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Grizzly protection on a budget.
#7245080
08/04/18 03:40 PM
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Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 5,792
MeanGreen85
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I need some recommendations on a quality cartridge & DA revolver for grizzly protection (cost and weight factored in if possible). I usually take my G20SF into the backcountry when bear encounters are possible, but I’ll be passing through Denver on my next trip, and it looks like Denver’s bump stock ban also eliminated any legal posession of 15+ round magazines previously permitted by a state law grandfather clause. I guess the silver lining in this is that I finally have a good reason to get a proper revolver for grizz protection.
Last edited by MeanGreen85; 08/04/18 04:37 PM. Reason: Realized I need double action only
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Re: Grizzly protection on a budget.
[Re: MeanGreen85]
#7245083
08/04/18 03:41 PM
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Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 7,250
jhenderson
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Re: Grizzly protection on a budget.
[Re: MeanGreen85]
#7245091
08/04/18 03:49 PM
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Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 4,906
luv2brode
Extreme Tracker
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44mag in nice heavy revolver works well
i am cancelling my subscription, i am tired of your issues!
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Re: Grizzly protection on a budget.
[Re: MeanGreen85]
#7245092
08/04/18 03:52 PM
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Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 12,220
wp75169
THF Celebrity
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Ruger Blackhawk
44 mag 45 colt properly loaded.
$500-600
Ruger Alaskan
454
480
44 mag
$7-800
Mos berg 500 12 ga & slugs.
$300 or less
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Re: Grizzly protection on a budget.
[Re: jhenderson]
#7245103
08/04/18 04:00 PM
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Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 5,792
MeanGreen85
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Under $700-800 including holster rig & ammo. I’m happy to entertain more expensive options, though. All-weather finishes would be a plus too.
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Re: Grizzly protection on a budget.
[Re: MeanGreen85]
#7245108
08/04/18 04:03 PM
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Joined: May 2016
Posts: 352
cblackall
Bird Dog
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Bird Dog
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My vote would be a Ruger Blackhawk in .44 mag or .45 Colt. For the .45, load up some Ruger only loads with a heavy cast bullet (300 gr + WFN), or buy some Buffalo Bore or similar if you don’t handload. Standard Blackhawks can be found for less than $500 used, and they are built like a tank. The plow handle grip is not pleasant to shoot with the heavy loads, but is the most economical model when compared to the Bisleys and double actions from Ruger. Charter Arms makes some inexpensive double actions in .44 Spl and .45 Colt, but I don’t have any personal experience with them. It really comes down to what you want to spend.
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Re: Grizzly protection on a budget.
[Re: MeanGreen85]
#7245115
08/04/18 04:11 PM
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Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 9,521
RiverRider
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Having worked on a Charter Arms or two, I would recommend NOT EVEN considering them for the intended purpose. I'm sorry, they're just cheap and no better than a Rossi IMO.
"Arguing with you always makes me thirsty." -Augustus McRae
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Re: Grizzly protection on a budget.
[Re: MeanGreen85]
#7245127
08/04/18 04:29 PM
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Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 5,792
MeanGreen85
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Excellent advice so far guys keep it coming.
Looks like the Blackhawks are single action only, correct? I’m thinking that could be an issue when SHTF if I don’t have the training / muscle memory to remember to [censored] the hammer between shots.
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Re: Grizzly protection on a budget.
[Re: MeanGreen85]
#7245128
08/04/18 04:30 PM
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Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 5,792
MeanGreen85
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Damn language filter
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Re: Grizzly protection on a budget.
[Re: MeanGreen85]
#7245136
08/04/18 04:33 PM
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Joined: May 2016
Posts: 352
cblackall
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Excellent advice so far guys keep it coming.
Looks like the Blackhawks are single action only, correct? I’m thinking that could be an issue when SHTF if I don’t have the training / muscle memory to remember to [censored] the hammer between shots. Yes, single action only.
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Re: Grizzly protection on a budget.
[Re: MeanGreen85]
#7245153
08/04/18 04:50 PM
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Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 27,091
Nogalus Prairie
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Just carry bear spray and save your money. $40, much easier to carry/deploy effectively, and works better when the SHTF during a grizzly charge anyway.
I learned long ago you can't reason someone out of something they don't reason themselves into.
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Re: Grizzly protection on a budget.
[Re: MeanGreen85]
#7245157
08/04/18 04:53 PM
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Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 9,521
RiverRider
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"Arguing with you always makes me thirsty." -Augustus McRae
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Re: Grizzly protection on a budget.
[Re: MeanGreen85]
#7245165
08/04/18 04:58 PM
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Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 9,926
unclebubba
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Granted, this is coming from someone who has only entered bear country once, and that was dead of winter...but I would personally feel better with a big honkin piece of lead than a bottle of spicy liquid. My personal opinion only. Other than that, I have absolutely nothing to add.
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Re: Grizzly protection on a budget.
[Re: MeanGreen85]
#7245170
08/04/18 05:05 PM
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Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 5,792
MeanGreen85
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NG I’ll pass on your suggestion. FWIW I also carry bear spray, but the peace of mind proved by a firearm can’t be overstated.
My group encountered a mama grizz with two cubs in Glacier NP two years ago. We were smart enough & lucky enough to be able to keep enough distance between us to avoid a conflict thankfully. I promise you I was not wishing that I’d left my gun at home.
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Re: Grizzly protection on a budget.
