Bears and Bad Guys Part 1 - Backcountry Self-Defense

What kind of handguns are right for backpackers and day hikers in the backcountry. You could face threats from both human and animal predators. This is a what/how lesson for non-gun oriented people.

[@benjihunter4687]

I cant tell you how really fantastic your content is. It is backed by data and real world experience. I look forward to everything you put out! Much appreciated!

[@lockloadwithdickfairburn-cr1jb]

Thanks for the kind words.

[@blakjak8719]

I either carry my .357 with hardcasts or +p 9mm hardcasts. I like the 9 just because I have 22 rounds. Ultimately, I am most afraid of 2 legged critters. Thanks for presenting good info

[@hookeaires6637]

Last spring early morning I was sitting with my coffee on the patio enjoying the bird songs, when my dog quietly alerted me to a big black bear sauntering by no further than twenty five feet distant. He was just as startled as I. The dog made a ruckus and the bruin broke into a run, away. ALWAYS ARMED, even in my PJs.

[@julian9898]

I literally just came back from hiking south of Dolly Sods in WV (west virginia is a constitutional carry state). I carried my glock 20 with 220g hard cast bullets in my hill people gear medium SAR chest rig. Was a wonderful outing!

[@dickdykstra2234]

I think if an animal is close enough for a trekking pole to fail you might have waited too long. I would be using a weapon before that and have. Waited too long once and no more, a black bear is mighty tough.

[@user-nh8et9kc1m]

Hill People Gear makes a great concealed carry chest rig. Kifaru used to make one but I’m not sure they still do. Both allow chest carry with concealment and don’t look out of place in the backcountry.

[@thomthompson9217]

When I tell my friends that I depend on my HK USP 45 Elite as a dangerous critter gun they look at me like I’m nuts. However, the “DoubleTap” ammo that I use develops more than 750 ft lbs of energy times 12 plus one rounds.

[@chouyi007]

Flat point 125gr FMJ from .357 Sig at 1,535fps (slower as well) out-penetrates all 10mm loads out of a Glock 20, as shown in my own tests as well as Kentucky Ballistics. Therefore, when my wife and I fish in the high country of Wyoming and Idaho, we carry Gen 4 Glocks in .357 (31 for me, 32 for her). They are very easily controlled, even with the powerful loads and in rapid fire, and are so comfortable you forget they are on your belt when fishing, or chest when carrying an external frame pack.

[@lockloadwithdickfairburn-cr1jb]

The .357 Sig generally gives excellent penetration with JHP loads, but those are not an ideal choice for big animals. FMJ bullets have a thin jacket over a soft lead core and the velocity of the Sig could cause them to rivet badly. With a hard cast or solid copper FTM bullet, they should be an excellent choice. I have a .38 Super slide/barrel for my .45 Lightweight Commander 1911 and I am going to work up some .357 Sig velocity or better loads with FTM bullets as a lightweight trail gun.

[@TERMINAL-BALLISTICS]

I carry an M&P full size 357 Sig as my EDC as well as in bear country. I have done a great deal of ballistics gelatin testing with or without various barriers and the copper 115gr Xtreme Penetrators by Lehigh/Underwood are a far better choice than any FMJ, in any grain. They will unequivocally penetrate any of the largest game within the US/Canada, and that includes Kodiak and/or polar bears.

[@lockloadwithdickfairburn-cr1jb]

@@TERMINAL-BALLISTICS Sounds like a good load. I'm going to be working up a similar load for my .38 Super Lightweight Commander.

[@TERMINAL-BALLISTICS]

@@lockloadwithdickfairburn-cr1jb I'm not sure of other manufacturer designs, but I think you'll be pleased, especially if you go with Lehigh's design and Underwood's pressures. The XP's not only elicit extreme penetration depths, but the channeling flutes centrifugally impel the surrounding tissue outward, so they really give an advantage in cavitation over hard cast flat nose, ect.

[@chouyi007]

