Arrow-right Camera
The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Outdoors blog

Big bore defense: handgun designed for your backpack?

SHOOTING -- It's being touted as the perfect gun to carry in your backpack with the necessary stopping power to fend off attacks by pigs and bears.

Smith & Wesson on Monday touted its new .460-caliber revolver as an ideal firearm for your backpack in the backcountry.

Officials with the Springfield, Mass.-based company let selected members of the media fire the Performance Center Model .460 at a range in Boulder City, Nev., as part of the opening day of the annual SHOT Show.  

It has not been reported if there were any survivors.

The SHOT Show, the country’s largest gun show, is underway in Las Vegas.

According to S&W:

Revolvers have long been replaced by high-capacity semi-auto for self defense, but they still make nice companions if you like camping where the critters are big enough to eat you.

The five-shooter features a three-inch barrel, high-visibility sights and a synthetic stock with a shock absorber on the rear of the handle. Chambered for the massive .460 round, it packs a wallop.   Cost: $1,200.

By the way, research has shown that firearms are much less likely to be effective in fending off a bear attack than a large can of bear spray. Cost: $50.



Rich Landers
Rich Landers joined The Spokesman-Review in 1977. He is the Outdoors editor for the Sports Department writing and photographing stories about hiking, hunting, fishing, boating, conservation, nature and wildlife and related topics.

Follow Rich online:




Go to the full Outdoors page