Bear Protection for the wife

[Gilliland440]

I am looking into a hand gun for my wife to carry while hiking with the dog and I am working offshore. I fell like my 44mag is excessive w/ its scope and long barrel & same w/ the 50 AE and that my 1911 may be a little light on the knockdown energy side. (No I don't want to start another thread on whether or not 45 ACP is good for bear protection) I was thinking maybe a 357 mag then she could shot 38's out of it to practice and put Buff Bores in it while hiking... Any thoughts? Something light enough that she will not mind carrying it but low enough in kick for a 130lb woman to shot.
-JR

[AGL4now]

I am looking into a hand gun for my wife to carry while hiking with the dog and I am working offshore. I fell like my 44mag is excessive w/ its scope and long barrel & same w/ the 50 AE and that my 1911 may be a little light on the knockdown energy side. (No I don't want to start another thread on whether or not 45 ACP is good for bear protection) I was thinking maybe a 357 mag then she could shot 38's out of it to practice and put Buff Bores in it while hiking... Any thoughts? Something light enough that she will not mind carrying it but low enough in kick for a 130lb woman to shot.
-JR

I often only carry my S&W Model 60 3" with sights. and Cor-Bon 200 Gr. Hardcast. It is my go'to tool for Mtn. Biking the Back Country. (And yes a "Real-Man" would use something bigger, but I am a sissy girlie'man).

[tailwind]

A Ruger SP101. Otherwise a Smith J frame with a short barrel. I bet she won't want to carry anything big or bulky if she is jogging/biking.

[1Cor15:19]

She should be comfortable with the handgun. If she prefers revolvers then a .357 may be a very good choice. I'd lean more to a 4" barreled model as the recoil in a snubby .357 is vicious IMO. A bit more barrel and some more weight make it much more comfortable; something like a Security Six would be perfect. If she prefers a pistol then the .45 is not a bad choice. I've a Sig P220 in .45 acp and my wife enjoys shooting it and is proficient in its use. It is her normal carry weapon when she feels she needs one--in the bush or in town. Is it perfect for a bear? I doubt it. I do think it is better than nothing and nothing is what she'll actually need 99.99999999999999999% of the time for bears.

Given your situation I'd buy HER a handgun and let HER decide what's comfortable to shoot and carry. Otherwise you'll end up with another safe queen and an unarmed wife.

[stevelyn]

How interested is she in committing to carrying and using this gun?

How much if any shooting experience does she have?

Is she actively shopping for something for her or just you?

In the end it's really going to come down to what fits her and what she's confident and proficient in using.

[danthedewman1]

My girlfriend carrys a Taurus Tracker in .41 Magnum with 4 inch barrel and ports. She loads it with Federal 250 grain cast core bullets. Its a nice gun to shoot , not excessive and with that load its up with the .44 without all the recoil.

[Gilliland440]

Stevelyn she has told me 4 or 5 times in the last two months that she would like to get "her own gun" for taking the dog out. She has little experiance, she shoots my U22 at the range and thats about it for handguns. I have yet to take her out looking at handguns since I have only been off shore in New Zealand and now here in Louisiana for all but 3 weeks this year. I should probably start by having her shot my Kimber and go from there.

[Gilliland440]

Thinking out loud here: Dose any manufacture make a single stack 10mm? Then she would have more umph than a 45 and the reduced recoil of the pistol... But not in a bulky chassis like the Desert Eagle.

[MyTime]

Gilliand440,

Has she fired revolvers, pistols, or both? If the 44 is too large then work your way down on frame size/caliber. In revolvers, if the 41 mag is too much then the 357mag is a good choice, especialy since she can practice with the 38 rounds. I like 1Cor's suggestion of the 4" barrel and letting her make the decision.

As for auto-loading pistols, that gets more complicated if she's not used to it. I own and like the Glock 20, 10mm for my backpacking and non-city adventures here in TN...better than a 45 ACP, but NOT a 44 mag. If you already have a 1911, look at the link below and it may open up another option. I think the 460 looks like a viable option...not sure of the recoil but the advertising looks good. You can surf the forums for the 460 Rowland and see what others have to say about it.

Any of the more powerful handguns are better than nothing but remember, it's not a rifle. Hopefully she'll never need it for the reason you're getting it for her.

MyTime

http://460rowland.com/

PS: Some critters just don't die or run away easily. Read the attached, if you are not already aware of it. Kind of puts things in perspective. Look at the 10th and the 11th paragraphs in the "Discovery and Investigation" section.

http://www.yellowstone-bearman.com/Tim_Treadwell.html

[MyTime]

Thinking out loud here: Dose any manufacture make a single stack 10mm? Then she would have more umph than a 45 and the reduced recoil of the pistol... But not in a bulky chassis like the Desert Eagle.

YES! There are several 1911 variants out there that are chambered in 10 mm.

[MyTime]

One more thing and I'm done for the night... Kinda looks pretty good to me...beats my 10mm.

http://www.shopcorbon.com/CORBON-Hun...20/300/Product

Have a great night, y'all.

MyTime

[tvfinak]

S&w 329 pd

If your wife has large enough hands consider a 329 PD. It is light enough so it won't weight her down and she will actually carry it instead of leaving it at home.

Use .44 Specials to acquaint your wife with the gun and load it with reduced recoil mags to carry.

[jwp500]

If your wife has large enough hands consider a 329 PD. It is light enough so it won't weight her down and she will actually carry it instead of leaving it at home.

Use .44 Specials to acquaint your wife with the gun and load it with reduced recoil mags to carry.

[jwp500]

I am looking into a hand gun for my wife to carry while hiking with the dog and I am working offshore. I fell like my 44mag is excessive w/ its scope and long barrel & same w/ the 50 AE and that my 1911 may be a little light on the knockdown energy side. (No I don't want to start another thread on whether or not 45 ACP is good for bear protection) I was thinking maybe a 357 mag then she could shot 38's out of it to practice and put Buff Bores in it while hiking... Any thoughts? Something light enough that she will not mind carrying it but low enough in kick for a 130lb woman to shot.
-JR

Buffalo Bore loads a 255 grain FPRN hard cast in 45 ACP to about 950 FPS that would make a formable load in the 1911

Allow your wife to pick the handgun that she wants, other wise she probable will not keep it with her. Any gun is better than no gun

[tvfinak]

what SHE wants...

Excellent point. I'd guess something light and easy to use but I learned long ago to never try and second-guess any woman!

Allow your wife to pick the handgun that she wants, other wise she probable will not keep it with her. Any gun is better than no gun