@@lockloadwithdickfairburn-cr1jb Honored to hear back from you, sir! I quite agree that an FTM bullet would be excellent, but I have found that Montana Gold's FMJs do not deform like most commercial ones. In penetration through the same barrier tests I have done (same-lot pressure-treated spruce-pine-fir boards, polymer cutting boards, aluminum sheeting, and wet beef bone, as well as gel), those Montana Gold FMJs with their very wide flat point out of .357 Sig deformed no more than the hardcast lead 10mms I tested. Apparently, Montana Gold uses a harder lead alloy and a harder cartridge brass jacket than the other FMJ/TMJ/CMJ makers for .357 Sig. Moreover, before the 2020 panic, I picked up over 7,000 Montana Gold FMJs (after testing showed them to be the toughest FMJ for .357 Sig), and I have found that even a mild, by-the-book load of 800-X, well under the listed max load, easily gives me not only greater than 1,500fps out of my Glock 31 (right at 1,500fps from my wife's Glock 32), but at 34,000psi and with a velocity consistency so good I ran several iterations of tests to make sure my chronograph was not malfunctioning. With consistent, well-prepared brass of the same headstamp, a hand-weighed charge in every case, and use of a factory crimp die, the EXTREME SPREAD on my pet load (1fps more than the ES with 125gr Gold Dots in the same load) was only 8fps!!! Since I have a massive amount of the supplies (Speer nickel-plated brass, Winchester SP primers, 800-X, and Montana Gold FMJS), and the charge and die settings are identical to that which my defensive Gold Dot handloads take, for better or worse, I am essentially married to the flat point FMJ load that I use. I do not doubt that I probably would get better penetration with an Extreme Penetrator bullet, but this way works just fine for me. P.S., I thought I invented the binocular case carry, which I use when training for hikes in the nauseatingly blue suburb where my family lives on the weekdays!

[@davidkachel]

When lefties put on shorts and flipflops, mount a bicycle and wander into the woods, armed with a water bottle and singing Kumbaya, mountain lions see a mobile buffet with fresh pink meat, complete with a musical call to dinner. The only puzzling part of that is that the lefties don't all get eaten!

[@kennethkeefer9080]

Once again great video I carry a 45acp religiously 1911 been my main go to a chest rig in bear county is the only way I carry a 9mm CZ very reliable weapon but I won’t put it to the test in bear country

[@recklessrt]

So I live on a Colorado mountain side in bear and Lion Country here in Boulder County. I get both critter types on my property on a regular basis, especially at night. Rattle snakes are around too. We do get bear break-ins. My ready rifle rack has a 12 guage pump loaded alternately with slugs and double ought. In addition, I have a full-length AR 15 loaded with 62 grain green tipped rounds, just in case some two legged types decide to come calling. My licensed EDC is either a commander or full sized 1911. I head up our church's security detail so I do somewhere around 60 hours of instructed pistol class per year. My church ammo is 185 grain Hornaday Critical Defense. Over penetration is a real concern. My church 1911(an Ed Brown) is my default property gun. Hiking in Rocky Mtn National Park Ill have a 357 S&W performance center 686 in a chest rig concealed, loaded with Buffalo Bore Rounds. I never hike alone. My partner has the bear spray. We make noise. Of late here in Boulder County, moose seems to be the biggest threat. They are big and mean just as much given to stomp you as look at you. When out cycling, especially on the road, I'll carry a SIG 938 in a pocket holster in a back jersey pocket. I've only had one run in with a bad guy and that was out jogging on a community trail. I retreated behind him, then stood my ground, and informed him I was armed while my hand was on my gun in my shorts pocket. He was going to have to come off trail, dismounted, to get at me. He had threatened to f$#k me up. All I could think about was deactivating the frame safety during the draw stroke. He turned around, got back on his fancy electric bicycle, and took off. Bad guys no longer have to be in great shape to reach deep into the woodlands on these electric bikes. My worst nightmare would be running into a group of these bad guys.

[@lockloadwithdickfairburn-cr1jb]

You impress me as well armed and mentally prepared to use force if need be. Stay safe!

[@johnnyh-pay5843]

Great overview for carry in the outdoors, from many standpoints!

[@lockloadwithdickfairburn-cr1jb]

Thanks for the kind words.

[@thetexasrat]

I carry a 45 Colt revolving pistol with Lehigh Defense's Solid Copper 250 grain Xtreme Penetrator @ 1000 fps (standard pressure) 45 Colt round for bear protection. The pistol is all stainless steal which makes for low recoil. The 45 Colt is as big of a round I can control easily enough to get all shots off quickly. I wouldn't want less and can not rightly handle more, so it is just right for me as a defense/protection gun. Revolvers have far less issues, such as they never fail to eject or fail to feed. No need to learn the TAP-RACK-SLAP routine. If a bear charges from 30 feet one has 3 seconds to respond, and TAPPING-RACKING-SLAPPING is a waste of precious time. For this reason revolvers rule. Revolvers fire rate is as fast as a semi-auto too, so one gets the best of both worlds. Best way to hit a bear coming fast at you is get on one knee, so that your gun is at the same level as the bear's head. This way you do not have to try and lead the bear but rather just take aim and fire.

