Handguns for Bear Defense: Will Any of Them Stop the Threat?
- Thread starter Mike H.
- Start date
Mikus Aurelius
Alpha
Noticed that of all the 10mm ammo that Mr. Zwoll tested, none matched these specs from DoubleTap Ammo:Hello all, here is today's article posted on TheArmoryLife.com. It is titled “Handguns for Bear Defense: Will Any of Them Stop the Threat?” and can be found at https://www.thearmorylife.com/handguns-for-bear-defense/.
Caliber : 10mm
Bullet : 200gr Hardcast Solid (WFNGC)
Ballistics : 1300fps / 750 ft. lbs. muzzle - Glock 20
1105fps / 542 ft. lbs. 100yds - Glock 20
1240fps / 683 ft. lbs. - Glock 29
Invisibleflash
Elite
No real bear problems here. Every few years you hear about small bear, but that is it. If worried about bear and using 9mm, look for nylon coated ammo. Tremendous penetration.
Talyn
Emissary
Annihilator
Hellion
Saw this and thought I would add it to Mike’s thread
www.ammoland.com
Two Successful Defensive uses of .22 Mag Against Bears
Then his oldest yelled, "Bear!" and James turned around. The bear was about six feet from him. It had been within 3-4 feet of his back...
www.ammoland.com
Flyboy514
Operator
The bear was a disciple of Mr. Miyagi after he was forced to move there from NJ by his mother and bullied by locals
OK…my 2 cents (ever notice that the cent symbol has disappeared). I move between S. Utah and S. Arizona. My chance of seeing a hungry bear is about as likely as being struck by lightning. (Oh, wait that happened to me). But I still carry…usually a .40 Sigma I have carried on and off since 1995. Been easy to carry in a shoulder rig. Bought a heavy duty spring from Wolfe and handload some fast moving loads. HOWEVER, I now feel the need for something extra; thinking 10mm or 357 Sig, maybe both. Blackies where I spend most of my time in Utah won’t feel the extra oomph, but it is like an itch you need to scratch. I realize the Sig round is only good to up to 147 grain, but handloading it with specific bullets should work. In all honesty tge problem from 2-legged critters will be more of a problem, IMO. Anyway, my civi,iced take on a bear round!
If I’m in an area with major predators I’ll be carrying the heaviest caliber I can shoot accurately. For me, that’s a .44 Mag. Either a 69 Smith or my trusty SBH. Home where a ‘Yote is most likely I carry a Smith 60 3”, .357. I’ve ran across Blackies in the woods when in WV and Eastern Ky. When armed with a .32 flinter squirrel rifle, and that old 4 5/8” SBH was worth its weight in gold at that moment. Never had to use it on a bear, but did draw it once when Smokey started acting fractious
HayesGreener
SAINT
My oldest son has a 460 revolver his wife gave him when they lived in Alaska. It hurts to shoot that thing with full loads. The one time he shot a bear with pistol in an unexpected encounter it was with a 10mm, multiple shots with hard cast bullets, and it absorbed multiple hits before it went down.
PieterCoetzee
Professional
Im so glad this thread has been resurrected. Its a great topic for those of us who love the woods. Back in the day when gentleman hunted Tigers, they rode in a saddle chair mounted on Elephants. The saddle was called a HOWDAH. It seems Tigers often took offense to being hunted and would often climb up the side of the Elephant, which didnt make the Elephant especially happy.
The hunter might find his rifle awkward to use at close range against a rampaging Tiger on a stampeding Elephant, and thus the Howdah Pistol was born. Back then it was a double barreled handgun with 6 to 10 inch barrels in a LARGE bore. Think sawed off SxS shotgun (but usually rifled) in something like 50 or 60 caliber firing a solid round. Typically they were hung from a loop on the butt at each corner of the saddle; but they could be carried in a holster
This scene from The Ghost and the Darkness is fictional but still cool. In the movie Michael Douglas carried his O/U Howdah Pistol in a western style holster.
Bringing history to life I carried a 6 inch SxS 12 gauge on a belt holster for the better part of a year as a concealed carry pistol, so it can be done.
In a modern sense I do like the Big Heavy cartridges starting with 454 Casull. Im a huge fan of the guns from Freedom Arms. They are single action but I think still usable. Many will suggest 44 Magnum and I dont think they are wrong I like heavy hitters firing SOLID bullets for dangerous game. Ive been toying with the S&W X frame in 500S&W in the short(er) 4" model (the compensator adds another inch)
There is a shorter 3.5" model but the gun is still huge and I think the slightly huge(er) 4" + comp balances better in a belt holster, although the 3.5" might be nicer in a chest holster. Which brings up the issue of HOW you carry the gun.
