks there will already be some sort of safety procedure put in place. If you have an issue with a firearm while working in a state/federal park you probably will never have a chance of getting a job with any government agency or possibly anybody who contracts with a government agency ever again.

[ajmorell]

When it comes to something like protection from bears go big or go home. It's unlikely that you're going to get more than a couple of shots off so you have to make them count, it takes a lot of energy to stop a grizzly. If you're looking for something lightweight check out the Ruger Alaskan in 454 Casull

[pushead]

You should try hunting a bear with a rifle some time. Then you would know how silly of a question this is. Bears have great natural protction of their organs. The odds of killing one with out a direct head shot with a hand gun would be pretty slim. Besides bears are more afraid of you than you are of them. I have 2 black bears living on my property and every time they see me they haul butt. I wish they would never come back.

[442Wrangler]

Originally Posted by P0paWheelie

I don't want to be offensive man, but if you are asking this kind of question then you may not be ready to pack a handgun. Are you trolling? If you had an original of any of those guns it would not be a shooter and would most likely not be safe to fire with todays loadings.

.45 ACP bullets do travel slower, around 800-1,000 FPS.

You have a lot of flaws, to begin with the peace maker was developed in 1873 and .357 mag did not exist. Today that style is called a Single Action Army (or SAA). You can get them in big calibers from Freedom Arms, which is what I would recommend if you like this style.

If you are really serious then you need a big revolver, there are pretty much no semi automatics that would be able to get the job done. A desert eagle in .44 or .50 may work but it would be stupidly heavy and awkward. A 10mm could also work, but it would still not be as good of a choice as a hot .44, .45, .460, .475, .500

Ideally get a large caliber rifle or shotgun with slugs.

Or just buy this

http://www.survivaldigest.com/2008/0...-survival-kit/

Only shoot 5, #6 is for you

No problem. Never said I was an expert but I would never own an original any of these for protection, they could easily fail and were very prone to do so.

I would be getting an Uberti replica.

Originally Posted by Ross

I think the park will have an issue with you carrying a weapon or having it with you while you work. If there is a real danger of bear attacks there will already be some sort of safety procedure put in place. If you have an issue with a firearm while working in a state/federal park you probably will never have a chance of getting a job with any government agency or possibly anybody who contracts with a government agency ever again.

You can carry and fire ONLY if you are in direct threat and have maced the bear first or have no time to do so. There is an investigation that occurs much like a homicide to determine if you were right or wrong.

My friend worked there last year so he knew the rules and they were explained to me when I entered the park with my shotgun. They aren't happy about people with guns but there is little they can do, times have changed.

Originally Posted by pushead

You should try hunting a bear with a rifle some time. Then you would know how silly of a question this is. Bears have great natural protction of their organs. The odds of killing one with out a direct head shot with a hand gun would be pretty slim. Besides bears are more afraid of you than you are of them. I have 2 black bears living on my property and every time they see me they haul butt. I wish they would never come back.

I understand a pistol is not the best choice but I will be carrying a shotgun when I go hiking instead of a pistol. Plus the rifle is only good for long distance, not a close encounter; see park policy above. Also bears will be having their cubs when I arrive so I understand they are afraid of me but not if their cubs are nearby.

So .44 mag or .45-70 is what I'm guessing.

[grogie]

Bears may generally be scared of man, but they're mean and aggressive. A friend of mine that raises sheep looses them to bears on a regular basis. They attack at night, and don't even kill but leave the animals to bleed to death. Then the next night they return to roll on the carcasses and bury them. He refers to it as sport for the bears.

Anyway, I'd also carry a big gun with bears around.

[RogueSpear2023]

black bears and grizzly bears are completely different animals as far a temperament. Black bears will usually run away even if they have young, grizzly bears will sometimes run and sometimes won't depends whether they are hungry and you are on the menu or not.

As far as bear calibers you are going to want a large caliber revolver .44 magnum, .454, .460, 500S&W , or large caliber automatic 10mm, .50AE.

If you are going to work for the park, I can not see them allowing you to carry a gun, and most the guns we have mentioned are very hard to conceal. I think a big can of bear mace is you best bet.

[442Wrangler]

I see 44 mag is mentioned a lot. Is 357 mag comparable? Looking at velocities and energy it is very close and the added fact that I could get something like hollow points in addition to the "smaller" bullets makes it seem like they would pack as much of a punch.

Any thoughts on that caliber?

[bartho]

use one (357 magnum 6#) with compressed mp200 with an 90 grain eliminator bullet for self defense and also shot two kudu (a bit bigger than a stag ?) and lots of warthogs with it , but your ears suffer !! Same velocity as my .308 hunting rifle

[Indy]

A 357 is comparable to a .44 mag the same way a honda civic is comparable to a 1 ton truck. They both have wheels, can get you from place to place. But the civic is going to suck when it's time to haul a trailer.

Hollow points are for people, not bears. Not nearly enough penetration.

[P0paWheelie]

Not hollows.

.357 is in not comparable to a hot .44

Just buy the biggest gun you can handle for a few shots and hope you never have to use it because it probably won't be enough anyway.

[sonoran_Tj]

Originally Posted by 442Wrangler

I see 44 mag is mentioned a lot. Is 357 mag comparable? Looking at velocities and energy it is very close and the added fact that I could get something like hollow points in addition to the "smaller" bullets makes it seem like they would pack as much of a punch.

Any thoughts on that caliber?

Energy and momentum are not the same, and hollowpoints definitely don't make up for it in this case. What you need to kill a bear is penetration through dense animal matter. A small light bullet can't push through meat as well as a bigger .44 slug. Using hollowpoints would minimize penetration even more, which is counter-productive in this case.