looking for a good gun for proctection in the wild.

So guys I am quite new to guns, but the amount of time that I now spend in the wilderness I think it is time I should get a firearm for protection. I am looking for a good "guide gun" somethig fairly light weight but capable of taking down any animal that could pose a threat to me. Any tips, guides, anything to get me on the right track would be much appreciated. Thanks guys.

 

What sort of animals are we talking about here? Protection from a squirrel or a black bear?

 

can be anything really from coyotes, to black bears. anything that could cause me trouble in the Canadian wilderness.

 

are you looking to get a long gun, shot gun or handgun?

for cheap stopping power mossburg 500 for shotgun or maybe SIG P250 45acp

 

handgun is a no go here in Canada.

 

x2 on the mossberg. I have the 535 model and love it. For a lighter gun thats easier to carry get a composite gun, not wood. Sounds like a 12g would be the way to go for you. 00 Buckshot will put down jsut about anything if it is threatening you at a close range. It also gives you a little spread of projectiles compared to a slug for those OH SHIT moments when you cant really make perfect aim.

 

If you could have to put down a bear and want a handgun I would think you're going to want something like a .41-.44 magnum. Shotgun, I would say a 12ga slug would do you just fine.

 

and always remember...when being charged by a bear, shoot first ask questions later

 

Unfortunate about handguns in Canada...Mossberg makes a shotgun called the Mariner it has an 18.5 inch barrel with a rubber-esque slide and would handle the elements nice. Mossberg also makes a shotgun called the Persuader/JIC (Just in Case. Its a pistol gripped shot gun without a stock that has a water proof case/tube. Check out mossberg's site. I love my moss 500.

 

I carry a Mossberg 500 12 gauge 8+1. I don't want to meet something that I can't kill with 9 slug rounds (or 7 magnum slugs).

 

It is quite a shame about handguns in Canada, would be much easier, and handier to have a handgun on my side then to have to carry my pack plus a shotgun or rifle. and I am on the mossburg website right now in the other tab.

 

Do you carry pepper spray? They have that insanely strong grizzly spray that shoots like 20 or 30 feet... Just another option if you feel the shotgun will be much to carry. We would carry a can with us when we would go hiking back in the mountains to remote trout streams.

 

Thanks for the input Maverick on the pepper spay, might go pick up a can for now. Also I know for oh-shit moments a shotgun would be much better, but with a fairly good shot, how do you think I could manage with a rifle?

 

Mossbergs can be had for relatively cheap. I got my 500 with a slug barrel and a smooth barrel for $325. I think the Mariner can be had for around the 500-600 dollar range and the JIC is around the same.

 

Id rather trust my life and safety in my aim and my gun rather than an aerosol can full of chili peppers..You dont have to use the gun to kill. Warning shots are also viable at a much greater distance than the 20-30 foot range than the spray can requires. The running joke out in MT is the way you can tell the difference between black bears and grizzly bears is that black bear dung is full of berries and doesnt smell too bad, the grizzly bear dung is full of bells and smells of peppers. (I know there are other variations of the joke)

 

X2, 12 GA, pump no plug, 00 BUCK. Work's on a 400LB crack head in Fla so My guess, it would stop a bear.. Jim

 

No doubt id rather carry a gun as well. But I was young when we had the pepper spray so I didnt have that option and my dad didnt wanna buy a gun. Now I dont go in the woods without my mossberg ahaha.

 

nuff said

 

what are the rules in canada on handguns? cant you own a 4.5" barrel handgun?