Camping and Backpacking GEAR thread

If you think the black bear is a problem, you're mistaken. Two legged animals are the 'problem.'

 

If you're only carrying one, you need a large caliber round or it's useless. A 9mm will only piss off a bear.

 

Oh for sure. Humans are a bigger concern but I was only talking about animals there. I feel confident with a 9mm against a person as well.

 

Depends on how big the 4 legged critter is. If its a rabid squirrel then 9mm will be more than enough but if it's a grizzly you're gonna want a 12guage or better yet bear spray.

This^^

Not necessarily, depends on how big the bear is and where/how many times you manage to hit it.

I am in no way advocating that someone carry a 9mm or other light handgun round for defence against bear or other large animals. If you're going to shoot something at least make sure it's quick and the animal does that suffer.

I personally carry a g26 or g17 when I'm out in the desert/woods, usually concealed. If bears were a worry here I would carry bear spray too.

 

Black bears don't attack people Google it

 

I spent many a day in the mountains crawling bear trails for search and rescue missions. Every group had a magnum. A 9mm is not effective against a bear skull. I agree - putting rounds down range is always a better idea than nothing.

Just like humans, rounds are not effective until either the computer/nerve center is shut off or blood pressure drops too far to survive.

Before that happens... Pissed off bear.

 

My dad recently passed down his old stove and lantern. My Grandpa bought the lantern in the 60's and Dad bought the stove when my brother and I were growing up in the early 90s. Surprisingly enough the lantern was still full of white gas from the last camping trip in 2003 and fired right up on the first match!

Some of the really old Coleman stuff (1960's) wasn't marketed as dual fuel, but could burn regular unleaded gasoline just fine if you stayed on top of cleaning. It's my understanding that the only differences between the two models are the diameter of the generator and the material that the seals are made out of. The original owners manual from our lantern has instructions about burning with gasoline, but I can honestly say that I have never had any desire to use anything other than the white gas. The white gas is more expensive, but it burns SOOOOO much cleaner and doesn't stink.

 

Those are in great shape! I'm sure treated right, they'll give you many more years of use.

 

By most of the time are you saying you want the pistol to work as a conceal carry gun for everyday also?

If so, a 10mm is basically a more potent 40sw. You could carry full 10mm loads in the back country and underpowered for your every day carry and it'll preform similar to a .40. Look into blue label pricing for a Glock 29. Go to glocks website, do a dealership search for LE (law enforcement) dealers in your area. Prices are going to be typically $100 less than what you find everywhere else.

The only problem is while mass produced 10mm is still pretty much a "boutique" round that isn't very popular and ammo prices and choices are reflected in that.


I have mixed feelings about using a pistol for self defense in a bear situation. You have to be pretty damn accurate with it so it'll take a lot of practice, and with 10mm not being cheap (shoot what you carry, which is almost $1/rnd for full power FMJ (do NOT use jhps for bear)) you're looking at $100+ in ammo cost to make sure that the pistol is reliable with that specific round and that you're accurate enough to hit a relative small moving spot from 10+ yards. Inside 10 yards bear spray can be way more effective since it covers a broad area vs a spot less than a half an inch with the 10mm

 

When in doubt, if a gun and bear spray dont work against the bear, shoot somebody else in the knee to get away

 

I'll say it again, black bears are not a reason to carry.

I work with the bear patrol here in Yosemite. If a bear is in your camp/food, just yell your fool head off screaming and yell with all your might, waving your arms. The bear will retreat.

 

I guess this black bear didn't have Google...

http://www.newsmax.com/t/newsmax/ar...ge/Articles/Template-Wire&oref=www.google.com

 

I've encountered black bears dozens of times - thru hike AT, many backpacking trips sierras, own a remote cabin in northern mendocino with problem neighborhood bears ( neighbor was feeding them metric tons of grain, no joke was in the news ) the diciest encounter was in N Virginia when my 4 legged hiking companion went off trail and treed two cubs. The mother gave chase but when she saw me she boogied. They are more scared of you than you are of them. Yell , clap , stomp, chuck a rock at thier head, they split asap. If you look closely at the recorded black bear attacks you will see most are at an exotic animal preserve or was a wannabe bear whisperer or some nonsense.

 

There have been black bear attacks, but in this instance the person fell over, this was not a bear attack.

 

Ehh 1 in 750000 attack a person each year. I'd take those odds. Gonna agree with @Cuffs black bears really aren't a threat.

 

http://www.sfgate.com/crime/article/Laytonville-woman-charged-with-feeding-bears-3172675.php

My neighbor, sad as I had to dispatch a bear because of her. Fish and Game took care of the rest, BTW, I used what was handy, a 9mm, one shot. I took zero.zero pleasure in this and was given permission by DFG, now known as fish and wildlife. I still have the skull. Dozens of bears lost thier life because of that crazy old lady, was a bigtime bummer.

 

Thats bullshit. I hope you're being sarcastic

http://www.adn.com/alaska-news/wild...rage-attack-initially-reported-as-a-stabbing/

http://www.adn.com/alaska-news/arti...rs-responsible-most-human-attacks/2011/05/11/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_fatal_bear_attacks_in_North_America

 

You are right, I should have said it is very unlikely.

 

Read the second article I posted... I live in the backyard of black bears and see them all the time. Sure I'd rather encounter a blackie than a grizz when unarmed but to say they don't attack people....

 

400+ bears here in Yosemite. Three tagged that I see routinely in my yard. They are no threat. I've had them in my backcountry camps knocking over my bear can. I have got up and run them off at all hours.

I took a Venture Crew on a 100 mile backpack trip on the AT. Had to run one out of camp twice. At least I think it was only one bear...

Yes, there are a few recorded attacks. There are also mitigating circumstances to each of them. But for the population of bears and number of a tracks, you're more likely to be attacked by the neighbors dog.