Colorado Bear Country fishing....

paxfish · Oct 18, 2017

So, sometimes, while camping and "blue line" trout fishing in near-alpine environments, one might happen upon various dangerous critters. In Colorado, they generally range from black bear, cougar, potentially wolves etc.

My .357 Highway Patrol is beautiful and accurate, but is heavy at 41 ounces. The cartridge might be about right though with 158 grain hard slugs.

What are other good choices in this caliber? I've seen the SP101 at 27 ounces and would be willing to take the recoil hit when carried in such duty. Any other recommendations? Not too interested in bigger calibers or hunting with the pistol. The gun needs to be light enough to carry all day.

Devonian · Oct 18, 2017

I was just hunting in Colorado at the end of August. My partner had a tiny Kimber 357 revolver in a chest holster. It seemed like a great setup that stayed out of the way yet readily accessible. I think the model was the K6s.

paxfish · Oct 18, 2017

Nice! 23 ounces!. I bet she kicks like a mule with .357, but it's not something I'd be taking to the range and shooting 50 rounds with....

Ian · Oct 18, 2017

Used to fish just outside the boundary of Yellowstone, on the north side. 12 gauge, unfortunately. Unless it’s a perfect shot, anything else will just piss off a grizzly.

CrazySanMan · Oct 18, 2017

There are black bear in Colorado but no grizzlies. The moose are probably the biggest threat to people in Colorado.

When I am in the woods I carry a 45 acp with these rounds from Buffalo Bore:

https://www.buffalobore.com/index.php?l=product_detail&p=381

45 ACP +P OUTDOORSMAN
255 gr. Hard Cast FN (925 fps/M.E. 484 ft. lbs.)
50 Round Box

ITEM 45-255

The three JHP loads are designed for defense against humans, while the two non-expanding loads are designed to shoot through large shoulder bones or the skull on a black bear. These non-expanding bullets also work well if you need to shoot through cover like car doors or stick frame walls.

If I'm hiking my XDs is lightweight and easy to carry. I use a Hill People Gear kit bag to carry in because it doesn't interfere with a backpack. If I'm camping I carry my Glock 21 in a retention holster. Remember that in Colorado if you aren't a prohibited person and aren't in Denver city limits you can open carry, though the police in Boulder county might hassle you a bit.

marylandmark · Oct 18, 2017

Devonian · Oct 18, 2017

We saw a few moose in the Flat Tops a few weeks ago. Could have killed two moose between the three of us but of course we only had elk tags and got skunked.

Doctor_M · Oct 18, 2017

Just my $0.02, but I would not carry a .357 or 9mm for bear protection. Not enough penetration to do you any good. My bear side-arm is a .44 mag. with hard-cast hammer-head bullets... and I still wouldn't want to actually have to use it against a bear. I like the odds stacked in my favor.

Moyaone · Oct 18, 2017

Smith model 329 pd. Stoked with .44 special you will have a reasonably controllable, very capable, light weight powerhouse. Pricey, though!

CrazySanMan · Oct 18, 2017

Devonian said:
We saw a few moose in the Flat Tops a few weeks ago. Could have killed two moose between the three of us but of course we only had elk tags and got skunked.

I hope they open up moose season soon. It seems like the moose population has exploded recently. Right now the moose bag limit is 1/lifetime.

SummitCnty · Oct 18, 2017

I’m going out to Mt Zerkel Wilderness and Routt NF in June for a backpacking/elk scouting trip. Will be bringing my 9mm b/c that’s what I got!

CrazySanMan · Oct 18, 2017

SummitCnty said:
I’m going out to Mt Zerkel Wilderness and Routt NF in June for a backpacking/elk scouting trip. Will be bringing my 9mm b/c that’s what I got!

That's fine. I have a friend who has backpacked 1000's of miles in the Rockies and he says he has never seen a bear in the woods. He's seen a lot of bears in dumpsters in town, but not a single one in the woods. I've been here 3 years now, hiking, camping, hunting, off-roading and I haven't seen one in Colorado.

The noise from any gun will most likely scare a bear away since they are hunted here.

Tracker · Oct 19, 2017

paxfish said:
I've seen the SP101 at 27 ounces and would be willing to take the recoil hit when carried in such duty. Any other recommendations? Not too interested in bigger calibers or hunting with the pistol. The gun needs to be light enough to carry all day.

I shot a friends SP101 and the recoil is nothing. Don't worry if you get one there won't be a recoil hit. If you are using it to repel a bear attack you'll be so scared you more than likely won't even remember shooting it.

Devonian · Oct 19, 2017

CrazySanMan said:
I hope they open up moose season soon. It seems like the moose population has exploded recently. Right now the moose bag limit is 1/lifetime.

You could tell these had never been hunted. Totally unafraid. We had a cow with calf in our camp and even she didn't seems to care. We didn't know they were in that area so we were surprised to see them.

Years past, hunting the south part of the state, I carried my g21 but I didn't carry anything this year. I'd also like to find a lighter option.

smokedog · Oct 19, 2017

When I hunted and fished out west I carried a taurus 44 spl revolver.
I knew a couple guides who did pack in hunts and they carried the same. Take it for what it's worth but I was comfortable with that choice to go anywhere.

Boondock Saint · Oct 19, 2017

Recoil from .357 out of a SP101 is...evident, but not obscene. Particularly with the use of a rubber grip.

Tracker · Oct 19, 2017

Boondock Saint said:
Recoil from .357 out of a SP101 is...evident, but not obscene. Particularly with the use of a rubber grip.

OK maybe a little bit. The friend who's gun I shot is a petite little 115lb woman and she has no problem shooting it. Unless you have a physical disability recoil shouldn't be an issue

paxfish · Oct 19, 2017

CrazySanMan said:
That's fine. I have a friend who has backpacked 1000's of miles in the Rockies and he says he has never seen a bear in the woods. He's seen a lot of bears in dumpsters in town, but not a single one in the woods.

I've seen black bear(s) up close while backpacking in Colorado, Wyoming and California. We have historically gotten pretty far in the back country though. I've never had one behave aggressively, but you never know when you smell like you've been fishing.

PapiBarcelona · Oct 19, 2017

Tracker said:
OK maybe a little bit. The friend who's gun I shot is a petite little 115lb woman and she has no problem shooting it. Unless you have a physical disability recoil shouldn't be an issue

.357 mag in a light weight small grip SP101 feels pretty close to shooting 300 grain hardcast out of a big grip, heavy .454 SRH Alaskan to me

Plop in some 38 specials and it's like a cap gun.

Boondock Saint · Oct 19, 2017

Tracker said:
OK maybe a little bit. The friend who's gun I shot is a petite little 115lb woman and she has no problem shooting it. Unless you have a physical disability recoil shouldn't be an issue

Agreed. I'm a recoil junkie myself, so I don't mind it in the slightest. Also, as others have mentioned, if you find yourself needing to use it against a predator (two or four legged variety), recoil will be your last concern.

Colorado Bear Country fishing....

The #1 community for Gun Owners of the Northeast

Member Benefits:

Ultimate Member

Ultimate Member

Ultimate Member

Dontre member

2013'er

Ultimate Member

Ultimate Member

Certified Mad Scientist

Banned

2013'er

Ultimate Member

2013'er

Active Member

Ultimate Member

Ultimate Member

Ultimate Member

Active Member

Ultimate Member

Ultimate Member

Ultimate Member

Users who are viewing this thread

Log in

Forum statistics