[Re: unclebubba]
#7245171
08/04/18 05:06 PM
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Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 27,091
Nogalus Prairie
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Granted, this is coming from someone who has only entered bear country once, and that was dead of winter...but I would personally feel better with a big honkin piece of lead than a bottle of spicy liquid. My personal opinion only. Other than that, I have absolutely nothing to add. I’m not going to argue about it. That’s the way I expect almost everyone on a Texas rifle forum to feel. But the facts say otherwise. Spray will stop most charges. Lead will stop only those where the CNS is shut down. Watch a grizzly destroy everything within a 20’ radius after being shot in the boiler room with a .375 and you may feel differently - and that’s without him having a defined threat/prey objective. I get it though. It ain’t macho.
I learned long ago you can't reason someone out of something they don't reason themselves into.
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Re: Grizzly protection on a budget.
[Re: MeanGreen85]
#7245172
08/04/18 05:07 PM
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Joined: May 2007
Posts: 5,498
TX_LT230FH
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Ruger Alaskan or similar. Heavy enough to manage the recoil some but not so heavy it’s like carrying around an anvil.
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Re: Grizzly protection on a budget.
[Re: MeanGreen85]
#7245173
08/04/18 05:07 PM
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Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 5,792
MeanGreen85
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Look up what happened to Brian Murphy in Glacier a few years ago and you’ll see where I’m coming from. Bear spray did nothing. His .357 did.
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Re: Grizzly protection on a budget.
[Re: MeanGreen85]
#7245174
08/04/18 05:08 PM
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Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 5,792
MeanGreen85
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Edit double post
Last edited by MeanGreen85; 08/04/18 05:09 PM.
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Re: Grizzly protection on a budget.
[Re: MeanGreen85]
#7245175
08/04/18 05:09 PM
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Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 4,009
68A
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What would you want in your hands? I can tell you a can of pepper spray would feel very inadequate when that big sob turned toward me.
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Re: Grizzly protection on a budget.
[Re: MeanGreen85]
#7245181
08/04/18 05:13 PM
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Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 27,091
Nogalus Prairie
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Look up what happened to Brian Murphy in Glacier a few years ago and you’ll see where I’m coming from. Look, I’m not clueless. I’ve spent a ton of time in grizzly country. I’ve hunted them. I know grizzlies are dangerous. That’s not the point here. Neither is the point to kill a grizzly for your trophy room. The point is what gives you the best odds to stop one from killing you during a charge. The best grizzly protection (budget or otherwise) is bear spray. I posted the studies that prove it.
I learned long ago you can't reason someone out of something they don't reason themselves into.
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Re: Grizzly protection on a budget.
[Re: MeanGreen85]
#7245182
08/04/18 05:13 PM
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Joined: Apr 2017
Posts: 1,716
duckhunter175
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Glock 29-- 10rd capacity, smaller overall package than your 20. Also-- check the actual statues on the magazine ban-- lots of exemptions to that law AND if you were in possession of the magazine prior to 2013 it is still legal... and the burden of proof lies with the prosecution. https://www.colorado.gov/pacific/cbi/firearmstatutes
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Re: Grizzly protection on a budget.
[Re: Nogalus Prairie]
#7245187
08/04/18 05:25 PM
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Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 5,792
MeanGreen85
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Look up what happened to Brian Murphy in Glacier a few years ago and you’ll see where I’m coming from. Look, I’m not clueless. I’ve spent a ton of time in grizzly country. I’ve hunted them. I know grizzlies are dangerous. That’s not the point here. Neither is the point to kill a grizzly for your trophy room. The point is what gives you the best odds to stop one from killing you during a charge. The best grizzly protection (budget or otherwise) is bear spray. I posted the studies that prove it. Odds are one thing. Clearly you’re willing to dismiss an outlier and play the percentages. I am not. Simple as that. Save your arguing for the Bunker
Last edited by MeanGreen85; 08/04/18 05:56 PM. Reason: I’m a grammar nazi
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Re: Grizzly protection on a budget.
[Re: MeanGreen85]
#7245192
08/04/18 05:29 PM
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Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 9,521
RiverRider
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I don't think I'd trust my survival to what I read in a single research paper. There are too many papers out there that "prove" things that just are not true.
"Arguing with you always makes me thirsty." -Augustus McRae
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Re: Grizzly protection on a budget.
[Re: duckhunter175]
#7245194
08/04/18 05:30 PM
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Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 5,792
MeanGreen85
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Glock 29-- 10rd capacity, smaller overall package than your 20. Also-- check the actual statues on the magazine ban-- lots of exemptions to that law AND if you were in possession of the magazine prior to 2013 it is still legal... and the burden of proof lies with the prosecution. https://www.colorado.gov/pacific/cbi/firearmstatutes From what I’ve found it looks like Denver city ordinance 38-130 removes that grandfather exemption within the city. 38-130 i 3 would give me a defense from prosecution since I’m a non-resident, but it wouldn’t keep me from getting arrested for posession if a LEO on a mission really wanted to cause me some trouble. Highly unlikely, yes, but it’s not really a risk I want to take.
Last edited by MeanGreen85; 08/04/18 05:33 PM.
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Re: Grizzly protection on a budget.
[Re: MeanGreen85]
#7245200
08/04/18 05:39 PM
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Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 12,221
Grizz
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I'm a belt and suspenders guy when it comes to things that will eat me, so I would carry both. When we're in Alaska, we never leave the house to go walking, fishing, or hunting without my son taking his bear spray. He usually also has his 10mm, but even if he doesn't have the gun he has his bear spray. That stuff is wicked and it has been proven to work, but I would still want the extra insurance of a firearm whenever possible. BTW, I'm not saying a 10mm is the best choice, it's just the best hand gun choice he has. I'll probably take my .44 mag with me this year.
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