[@johnochicago8457]

You cover the best content. Thank you!!!!

[@fondolon]

Entering my 40- ish years of time in the mountains. I absolutely hate seeing people injured or killed by animals. I'm not taking a side but the people seem less and less prepared to deal with animals over the years. People are great at buying all that gear however little is spent on knowledge of possible dangerous (animal) encounters. We will always be visitors and that's why we go. Preparation has saved my butt dozens of times. AND IF I CAN'T CARRY... I DON'T GO THERE. Just my thoughts..... Awesome channel.

[@lockloadwithdickfairburn-cr1jb]

Great input, thanks.

[@aarongolub2790]

Helpful info, thanks for sharing.

[@lockloadwithdickfairburn-cr1jb]

Glad it was helpful!

[@peterstrobl6527]

Thanks from Bavarya!

[@heathmarcum5390]

I live in East, tn the Appalachian mountains i hike, camp hunt and fish.. I'm not going out with anything smaller then a 40 cal.. there have been multiple nasty situations with 2 legged and 4 legged critters here in our area

[@JustDefense]

Appreciate your content. Keep em coming. Rung the bell for it.

[@lockloadwithdickfairburn-cr1jb]

Thank you! Will do!

[@HoffnerPrecision]

I’m surprised the .40 S&W wasn’t discussed. I realize that it’s pretty uncool on KZbin, but can be a much better choice than .45 acp because of MUCH higher velocity and smaller diameter which is conducive to much deeper penetration. Or 9mm because of higher velocity and heavier bullets. My carry round is 1300 fps with a 155 grain XTP bullet. Compare that to any 9mm round out there. .40 performs closely to 10mm In penetration with hardcast bullets. 40 is also available in a huge variety of platforms from subcompact, easily concealable pistols to full-size high capacity guns. Flat nose bullets are also very common in .40 When looking at real data and testing, you can’t say 10mm is a great choice but .40 is short and weak. .40 S&W is exactly what it was designed to be, which is a hard hitting, lower recoil 10mm so the FBI desk jockeys would have a better chance of qualifying. Although that still didn’t work and they will probably work their way down to a .22 eventually. 😂

[@lockloadwithdickfairburn-cr1jb]

I don't believe I denigrated the .40 in any way, just didn't mention it in the part 1 video. With the right projectiles, I think it will give performance so close to the 10mm it would be hard to tell the difference. Unfortunately, some of the outdoorsman-style .40 loads are so hot they can't be within SAAMI pressure standards and will be very abusive to the 9mm-size frames of most .40 pistols.

[@HoffnerPrecision]

@@lockloadwithdickfairburn-cr1jb I watched part 2 right after, and almost deleted this post.

[@toothless-tiger]

Most of are limited to what we own or what we can afford. I my self own a a Ruger GP 100 3" barrel I load it with underwood Xtreme Penetrator and I think it will do the Job down here in Florida.

[@tc556guy]

I lead multiple hikes each week for my day hiking group. I don't leave the trailhead without a firearm of some sort.

[@donnieswafford2285]

I saw in another video you mentioned taking off the front sight with that leupold red dot. Was that strictly because it was too busy a sight picture? Leupold does mention that if the dot fails, you can use the window of the dot as a large, aperture/ghost ring style sight with the front sight blade.

[@paulheinz2145]

45/70 scout rifle is the number one I'm told, shotgun would be number one except for the water proof issue with 12 gauge ammo. you can get water proof but only in the lower 48.

[@herbertblevins7077]

Better to be judged by 12 than carried by 6.

[@metalmamasue3680]

Amen, Same here. I'm a smaII oIder woman who stands no chance against any attacker. I never Ieave home without my Taurus. 👍I refuse to Iive my Iife in fear.

[@woody82901]

I am suffering the same problems as you. Trying to adapt to the optic on my Hellcat. Been trying for almost 2 years and still worry about finding the dot. Actually, doing pretty well but still worry. It's a good excuse to practice once in a while. Carried the government .45 for years at work (in Wyoming even.) Any more I do my hiking with a 9mm and large magazines. Oh, and a big walking stick.

[@lockloadwithdickfairburn-cr1jb]

Speak softly and carry a big stick ... my favorite President, TR. My Glock 48 has NO iron sights, they really slow me down with the red dot. I'm also going to work with my eye doctor next week to see about a "top" bifocal cut for my right eye or even two different lenses, regular with progressive bifocal for the left eye and pistol sight correction (reader- sort of) for the right lens.

