which pistol would you recommend for my situation??

[Runnerguy]

Hi All, I am a newbie.
I just got my CC permit and am buying first handgun (I do have a .22 Iver Johnson I have been plinking with).

I am runner and when traveling I sometimes check into a hotel/motel in a strange city and then go out for my customary 7 mile run which takes me places in cities that I sometimes wish I had some protection with me at times, just in case. I carry a fanny pack with waterbottles and a pocket for things like a gun.

However, I also think I might like to hunt or at laest take the same pistol into bear country and rest assured I could stop a bear if need be.

So far I am thinking of the Ruger LCP or KEL TEC .380 semi, but for the bear country part of it maybe I lean toward the very lightweight revolver which would be a .38 special type, also shooting .357 if need be.

I don't have any experience carrying but I have a friend who carries a Ruger LCP in his t-shirt in a pocket specially designed under his armpit. I would like to do that with either gun, I guess although the Ruger could go in a pants pocket just as easy. The revolvers have pretty similar weights and dimensions for my purposes.

Thoughts??? I have to decide on something pretty soon as I am not carrying anything at all now.
Thanks for your opinion.

[1911 Headbanger]

My choice would be a Smith and Wesson Airlite Titanium Revolver, like the Model 340PD in .357 Mag. It's a little 5 shot snubby and they weigh about 10 oz. unloaded. More punch that any micro 380. As for Bear Country, you are very under armed unless you have a BIG Bore revolver at least. If you had to carry a 357 snubby, it should be with the hottest and heaviest penetrating load you can find, like something from Buffalo Bore or Grizzy Ammo company. You would also need to test the ammo (ouch) to be sure that the bullets do not jump foward out of the crimp in the cartridge, moving foward in the cylinder and lock the gun up.
Just for the record, the only lightweight gun I know of, that gets carried in places like Alaska or other Bear Country, is the Smith and Wesson 329 Titanium 44 mag with a 4" barrel. I believe they also make it in a snubby now. Titanium is a great way to go if you're looking for very light weight, as it appears from your post. If you can carry a little more weight, the choices expand greatly.

[cadguru]

When I am hiking, I carry either my Glock 30 (Subcompact 45) or Taurus PT145 (Subcompact 45) with 230 grain federal hydra shock ammunition. These guns with this round are more than enoough to ward off would be attackers, but what kind of bears are you talking about. I feel safe with my 45 around black bears as I am confident that a few well placed shots could do the job, but I would go 44 mag or 50 cal for grizzly, or kodiaks. Even then I would probably empty the gun and reload and empty it again. There isn't really a handgun that will bring one of those down, but the 45 could scare it away.

[Jes]

The 357 is minimum for hunting or critter protection. Any pistol is less than ideal if you are talking about grizzlies. You would want a 4in or longer barrel for hunting and to get velocity out of those heavy Grizzly ammo loads. For running a LCP(P3AT ripoff) or lightweight 38spl would fit the bill.

You really can't have it both ways. The 357 lighweight snub mentioned is about as close as you can get to a compromise, but you will be doing a disservice to the animal if you try to hunt with it and wound something.

[EricRush]

Runnerguy,

Forget the bears. No handgun you'll be willing to carry the rest of the time will do any good with bears. Try a few guns and pick one that you like the feel of and can carry comfortably in your running togs and everyday clothing, 9mm or better preferably, but no smaller than .380. If you do not shoot regularly, a revolver is probably more useful than a pistol. If unfamiliar and out of practice, a misfire on a pistol may find you scratching your head and wondering why it didn't go off while the bad guy does you harm. Even in panic, a double-action revolver will keep shooting as long as you keep pulling the trigger, misfire or no.

Bears? Carry pepper spray.

[rockwerks]

If cash is a problem them a good use CZ82 in 380 or 9x18 is a great choice, a highly accurate weapon and good stopping power in the 9x18 and ammo is cheaper than regular 9mm ammo and plentiful. I have shot a few and love em. I will be buying another couple when I have some cash.

CZ-82 Czech 9x18 Makarov Military pistol, Good condition, one mag. C&R. ammo runs about 130 shipped for 500 rounds

[utimmer43]

The 357 is minimum for hunting or critter protection. Any pistol is less than ideal if you are talking about grizzlies. You would want a 4in or longer barrel for hunting and to get velocity out of those heavy Grizzly ammo loads. For running a LCP(P3AT ripoff) or lightweight 38spl would fit the bill.

You really can't have it both ways. The 357 lighweight snub mentioned is about as close as you can get to a compromise, but you will be doing a disservice to the animal if you try to hunt with it and wound something.

+1.
Those are truly two totally opposite ends of the spectrum. Since you jog everyday, that should be what your first purchase is based on. (I personally won't go below 9mm due to the high cost-to-knockdown power ratio of .380, but that's just me.) Whenever you're considering your first handgun, it would be a good idea to go to a range that rents out different guns. Decide what feels good in your hand, what fits in your fannypack, or whatever other method of concealment your would use.

Once you have your first and have saved up enough for a bear gun, go for something in .460 S&W, .500 S&W, or .454 Casull. You can find snubbies in these calibers, but they are still HUGE (for a snubbie), yet really only appropriate for defensive use due to the lack of accuracy. If you want a hunting revolver go with one of these calibers with at least a 10"barrel/ scope etc.

[utimmer43]

Bears? Carry pepper spray.

Um, not that I would recomment it, but I think I would prefer a 9mm before pepper spray, no?

...9x18 Makarov... ammo runs about 130 shipped for 500 rounds

That's $.26 per rnd. At Wallyworld (if they have it in stock) 9mm WWB is $.21 per rnd. and Blazer Brass is $.19 per rnd. after tax.

[rockwerks]

Um, not that I would recomment it, but I think I would prefer a 9mm before pepper spray, no?


That's $.26 per rnd. At Wallyworld (if they have it in stock) 9mm WWB is $.21 per rnd. and Blazer Brass is $.19 per rnd. after tax.

But standard 9mm lugar round has less stopping power than the 9m18 Makarov round

[Jes]

But standard 9mm lugar round has less stopping power than the 9m18 Makarov round

I think you got that one backwards...

9x19mm Parabellum - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

9x18mm Makarov - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia