Legal Weapons and Overlanding

[Winterpeg]

It is your last paragraph that still gives me pause. If tbe worst was to happen, it would be the officers, rather than the DA.who makes that call. Kind of quilt first, innocent 2nd.

Theoretically, only one state follows that assumption. I wonder how many readers know which state that is. Our laws come down from anglo-saxon/English tradition. Our BILL OF RIGHTS is a reinforcement on that premise. For those wondering, it's Louisiana, which is based on French law. That state has to straddle 2 law systems, and find a consensus that still follows the constitution and our bill of rights. Complicated it is.

If you are downtown in a city.... good luck convincing the cops you are protecting yourself from a bear.

If you are in the bush in bear country... it's not an issue and I've never heard of anyone having an issue.

Sure there's always the "what-ifs".... but the reality is pretty common sense stuff and law abiding people don't have issues.

Hit me up with a pm if you have any more questions about Canada stuff.

 

[Desert Runner]

If you are downtown in a city.... good luck convincing the cops you are protecting yourself from a bear.

If you are in the bush in bear country... it's not an issue and I've never heard of anyone having an issue.

Sure there's always the "what-ifs".... but the reality is pretty common sense stuff and law abiding people don't have issues.

Hit me up with a pm if you have any more questions about Canada stuff.

Not living in bear country, and more slanted towards Grizzly vs Black, what is the preferred 12ga load. Slug, Sabot-slug, or 00buck?

I have heard both and all 3 as a defense rounds. Is buck able to penetrate deep enough on a Grizzly to stop it or kill?

The last thing I would want to do is piss it off more than it already is. A shotgun has less state restrictions, per state, than worrying if the pistol you had was regulated as a tourist traveling in the USA.

The carry question has already been answered by Winterpeg....thx. for Canada.

I have seen fisherman in Alaska sharing a river bank with Grizzly's packing either a sidearm or a slung 12ga.

 

[Winterpeg]

Not living in bear country, and more slanted towards Grizzly vs Black, what is the preferred 12ga load. Slug, Sabot-slug, or 00buck?

I have heard both and all 3 as a defense rounds. Is buck able to penetrate deep enough on a Grizzly to stop it or kill?

The last thing I would want to do is piss it off more than it already is. A shotgun has less state restrictions, per state, than worrying if the pistol you had was regulated as a tourist traveling in the USA.

The carry question has already been answered by Winterpeg....thx. for Canada.

I have seen fisherman in Alaska sharing a river bank with Grizzly's packing either a sidearm or a slung 12ga.

Where I tend to camp black bears aren't problem bears... not used to eating human garbage. So they are pretty skittish - I view them like nosy black labs... lol.
There's always the what-ifs so that's why I go prepared.

Grizzlies.... I don't have too much experience with them to be honest. I'm sure I would be extra careful with my food storage though and ensure I'm not bringing any scented items into my sleeping tent (my habit with black bears too).

I typically have slugs on hand and loaded, among other rounds.

Here is my loadout in order of firing sequence:
-Bird shot
-00 buck
-Slug
-Slug
-Slug
(holds 5)
And I typically have another 5 rounds (mostly slugs) in my side saddle.

Reasoning:
- bird shot is my bear banger basically. Scare them or anything else off and yet not be hard on the wallet (I've never had to fire more than this 1st round).
-00 buck - good all around defense round for all manner of 4 and 2 legged
-slugs - the "I'm done fooling around" rounds.

Honestly though.... if I was in grizzly country (which I'm not typically) I would be loaded out with slugs exclusively. Those things go through anything... which is also a concern if you aren't out literally in the middle of nowhere (be aware of your background and beyond kinda thing).

 

[Desert Runner]

I'm a CFP holder in my state and I am usually armed - partially due to the nature of my work.

When I'm in the back country I will usually have a pistol with me and either a rifle or a shotgun loaded with slugs or buckshot. I am often camping in ranges frequented by bear and moose along with the occasional cougar/mountain lion. In the deserts the coyotes usually leave you alone, but I've had some come right up to camp or the car. I'm not usually in wolf ranges, but if I start doing more northern adventures that will change, along with the chances of grizzly encounters (right now I'm mostly in black bear ranges).

Before I head off to another state, I am sure to check the laws of where I'm going and all the places in between to make sure I'm legal and to check reciprocity statutes for my permit.

1 coyote ignore, 2 coyotes-keep a eye out, 3 coyotes-don't turn your back. They have courage in numbers!

 

[Eric the Eric]

1 coyote ignore, 2 coyotes-keep a eye out, 3 coyotes-don't turn your back. They have courage in numbers!

Yep that's spot on, those yotes can get really dangerous at 3 or more.
The top gun is a keltec su16 and that's my .223 coyote gun.

The bottom is my Lee Enfield. 303 jungle carbine. That is my large threat/bear gun.

These are both non restricted here in Canada, which means I can have them in my rig without authorization to transport.

 

[danthman114]

restrictions... that must suck. I'm glad I live in az.

 

[Dodge Cummins]

I always carry with me (so long as its legal to do so). I at least have my 2 pistols with extra ammo, and as soon as i can figure out a safe mount for my rifle, i will be bringing that with me too.

here around texas its legal to have rifles in the open, but handguns have to be concealed in the vehicle. When i head out to oklahoma or arkansas, i feel its easier to open carry. Its more comfortable and provides easier access if the need is there

Id like to meet up with others from north Texas too.

 

[danthman114]

this gos everywhere with me when I'm in the desert. this and some sort of pistol.
this is a ruger American predator in .223 that takes magpul mags with a vortex tactical series scope. fun gun to shoot and very consistent out to 550 with 55 gr rounds and better with 75 grain out to almost 800. inexpensive and inexpensive to shoot. also if loaded with the 70 gr hornady gmx, I can hunt game up to very large deer.