[@13BravoBiggunsM110SP]

Bear 🐻 spray doesn't work on very Gusty and 🌬️ windy situations ,anda Bear are not always going to be down wind , better also have a good pistol and spare magazines and loaded with some excellent hot loads, you can get the back spray on you as well

[@plowboysghost]

My search results agree that open carry of a handgun is legal in National Parks. Also...to my way of thinking, 10mm is marginal for big, aggressive animals. .41 Magnum would be my bare minimum...but then I've maintained my familiarity and comfort with a bigger, heavier, harder recoiling, more potent gun....as well as the every shot counts mindset of revolver use/carry.

[@Germanolmeda-il8ce]

44 Magnum ! Chest rig ! 16 fast reloading 6 - packs ! But before you go hiking or camping in an area where there are carnivores with 4 or 2 legs ! One word, practice, practice, and practice ! Oh , and one other thing, make sure you have a backup weapon ! Peace ☮️ ! ✌️👍

[@waynemensen4252]

You're going to carry all that. B.S.

[@mrj10101]

Never carry 9mm or smaller in the woods Minimum carry would be a hot 40S&W

[@timnelson75]

There's a lot of 38 Specials out there. What's your opinion of the 38 Special for bear defense?

[@308blr2]

You’ve recommended the 10mm auto. I appreciate the attributes of the cartridge and the capacity of the semiauto; and the quick reload with a magazine. Do you consider a six shot .454 Casull satisfactory? Reloading the revolver requires finer muscle control and more time. Does that justify leaving it in the safe and replacing thee .454 with a semiautomatic 10mm?

[@HoffnerPrecision]

Of course it is. As long as you can make the first shot count. The advantage of the huge magnum type guns on bears is the odds of a one shot kill, but that first shot had better be a good one because the chances of getting back on target for subsequent shots are lower than they are for a lighter recoiling gun like the 10mm that will likely require more or better shots. Like most things in life, there’s no good answer to this question. It’s a trade off. I personally don’t like Glocks, but my carry choice in grizzly country is my Glock 20 in a Kenai chest rig made by gunfighters inc. loaded with either 200 or 220 grain hardcasts. I like the relatively light platform, and relatively light recoil, and the fact that with a spare magazine, I have access to 31 rounds. You very likely won’t ever need that many rounds, but there are stories of guides emptying magazines into a bear that’s charging a client.

[@lockloadwithdickfairburn-cr1jb]

A .454 certainly has enough power to do the job. I don't know of a double-action .454, so you have manual cocking for each shot and a very slow reload time. Not to mention the high recoil level. If you're comfortable with the .454, stick with it. I had pistolsmith Richard Heinie build me a custom Colt Delta 10mm several years ago and I'll stick with that.

[@308blr2]

@@lockloadwithdickfairburn-cr1jb I have a Ruger Toklat Super Redhawk with a 5 inch barrel that I carry in a Diamond D chest holster. Buffalo Bore loads their .454 Bear Protection Ammo a little light to ensure cases don’t stick while trying to extract them. The only load that I find unpleasant is the Hornady 240 grain at a marketed 1900 fps. Whenever I shoot that load I wear gloves, earplugs and noise reduction muffs. They are just brutal. That revolver and one .380 Sig are the two handguns I can consistently hit a 8” gong with at 50 yards. I’ve never had a brown bear encounter, and don’t know if round count outweighs penetration during stress. My thought had been that if six rounds wouldn’t stop a charging grizzly then it would probably be upon you; and there would be no time for a reload. So from your perspective and drawing on your decades of experience, do you recommend switching to a 10mm for the round count and fast reload?

[@308blr2]

@@lockloadwithdickfairburn-cr1jb I missed your comment where you said “stick with it”; so excuse my previous comment. You had already answered my question.

[@spencermichaelson1882]

I am the first backpacker and day hiker you’ll see with an long rifle and extra mags 😎 hello from Colorado my friend this is excellent content thank you for your wealth of knowledge

[@lockloadwithdickfairburn-cr1jb]

Thanks for the kind words. What is your long-gun backcountry choice?

[@spencermichaelson1882]

@@lockloadwithdickfairburn-cr1jb AR 5.56 62gr green tips . It Should do the job and it’s pretty good for 2 legged predators too!

[@lockloadwithdickfairburn-cr1jb]

@@spencermichaelson1882 The FMJ loads can give decent performance from a 16 inch or longer barrel, but I'd choose a hunting-grade load like Speer Gold Dot or Black Hills Ammo's 62gr TSX all copper hollow point.

