Cabin Fever caliber decision

[3leggedturtle]

OK I am really suffering cabin fever for some reason this winter; trying to keep mind on other things. Am thinking about a 3 week trip thru Montana on the back roads and desolate wildlife areas. Which would you carry of these 2? A Ruger Sec Six 4" SS with 180gr RNFP (13.5grs of 2400) haven't chronoed these yet, or a P94 40S&W with 180gr FP going about 950fps. Really don't have room for a rifle or shotgun.

[Mescalero]

The Ruger.

[TedH]

Ruger.

[Blaine]

They are both Ruger
I'd go with the .357

[Treeman72]

Wish you had a 44 mag or 45 colt for bear country, but the revolver is a sound choice.

[TedH]

The 357 Ruger!

[Old Savage]

357

[buckeyeshooter]

another 357!

[MrMurphy]

In Montana? The .357.

Not a real fan of Ruger autos, though otherwise the .40 will generally do well.

[RustyJr]

I'd prefer a 44mag or heavy loaded 45 Colt but given what you have Id say the 357 with some 180 Grain hard cast loads. You'll want all the penetration you can get if you run into Ole Grizz


RustyJr

[tman]

Either will work. If I was hunting bear, I'd go with the .357S&W with Buffaloe bore 180 grain hardcast, if I had to choose between the two. For CLOSE UP DEFENCE, accurate bullet placement trumps muzzle velocity, energy and bullet construction. I'd choose the weapon that I could get into action the fastest and place the bullet in the kill zone most accurately.

[jmiller]

Hands down, the .357

[rjohns94]

Of the two, .357 Ruger

[Blaine]

Just to stir the pot....Trade that .40 in on a .45acp, and shoot those Buffalo Bore 255gr Hardcast Flat Nose monsters....These have around twice the penetration of regular 230fmj (which are not too bad, either)

[3leggedturtle]

BlaineG, Trade it in and break up my P95, P94 and P97 set. I already have a P97 in .45. Been going try my loads with the Lee 255RNFP in it. They clock 1050fps or so out of an 18" barrel. Have yet to try them in it or the S/A 1911.

[pshort]

How 'bout a S&W 10 in .38 ??? No, wait.............................................

Paul

[RIHMFIRE]

357.........take pics!

[6pt-sika]

Neither for me thank you !

I want another S&W 629 4" .

[North Country Gal]

I carry a Ruger GP-100 in 357 with heavy Buffalo Bore loads in 357 in the spring when blackies are out and grouchy. I consider it a minimum for black bears. For grizzlies, though? NOT. A 40 S&W shouldn't even be on the list if we're talking big bears. The minimum I'd carry in griz country is a 44 mag and, even then, I'd rather carry a big bore rifle. First time you get up close and personal with a griz, you'll wish you had a 444 Marlin, 45-70, 450 marlin or similar. Been there.

[86er]

While I can't back this up fully, basic internet searches indicate that you are more likely to be accosted by a human on a trail in the backwoods public areas than you are a bear or other critter. Further, I do not know the array of animals you could encounter but others said Grizzly and I suppose a mt. lion or black bear are possible. Maybe poisonous snakes? Anyway, the 40S&W would provide more firepower and quicker reload for a human defensive encounter. It makes carrying ammo a bit easier and more consolidated. With a 357 your gun has 6 and you have a full box of 50 in your pack, or another 6 on a speed loader or dump pouch. The 40 gives you what 13 loaded and 12 ready to go on your belt (or more). With good bullets the 40 will work fine for cats, snakes and even black bears if used with excellent accuracy and close range. A grizzly bear could be tough for a 357 if the situation is less than ideal so the 40 will give up some basic lethality for a greater round count. You should be shooting a bear or any out-of-season animal to stop the attack and hopefully you can do that with whatever you carry. But, either way you're going to have to report it and wait on game wardens, so as long as you are okay you cannot be overly concerned whether or not the animal is dead or wounded as long as it stops being aggressive. I think the 40 is easier to conceal when you want/need to do that and just as easy to carry open as the 357. For the whole list of possible scenarios, I think the 40 is the better choice for the trip.

[North Country Gal]

Can't argue the use of the 40 for two-legged varmints, that's for sure and you are right about the odds of running into human problems compared to bear problems. (And here we watched Deliverance, a few nights, ago. )

Just remember, though, if you do wound a bear and it runs off, you will not be on the warden's Christmas list. A gun should be used as an absolute last resort with a bear. I carry bear spray and only use the 357 as a backup. Awareness is still the key to avoiding bear trouble.

[3leggedturtle]

86'er and North Country Gal; Understand what your explaining. My 3 main concerns are: 1st, 2 legged varmints. 2nd, Black bear. A very distant 3rd, Grizzlies. Will have Bear spray with I got in Whitehorse. Have spent about 6 months on 5 trips to Alaska, walked by 6 grizz's. 5 were sows with cubs, of those; 4 had twins. Only 1 was a male. Never had trouble and ate at least 5 miles from where I was gonna camp for the nite. Am beginning to think I'll make some heavy loads for the .45 Blackhawk, and bring a small .22 rifle for fun. I figure if a grizz wants you, God and a lucky shot is about the only thing that will save you. I usually spend 2 hours watching my area b4 I bed down for the nite. A cow moose with a calf scares me more than a bear.

[Blaine]

86'er and North Country Gal; Understand what your explaining. My 3 main concerns are: 1st, 2 legged varmints. 2nd, Black bear. A very distant 3rd, Grizzlies. Will have Bear spray with I got in Whitehorse. Have spent about 6 months on 5 trips to Alaska, walked by 6 grizz's. 5 were sows with cubs, of those; 4 had twins. Only 1 was a male. Never had trouble and ate at least 5 miles from where I was gonna camp for the nite. Am beginning to think I'll make some heavy loads for the .45 Blackhawk, and bring a small .22 rifle for fun. I figure if a grizz wants you, God and a lucky shot is about the only thing that will save you. I usually spend 2 hours watching my area b4 I bed down for the nite. A cow moose with a calf scares me more than a bear.

Still have the same Honda scoot? That machine is a miracle of modern engineering for all the use it's had.....