Apparantly there was a black bear spotted within 1/2 miule of my house this weekend. I don't live in the wilderness - but instead in a townhouse 1 mile down 123 from Tyson's Corner. The exit ramp from the Toll Road to 123 is literally in my backyard, but one of the things that attracted us to our development was the terrific greenspace the surrounds us and has been developed by the Homeonwers Association over the last 30 years. 50 yards from my patio is a major thorofare, but there is dense woods and a great hiking trail between me and it.

Anyway, we sat out last night on my patio (yes, a slate patio - no crappy wooden deck) grilling up some seafood and drinking Mojito's (delicious, remind me to post the recipeie some day) with no fear, realizing that two of us had Colt 1911s and another had a Taurus revolver with .357 and I of course had my Marlin .336 and a slugged up shotgun resting next to my chair.

Overkill??

Only if your not staring down the face of a hungry bear.

A lot of it depends on the character of the local bears; if they are getting shot at frequently, it might work. When I was a small child, I remember more that once chasing bears out of camp by throwing rocks. The biggest problem with bears is that they are so unpredictable; one time they will run from just a yell, another time they will maul you even while shooting at them. I keep a 44 mag handy in bear country, myself.

Good advice Bob. While I abhor the what a .44 Mag does to my hand, my Ruger Blackhawk in .45 Colt with a beefed up load can really replicate that .44 Mag performance in a much more comfortable package.

Plus, it looks awfully swell hanging on my hip. Might try that next weekend.

Plus, it looks awfully swell hanging on my hip.

That sounds like something I'd say. ;)

That said, this does have to be some of the worst advice I've seen.

I take my 45 Blackhawk sometimes, with some 300 gr loads that deliver a respectable thump. Usually, however, I pack my Super Blackhawk or my Redhawk.

Actually living in the mountains takes bear sightings to a whole new level. You can't open the paper without a new report about bears out and about in the neighborhood (google Vail Daily and check out the headline). I find that my S&W airlite in .44 mag was actually a practical purchase, it's a great gun to carry alot and fire a little. Six rounds through that and I need to soak my hand in ice water.

where im originally from we had a huge brown bear problem. Sadly, to shoot them means to be sued by NY state. So the best solution was just to bury them afterwards