[@spencermichaelson1882]

@@lockloadwithdickfairburn-cr1jb I run a 16”. And I agree for terminal performance, I have a mag of 62gr fusion loaded (that stuff expensive!!) . But for defense outside I prefer overpenetration. I have hardcast in my 9 and not jhp for the same reason 💪

[@spencermichaelson1882]

@@lockloadwithdickfairburn-cr1jb I feel like the soft point 5.56 would smash on tough skull or animal shoulder

[@michaelrocole7174]

They make a bino chest rig with a holster behind the binos pocket.

[@poeoconnor]

I carry a 10mm in a chest holster when in bear country. It will work for two legged critters also.

[@robertmakowski7808]

You kinda forgot about the .40 S&W... More recoil but better than a 9 against bear..

[@daleweller5193]

I live in Grand Rapids Michigan,Kent Co. 3 years ago my neighbor told me he saw a Cougar , that night I went on line. There had been over fifty sightings. The DNR claims that there are no cats in the lower peninsula. Probably fifteen years or more ago a man from the thumb area sent a video to Michigan out Doors of a cougar killing one of his horses!

[@fondolon]

I/we always carry bear spray as well.

[@georgeriedel9357]

Ruger Blackhawk 5.5 brl, w/315 grn. Keith type @120 fps.Chest Carry

[@duanelong2929]

Dick, love the WIU shirt.

[@larryplogman7997]

Thanks to Jesus in South Carolina long as we have a legal hunting license we can carry any type firearm when we go out into the woods.

[@anonymousf454]

Nice video Sir👍. Trying to decide between two revolvers.... If you had to choose between two of the same size and weight, option 1) is a 4" 357 mag, 7 shot cylinder , using 180gr BB hard cast, or 200gr grizzly hard cast. Option 2 is a 4" 41 mag, 5 shot cylinder, using 230gr BB hard cast, or 250gr grizzly hard cast. Which one would you chose to save your life in big Bear country.

[@lockloadwithdickfairburn-cr1jb]

Wow, tough pick, either would work. I would probably pick the .357 with the 180 BB. More rounds and lighter recoil - better chance to get the precision needed.

[@anonymousf454]

@@lockloadwithdickfairburn-cr1jb That is what I was leaning towards too. Thank you for helping me choose Sir. 👍

[@ultrafuel2559]

40 S&W is more powerful than 45 ACP and you can get ammo with all the best bullet types that are available. If that isn't good enough, most 40 S&W semi-auto pistols can be converted to 357 Sig with just a barrel change. Quite a few of the available 357 Sig rounds Underwood get you only maybe 50 fpe less than hot 10mm. I've seen tests where 357 Sig out penetrated 10mm. The cheap PPU 357 Sig rounds put out similar power (660 fpe), have flat-nosed FMJ bullets, and are relatively inexpensive. The problem with most 10mm pistols is they are thicker and heavier than they need to be. Manufacturers usually build them from their 45 ACP platforms, probably because they need a longer grip for the longer 10mm bullets. The reality is a 10mm doesn't need to be any thicker than 9mm pistols, other than the length of the grip. 40S&W and 357 Sig pistols are the same size as 9mm pistols. The only difference being they carry two fewer rounds (13 versus 15 ). I usually carry a Sig P224 with Underwood Extreme Defenders (637 fpe) , Extreme Penetrators (537 fpe), Liberty Defense (587 fpe), or Grizzly (721 or 624 fpe) ammo depending on where I'm going. My P226 is set up the same. Underwood's fluted Extreme hunter bullet is good for 676 fpe. I just got an FN FNX converted to 460 Rowland. We will see if I carry it. I also have a Springfield XDM 3.8 Elite in 10mm, but I never carry it because I prefer DA/SA guns.

[@lockloadwithdickfairburn-cr1jb]

The 1911 and Sig 220-based 10mm pistols are no thicker. You quote fpe a lot and that is the only way you can claim the .40 is more powerful than a .45. I am convinced kinetic energy has nothing to do with terminal performance.

[@BluePatch-pc7sx]

3 from the ring

[@vitogulotta7193]

Why not use soft point bullets? I understsnd they're not available in all handgun calibers, but where they are, in your opinion, could they do the job as well as hard cast?

[@lockloadwithdickfairburn-cr1jb]

Soft points would expand and the larger frontal area decreases penetration dramatically. For maximum penetration you need a projectile that does not deform ... hard cast or solid copper are the best options.

[@vitogulotta7193]

@@lockloadwithdickfairburn-cr1jb Thank you.

