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I was wondering what you all use for a back up gun in the field. I have a 357 mag that I take with me but was thinking about using a 1911 .45. What do you think about the 45?

I carry a .44 while I'm hunting, but what is meant by a "back up gun"? I've never thought of carrying two.

--Bill

nmplott...I carried a Ruger P-90 .45 acp for quite a few years. Had to use twice. The first time...before we got the dogs tied back the bear bailed out of the tree. Two dogs grabbed it, one one each side about like you'd visualize dogs catching and holding a hog. Before the bear could spin around to confront the dogs I shot him in the head. He dropped on his chin.

The seccond bear was I'd guess well over 400 lbs. I sneaked in with 30 yards or so, where the dogs had him bayed on the side of a steep ravine thick with spruce trees about Christmas tree high. Too tight for dogs to work the bear real tight (dogs could not escape a charge in the thick stuff). Anyhow, the bear must have winded me then turned his attention to me. Something told me this may be one of those rare critters that will charge...and the way he was moving reinforced my thinking. I cocked the hammer on the .45 and tried to hit him between the eyes...the nearest dog was 5 feet from the bear so it was safe enough to shoot. I fired and knew instantly I missed. The bear broke loose and was coming toward me on a run...he was about half way to me, maybe 15 yards when 2 dogs closed on him and he quartered a little. It gave me a behind the shoulder shot. When I shot he fell at the bottom of the ravine and the same 2 dogs piled on. The bear got back up and took a swipe at the dogs then ran up out of the ravine and bayed in a clearcut. Not long after one of my hunting buddies showed up. He had a .308 Savage lever-action. I slipped in close and shot the bear in the neck with the rifle.

Didn't mean to get so windy here, but to answer your question...a .45 will for sure kill a bear and you don't need to worry about the bullet passing through and hitting a dog. However, a good quality .44 magnum handgun is a much better choice for the varied situations a person finds themselves in.

Whatever my buddy has on him! I'm not carrying two.

.44 if your that close might as well have the kick and fire power to make it count.


Gator

I carried the back-up gun iguess and last year i had to break it out. My brother has a win mod 92 44 mag which has dropped a bunch of bears. It failed to fire on a bear on the ground so i moved in and went to work with my 357 GP 100. I love this revolver but it will not be with me for bear anymore. after 5 shots: 2 in the chest 2 in the head and one in the ass the bear was still chompin. all my shots were from less than 5 ft. dogs did an amazing job holding him in the short pines. Jeff still had to finish it after he got the levergun going again. i was empty. I didn't miss, the cylinder rolled one over with my big snow gloves on. I really don't know why number 6 didn't fire. Didn't have a pin mark on it.
Anyways.
I don't consider anything a back-up gun anymore. If you are going to carry something make it what you want to have to do the Job. I now have a m92 454 casull. If you are gonna carry a handgun make it 44 mag or bigger if you can handle it,

I like the 45 auto because its a nice size to carry. But the 45 isn't quite enough. They make a kit you can install to fire a 460 Rowland( still 45 cal.) which has the power of a 220 grain 44 magnum. With that kit installed I think it would make an excellent backup weapon.

where do you get the kit from? If the kit is reasonable i think the 45 is the way to go... you can put a kit for a .22 and play all day with this kit. Put the original back in order and have a personal defense weapon and put the 460 kit in and have a hand cannon. I will try and find one and see if its worth the price

The kit is made by clark custom guns. I think it is about 250.00 The pistols that are strong enough for it are certain model 1911 goverment style pistols. If you shot high power loads all the time there would be more wear then the standard 45. But like you said you change the barrel and the spring and your on your way.

i pack a smith and wesson 460 mag. i know i know too heavy. but i can guarantee that bullet will stop a bear in its tracks. for me better safe than sorry will have to weigh a few extra pounds in my pack.

I used to pack a 357. After it didnt do the job in abad spot I went to a 44

Same story here snowey river, but i went on to a 454 lever rifle

the 357 nice weapon very effective in the right situation but for thick cover and needing alot of stopping power and in the proper hands i like my ruger 480

I only care one gun for the hunting now.
In the past from time to time I would carry my 357 when deer hunting for the last round to finish the deer! But with CWD and other issues stop carring and use the knife to finish! For bear hunting will only carry 44mag, If I not carring my rifle!

For camping and walking around I strap the 357 on and really dont need to worry about shot placement>

I did once have a cat come in on my hunting once and figure the shot from the the turkey gun would just piss him off! He walk about 10 feet from me I pulled the 357 out and figure I could take him if he turn on me! 357 will take a cat but bear look out!
I seen the hide of a bear up north wi that took 30 rounds thr a window trying to keep it outside the trailer, (I will look around to see if we have picutures of this beast) My uncle hit it with 357, 44, and 30-06 in the head since that all he had to shot at! and it took the G&F to track it down to kill it 22 days later, This bear was a big boy. Shot placement is what kills the animal not the cal.

My friend on the Indian Rev in Calif killed lots of bears with a Swedish 9 mm with wad cutters or any thing any body brought him. they all hit the ground dead, but he only hit them in one place the throat, break their neck every time. He was good, knock the head off a grouse every time with that pistol. a bears head is shaped like a tank every thing skips pff.

if you can't shoot his eyes out don't shoot at the head,that would be the last place I would shoot at.




Frog