XD Talk

**mbpe912** · 10-12-2009, 05:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FATSEXY

What kind of walking are you doing in the country? Is this a concealed piece or do you just want a firearm? If you're on private property, carry a 12 gauge. If you're at a park, firearms are illegal anyway. Get pepper spray for park hiking. Get an 870 if you don't have to conceal your defense. Get a .44 Magnum and a large vest if you have to conceal.

can't really OC here

Quote:

Originally Posted by Palmguy

I'd feel comfortable with a 20 in Central Florida.

Me two I just got back from the woods carried the xd45acp. Black bears are small in Florida. I have never seen one ever.

dkbikes4life4130 · 10-12-2009, 07:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mbpe912

can't really OC here

Me two I just got back from the woods carried the xd45acp. Black bears are small in Florida. I have never seen one ever.

We can open carry if hunting, fishing, or camping. Not sure if just walking around in the woods counts as camping though.

While I've never seen a black bear, I have seen prints in the areas I go. My uncle use to live in one of the areas I fish at every now and then. He use to have bear in his front yard all the time. One time, he woke up in the night and thought someone had broke into his house (fell asleep and forgot to lock the front door.) He heard something going through the kitchen. Went to look, and it was a 250lb. black bear that actually opened his front door and walked in. This was near Lake Mary (on 46 right on the Weikiva (sp?) river for anyone who knows the area). He called animal control to come get the bear. When they came to get it, they recognized the bear. They had trapped it several times down here and moved it back to the Ocala forest. The bear walked from Ocala down to almost Orlando.

I think I have made up my mind on the gun though. As much as I do still want a Glock 20, I will feel better knowing for a fact I have enough gun with me should something happen. I went to Bass Pro over the weekend and held a Ruger Alaskan and fell in love. The gun points absolutely natural for me. I am going to eventually get the .454 version. I can load it with standard power HP 45 long colt rounds and keep it around the house or very hot 45 LC rounds for the bears around here. I also will have a gun that I can load with hot 454 rounds if I ever get to take a camping trip up north (which is something I have been dying to do lately). Having 6 rounds does make me kinda nervous, but I figure that if the bear does charge, I wont even have time to get off all 6 rounds. The areas I go to are not that thick of woods so more than likely I would see the bear before anything happened. This would hopefully give me time to keep the bear in my sights while slowly backing away (if it doesnt run first).

dkbikes4life4130 · 10-12-2009, 07:58 AM

And for anyone who says you dont need to worry about black bears in Florida

"I thought, 'Oh, my gosh, there's a bear running at me' " Central Florida man says of attack -- OrlandoSentinel.com

This happened 10 days ago.

**LUVMYSIGP225** · 10-12-2009, 08:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SRD

G20 good enough for black bear huh. heres one black bear took a 338 to the shoulder,5 shots of 45 i think it was, and two 44 mag shots before they could stop it. yeah ill pass on the G20.
Man survives struggle with black bear in Oregon

You are quoting Oregon. I believe the OP is talking about Florida. There are incredible variances in size amongst Black Bear subspecies throughout North America. Florida has incredibly small Black Bear and Deer. In Ohio, we have very large Deer, but the Black Bear are no bigger than a dog. I had a Black Bear eating cherries off of my tree early in the summer. They are also terrified of humans around here, and make EVERY effort to retreat, even with cubs present. Florida has very few of them(1500 to 2400, total in the state), and they are dog sized.

If I were residing in the Pacific Northwest or Canada, you could bet your arse that I would be packing no smaller than a large bore handgun with cruise missle loads.

dkbikes4life4130 · 10-12-2009, 08:14 AM

Black Bear Attacks Not so Common: Preventing Human-Animal Conflict in Black Bear Country | Suite101.com

This is another story from Florida I found that is fairly recent. If you scroll to the bottom and read the first comment. This bear had lost its fear becuase of people feeding it. She also said they had a 580lb bear removed last year due to lack of fear of humans. I think I'll stick to a good sized revolver if I even think there is a chance of a bear this size comming at me. Escpecially becuase I will normally have lunch in a back pack or will be fishing at the time I am in the woods.

**LUVMYSIGP225** · 10-12-2009, 08:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dkbikes4life4130

Black Bear Attacks Not so Common: Preventing Human-Animal Conflict in Black Bear Country | Suite101.com

This is another story from Florida I found that is fairly recent. If you scroll to the bottom and read the first comment. This bear had lost its fear becuase of people feeding it. She also said they had a 580lb bear removed last year due to lack of fear of humans. I think I'll stick to a good sized revolver if I even think there is a chance of a bear this size comming at me. Escpecially becuase I will normally have lunch in a back pack or will be fishing at the time I am in the woods.

You have a much higher liklihood of running into a mass murderer than running into an aggressive bear, especially of that size, in Florida.

Florida has no more than 2400 bears estimated, and they average 185 pounds. I spent a better part of my childhood in a Fish Camp on the St. Johns River. A lot of time airboating and hunting, etc. Never once saw a bear. Hell, I would be more afraid of a Gator.

chupacabrachus · 10-12-2009, 08:36 AM

I would feel comfortable w/ the 10mm GLOCK and a spare mag or two. Two mags gives you 31 potent rounds. Is the big ten the almighty BEST round for everything? No, but I would feel very comfortable with a familiar platform (a glock) with almost three times the capacity of a revolver before reloading.

If you are REALLY worried about bear...I mean really worried... as in think there is a pretty good chance you will cross paths with one that is rabid... I would skip the handguns altogether.