[@ultrafuel2559]

@lockloadwithdickfairburn-cr1jb You are correct, at a second look the 10mms they are only slightly thicker. However, the 10mm pistols tend to be much heavier. The 1911s and Sig 220 are heavy guns (> 42 ounces unloaded). Using Glocks as a measuring stick, the 10mm Glock 40 is over 5 ounces heavier than the similar sized 40 SW Glock 24. Using the Glock 26/33/29 as a comparison, because they are similar in size to my P224 daily carry, the 357 Sig Glock 33 is only .03 ounces heaver than the 9mm Glock 26, but the 10mm Glock 29 is 4.59 ounces heavier, and that isn't accounting for the weight difference of the ammo. The Springfield XDM pistols "seem" to be an exception based on manufacturer specs, but my XDM 3.8 Elite 10mm feels pretty chunky. You could argue that the heavier weights are needed because of chamber pressure, but the chamber pressure for a 357 Sig is much higher than 10mm-- 40,000 versus 37,500 psi. The operating pressures for 40SW versus 9mm are indentical at 35,000 psi. When it comes to kinetic energy, that's a tough one. I believe penetration and tissue damage are usually the two main factors to consider with pistol bullets. When I compare the energies from Underwood, Corbon, and Buffalo Bore the 40 still seems to have a slight energy edge even when the bullets are slightly heavier, which converts to the better bullet performance and tissue damage. That being said, you can get 45 +P where 40 SW +P is rare. In most tests I've seen, the 357 Sig is easily superior to both in tissue damage and penetration. Based on one shot stop data when cops carried 357 magnums, I suspect hydrostatic shock comes into play at higher velocities, and the hotter 357 Sig rounds from Underwood, Buffalo Bore, Corbon, and Grizzly are on par, if not superior, to the 357 Magnum duty rounds of the day. I clocked the 65 grain Underwood Extreme Defender out of my 3.5 inch barrelled P224 at 2124 fps and 2230 out of my P226-- that is approaching AR pistol velocities and energies with a sturdy solid copper bullet. All that being said, there is no doubt in my mind that 10mm is superior to 357 Sig, but I just don't think most people will carry the bigger guns if they buy them, especially if they prefer to carry concealed. I had a Glock 40, but I sold it because I found myself grabbing one of my smaller lighter 357 Sig pistols. The two guns I have now to dethrone my 357 Sigs are an XDM 3.8 10mm and an FN FNX 45 Tactical converted to 460 Rowland. The 460 Rowland is close to being on par with 44 magnum. The 460 Rowland seems to contradict my smaller gun position, because it is a much larger, has a red dot, a compensator,, and with 13 255 grainers it is a half pound heavier than my P226, but fully loaded it weighs about the same as unloaded P220 and 1911s. I can carry the FNX with one in the chamber, de-cocked, appendix, without a holster and it is more comfortable to carry than my P365 with a holster, and I'm only 5'5". The length of the barrel and compensator keep the bore pointed away from vital parts. There is zero energy on the hammer when it is de-cocked plus. I don't think you can accidentally pull a DA trigger, but just in case, the FNX has a safety similar to a 1911 that disconnects the trigger. I always wear a vest or hoodie to hide the grips of my guns. I'm going to take it on a hike to Hanging Lake which is a 1000 feet vertical climb over 1.2 miles, so I'll see how it goes. These are currently my options (guns I own) for bear carry below. Just for reference, the manufacturer specs for the Glock 40 and Glock 20 without magazines are 32.28 and 27.51 ounces respectively: FN FNX 45 Tactical 460 Rowland conversion- 32.38 no mag, 45.64 loaded P226 357 Sig- 29.24 no mag, 37.14 loaded XDM 3.8 10mm- 26.91 no mag, 36.72 loaded P224 357 Sig- 26.49 no mag, 32.42 Loaded

[@An2oine]

To prevent getting eaten. I wouldn't go short of a 44 mag. lever gun. For anti goblin. 45.

[@aaronwilcox6417]

Shield 45, Ruger Alaskan 454, S&W 44 mtn gun. Its how i roll.

[@robertborne895]

Much more afraid of the south side of Chicago, than bears in the mountains!!

[@lockloadwithdickfairburn-cr1jb]

Having spent time in both places ... I agree!

[@ultrafuel2559]

Springfield XDM Elite 10mm is comparable to Glock 29, but you can get it with a red dot.

[@cliffchilders5820]

What about a 40 s/w?? It has more ft/lbs than a 9mm... But on the same frame!

[@lockloadwithdickfairburn-cr1jb]

Sure, with the right bullets a .40 S&W is fine.

[@sparky_-mf2cs]

I like chest carry, only problem is my binos when im out hunting

[@lockloadwithdickfairburn-cr1jb]

With the right chest rig, you can carry both at the same time.