 

[Eric the Eric]

this gos everywhere with me when I'm in the desert. this and some sort of pistol.
this is a ruger American predator in .223 that takes magpul mags with a vortex tactical series scope. fun gun to shoot and very consistent out to 550 with 55 gr rounds and better with 75 grain out to almost 800. inexpensive and inexpensive to shoot. also if loaded with the 70 gr hornady gmx, I can hunt game up to very large deer.

I love these "scout rifle" firearms! That's a great set up. [emoji106]

 

[Willys_2014]

I love these sorts of threads.

I always find lots of good information, and nothing wrong with some gun porn.

:)

Personally, I am usually armed when traveling by vehicle. And, usually not armed when hiking/backpacking.

There are exceptions to both ofc, for all the obvious reasons. WRT hiking/backpacking, the weight penalty is typically not justified.

My preference is to have a Ruger .357 GP100 in my Jeep, for which I do not have a picture handy.

Sometimes, I will carry a rifle, such as this Ruger Scout Rifle in .308.

 

[Ubiety]

I always find lots of good information, and nothing wrong with some gun porn.
Sometimes, I will carry a rifle, such as this Ruger Scout Rifle in .308.

Mmmmm, .308 - Thanks for spicing it up with your gun porn. ;)

 

[Roam_CO85]

I love these sorts of threads.

I always find lots of good information, and nothing wrong with some gun porn.

:)

Personally, I am usually armed when traveling by vehicle. And, usually not armed when hiking/backpacking.

There are exceptions to both ofc, for all the obvious reasons. WRT hiking/backpacking, the weight penalty is typically not justified.

My preference is to have a Ruger .357 GP100 in my Jeep, for which I do not have a picture handy.

Sometimes, I will carry a rifle, such as this Ruger Scout Rifle in .308.

View attachment 100618

Kicks like a mule i bet!

 

[Willys_2014]

Kicks like a mule i bet!

Actually, not that bad at all. Recoil is no worse than say my 5.56 Mini-14. I have other .308 rifles that kick far worse.

Now my circa 1945 former IDF FN K98 .308, with a real steel butt plate, that, that kicks like a mule.





However, back to the Ruger Scout... there is no free lunch, sadly.

The factory compensator, which really does reduce recoil, results in a lot of noise.

Ear protection, ofc, is necessary, but is also an extra step. I haven't yet had to fire it without ear protection, and hope to never have to do so.

I suppose the upside is that if I miss a shot the sheer volume of report would scare away the intruder. :)

 

[Willys_2014]

Mmmmm, .308 - Thanks for spicing it up with your gun porn. ;)

Gun porn,

Knife porn,

and

4wd porn.

It's all good, very good. Hehehe :)

 

[Roam_CO85]

Actually, not that bad at all. Recoil is no worse than say my 5.56 Mini-14. I have other .308 rifles that kick far worse.

Now my circa 1945 former IDF FN K98 .308, with a real steel butt plate, that, that kicks like a mule.

View attachment 100680

View attachment 100681

However, back to the Ruger Scout... there is no free lunch, sadly.

The factory compensator, which really does reduce recoil, results in a lot of noise.

Ear protection, ofc, is necessary, but is also an extra step. I haven't yet had to fire it without ear protection, and hope to never have to do so.

I suppose the upside is that if I miss a shot the sheer volume of report would scare away the intruder. :)

Yeah those muzzle brakes and comps make a sucker loud! Thats good that it kick that bad... your old 308 is cool! Got to shoot a m1 garrand once thank goodness it is a gas operated rifle! Shot nicer than shooting my first 3006 as a 12 y/o. Yeah alot of folks say oh suppress it now adays. I like it to sound like all hell is breaking loose. And a fire breathing dragon is on the loose

 

[firemen7]

I’m kinda like my Sig 220 or the 870 with 00 buck backed with slugs. It all depends on where we are headed.

 

[Boostpowered]

.223 and 9mm go everywhere i go

 

[JoelIII]

All of my camping and exploring experience is in the southeast regions. I have never had any bear problems, the threats I've faced were mainly snakes, raccoons and the occasional coyote that is to comfortable with people. For the snakes, just a good walking stick works for me, the raccoons usually scamper as soon as you get close as do the coyote's. The main reason I bring a firearm is for the two legged type although Im not at all expecting or concerned for any issues to arise, its all a "just in case" mindset. In the unlikely chance I do encounter a black bear that wants to fight, or an over aggressive coyote, my .357 should do the trick.

 

[2Jeeps&PatriotX1]

Tried searching this subject and a lot of mixed comments out there.

If you were me, what firearm would you purchase to have on hand knowing you’re going to be camping in bear country? Mainly black bear but future would include grizzly bear area trips.

I know all about cooking away from camp, storage of food, bear spray etc. but this is going to be difficult with all our cooking equipment built into the trailer and us sleeping on top of the camper. I have a wife who is insistent on having a firearm on hand when its us two and our 2 dogs sleeping in our patriot camper. I have no idea what to be looking for.

I grew up in a family of hunters but I never had the patience to go sit in a tree stand or duck blind and have shot a fair share of guns throughout the years.

 

[Billiebob]

I understand a gun gives you comfort.
Do you understand your gun makes me uncomfortable?

I've never felt a need for one.
Heck I've never thrown a punch.
Altho years of managing bars I've taken a few.
I laugh because I know the sucker is not ever drinking in my bar again.

Truthfully if someone pulled a gun on me I'd laugh.
Anyone who cannot understand that is the problem.

And to the guys who think a gun will stop a charging bear..... first you need to hit him.