[@kerryroberts9455]

What about a 40 S&W?

[@lockloadwithdickfairburn-cr1jb]

Fine with deep penetrating bullets.

[@joeleonetti8976]

Generally speaking, I am a fan of the 45 ACP. I also have a semi auto in 357 Sig. For a long time, I had heard the 357 magnum had great stats for stopping attackers in self defense. Why is debatled as you have done in other other videos. Where do you stand on 357 Sig vs. 45 ACP as those would be my two realistic choices as a woods/self defense choices?

[@lockloadwithdickfairburn-cr1jb]

I didn't discuss revolver rounds in this video because I was primarily focused on police sidearms and revolvers are gone from 99.999% of police holsters. I think the .45 will still drill bigger holes than the Sig, though the Sig may penetrate deeper, mostly because its velocity requires a tougher bullet design to begin with. Pistolsmith Richard Heinie and I did much of the research (1983-84) into hotrodding the .38 Super, which led to it becoming "the" USPSA round for quite a while. The Super and Sig give similar performance and I will doing some videos on the hot 9mm's when I get time. I think the Super/Sig with the right bullets might be the ultimate trail gun, hits hard, shoots flat and built on lighter pistols with reasonable recoil levels. Jeff Cooper published his "Super 9mm" article on hotrodding the .38 Super in 1973 and Heinie and I followed up on his research.

[@joeleonetti8976]

@@lockloadwithdickfairburn-cr1jb Thanks for the reply. Back in the early 1990s my car broke down in an intersection. A police officer came by and got a tow truck to come. The office helped direct any traffic at this sleep intersection while we waited. I commented on his 45 firearm. He said bigger bullets make bigger holes. Never forgot that.

[@shanewhite9143]

Those lefties libs in Colorado are vicious.

[@RoadTraveler]

Bump

[@thecognitiveconservative489]

Your premise is sound, but the three in Gunnison appear to be victims of their own ignorance.😢

[@lockloadwithdickfairburn-cr1jb]

Never did hear any more details on that incident ...

[@atomicfrijole7542]

@@lockloadwithdickfairburn-cr1jb They decided that they would try to forage for food and live off the land at ~9000ft up by Buena Vista. They did not plan for winter -- no shelter, just a 3-season tent -- no firewood to speak of -- and no food because there ain't much there to begin with -- and not enough supply or support structure to get them out of the wilds and back to civilization. Unsurprisingly they froze to death at the brink of starvation because we had massive storms up in the mountains and about 6-10ft drifts. It's tragic, but this is what we see from people who have no idea how deadly the mountains are.

[@TERMINAL-BALLISTICS]

You might as well forget about laws and/or legal ramifications when it comes to carrying in a national park. Avoid casual encounters with rangers/law officials, whilst in the park itself to avoid potential confrontations regarding your right to carry and if it comes down to an actual bear attack or otherwise .... hire a good self-defense attorney after the fact and deal with the repercussions later, because you won't even have the opportunity to worry about legal procedures if you're dead as a result of a bear attack. Nonetheless, if you are still concerned with the laws, they reflect the particular state the national park resides in, as 54 U.S.C. 104906 clearly states. So if the state you are in is a constitutional carry/open carry state .... then open carry is permitted in those national parks. In terms of which handgun you choose, (provided you're using anything from 9mm and up) .... the caliber is the least important aspect. The amount of follow-up shots and bullet design is even more crucial than caliber choice and grain weight. There's numerous documented cases of both brown and black bears being effectively dispatched with calibers as small as 9mm. A bluff charge (which is a warning, more common with black bears) is one thing because you have time to react, so bear spray's limited utility in such a scenario might be effective, but when any bear skips that process and goes straight into attack, you're usually not in the position to see it coming from a distance where you can draw your weapon and make accurate/well-placed shots to any given specific area (like the head) of a bear, because a bear whilst attacking will move extremely fast and sporadically, and the degree of adrenaline/fear will be of magnitudes greater than anything you've ever experienced, so having 10-15+ rounds at your disposal to discharge in rapid succession is unequivocally priceless.

[@lockloadwithdickfairburn-cr1jb]

I have a buddy who is a retired Yellowstone ranger and he says open carry in the main (tourist) park area will at least get you detained and possibly a disorderly conduct petty charge ... and he says the rangers will at least harrass you for open carry in the backcountry as well. National parks in urban areas ... open carry will get you detained/charged.

[@TERMINAL-BALLISTICS]

Your buddy might want to brush up on the federal and state laws, because Wyoming, Montana and Idaho (which Yellowstone resides in) all allow open carry, so your buddy's viewpoint attains no legal merit in litigation. QUOTE; TITLE 54-§ 104906. NATIONAL PARK SERVICE AND RELATED PROGRAMS. (7) Federal laws should make it clear that the 2d amendment rights of an individual at a System unit should not be infringed. (b) PROTECTION OF RIGHT OF INDIVIDUALS TO BEAR ARMS IN SYSTEM UNITS.-The National Parks Service shall not promulgate or enforce any regulation that prohibits an individual from possessing a firearm, including an assembled or functional firearm, in any System unit if- (1) the individual is not otherwise prohibited by law from possessing the firearm; and (2) the possession of the firearm is in compliance with the law of the State in which the System unit is located.

[@HoffnerPrecision]

A good friend of mine hikes deep into Yellowstone to photograph bears. He regularly comes across park rangers who completely disregard his open carry. If he were to discharge that weapon, I’d imagine it would be a very different story.

[@TERMINAL-BALLISTICS]

@@HoffnerPrecision Well if we're hypothetically referring to a bear attack, the park ragers will likely issue a mandatory citation (if you report what happened), however if a person hires a good self-defense attorney, it won't hold up in court. See the case of Brian D. Murphy in Glacier National Park, as an example.

[@HoffnerPrecision]

@@TERMINAL-BALLISTICS very good example. Also an example of a grizzly charging right through bear spray. I’m not saying my friend would go to prison for firing in self defense, or even have bad legal repercussions. All I’m saying is the park rangers would do everything in their meager power to make the rest of his day miserable, and bear rights advocates would do everything they possibly could to ruin him legally and financially. I’ve learned not to trust the court system to rule in favor of common sense in these situations because every prosecutor and judge are so very different. Killing a grizzly in Yellowstone would make for a very long year, whether right or wrong.

[@danielbridgewater3444]

Unfortunately ANYTHING you say CAN & WILL be used AGAINST you in a court of law. Knowing that fact I have to respectfully disagree with your suggestion to give a general overview of the situation. I understand where you're coming from but in the long run I think the less you say the better. Just my 2 cents & in no way a ding on the vid. The bears & bad guys vids are both awesome & I think people should take heed. It's shocking to me how many people go through their day totally defenseless.

[@lockloadwithdickfairburn-cr1jb]

Thanks for the kind words. As a 40+ year retired cop, a refusal to provide any information after a shooting will place you in a contempt-of-cop territory real fast. An open attitude while providing your ID and basic situation info will pay off ... in my opinion.

[@danielbridgewater3444]

@@lockloadwithdickfairburn-cr1jb I may have to rethink things a bit. You make some valid points & I'd be foolish to ignore someone with 40 + years in law enforcement.

[@HoffnerPrecision]

I have a friend that is retired law enforcement. He would tell you the exact same thing that Dick said in the video. Just don’t talk too much, there are a lot of cops out there that will use your words against you if they can.

[@jasonshults368]

Contempt of cop...is that a felony, or a misdemeanor? I recall that cops take that pesky oath to the Constitution. I also recall that the Constitution contains the right to remain silent in the presence of government agents whose job is to collect evidence against me. I sure wish that they would just uphold their damned oath. "Heroes."

[@lockloadwithdickfairburn-cr1jb]

@@jasonshults368 I guess "Contempt of Cop" is an insider joke ... i just meant getting off on a good start helps ANY interpersonal conversation.

[@thomthompson9217]

If you see a carcass it’s time to beat cheeks outta there. Always carry bear spray.

[@MrBirdman123]

Where are there mountains in Ill?

[@lockloadwithdickfairburn-cr1jb]

Ain't none! I prefer Wyoming, lived there for 10 years and hunt there almost every year.

[@MrBirdman123]

10mm beats 45acp every day all day

[@lockloadwithdickfairburn-cr1jb]

I prefer the 10mm, but the same projectiles, I think a .45 will do the job.

[@876mpr]

Not by all that much if the .45 ACP is in a revolver. You can drive 255-280 grain cast bullets 900-950 fps from a 5” barrel. Same sectional density, same momentum and much superior cast bullet shapes.

[@MrBirdman123]

@@876mpr in a 10mm revolver you can drive a 230 gr cast bullet at over 1300fps.

[@876mpr]

@@MrBirdman123 Perhaps, but a .41 magnum can push a 265 grain bullet the same. Or a 290 at 1200+. I don’t have a problem with the 10mm, it’s just not the aloha and omega that so many think it is.

[@MrBirdman123]

@@876mpr still better than a 357 or 45

[@RoadTraveler]

Bump