The folks who opt for shotguns or rifles are forced to carry or sling the LONG gun. Long guns offer more stability at longer ranges BUT how far can you justify shooting the bear? Long guns are also more awkward at CLOSE ranges during a charge. Its at that close range where POWER and the ability to maneuver matter, so I think a Bear gun needs to be a handgun that can be carried. If I had to carry a Long gun for Bear defense it might be a Tac-14, possibly even in 20 gauge with slugs to make it easier for follow up shots.
Folks that suggest the Desert Eagle must have a better way to carry them then Ive found they can make the S&W X frame look small. Too big and Too heavy often mean being left behind or too slow into action. That being said I do very much want one, just not for Bear defense.
I wouldnt say NO to a Glock 20 as I know there are lots of fans of 10mm and 15+ rounds of 10mm is a lot of Go Away; but personally Id prefer bigger if I was in Brown Bear country
The hunter might find his rifle awkward to use at close range against a rampaging Tiger on a stampeding Elephant, and thus the Howdah Pistol was born. Back then it was a double barreled handgun with 6 to 10 inch barrels in a LARGE bore. Think sawed off SxS shotgun (but usually rifled) in something like 50 or 60 caliber firing a solid round. Typically they were hung from a loop on the butt at each corner of the saddle; but they could be carried in a holster
This scene from The Ghost and the Darkness is fictional but still cool. In the movie Michael Douglas carried his O/U Howdah Pistol in a western style holster.
Bringing history to life I carried a 6 inch SxS 12 gauge on a belt holster for the better part of a year as a concealed carry pistol, so it can be done.
In a modern sense I do like the Big Heavy cartridges starting with 454 Casull. Im a huge fan of the guns from Freedom Arms. They are single action but I think still usable. Many will suggest 44 Magnum and I dont think they are wrong I like heavy hitters firing SOLID bullets for dangerous game. Ive been toying with the S&W X frame in 500S&W in the short(er) 4" model (the compensator adds another inch)
There is a shorter 3.5" model but the gun is still huge and I think the slightly huge(er) 4" + comp balances better in a belt holster, although the 3.5" might be nicer in a chest holster. Which brings up the issue of HOW you carry the gun.
The folks who opt for shotguns or rifles are forced to carry or sling the LONG gun. Long guns offer more stability at longer ranges BUT how far can you justify shooting the bear? Long guns are also more awkward at CLOSE ranges during a charge. Its at that close range where POWER and the ability to maneuver matter, so I think a Bear gun needs to be a handgun that can be carried. If I had to carry a Long gun for Bear defense it might be a Tac-14, possibly even in 20 gauge with slugs to make it easier for follow up shots.
Folks that suggest the Desert Eagle must have a better way to carry them then Ive found they can make the S&W X frame look small. Too big and Too heavy often mean being left behind or too slow into action. That being said I do very much want one, just not for Bear defense.
I wouldnt say NO to a Glock 20 as I know there are lots of fans of 10mm and 15+ rounds of 10mm is a lot of Go Away; but personally Id prefer bigger if I was in Brown Bear country
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Anchorite
Professional
I would agree, and I would also not pick a Glock 20 if I were hunting bear.
I believe there are better choices.
Now if I were in a bush-plane crash or canoeing down some river, then yes, I'll take the Glock.
UC_Guy 1971
Custom
Around my neck of the woods, I carry a Glock 20 with Underwood 10mm 140gr Xtreme Penetrator (Lehigh solid copper bullet),
Bullet weight: 140 grains
Advertised velocity: ~1,500 fps
Muzzle energy: ≈700 ft-lbs (about 950 joules). This is from a Glock 20.
I would feel like I have enough handgun carrying this just about anywhere. Alongside my Maverick 88 it should do the job.
Bullet weight: 140 grains
Advertised velocity: ~1,500 fps
Muzzle energy: ≈700 ft-lbs (about 950 joules). This is from a Glock 20.
I would feel like I have enough handgun carrying this just about anywhere. Alongside my Maverick 88 it should do the job.
PieterCoetzee
Professional
“Alongside my Maverick 88”…That’s just the point if you have to carry a shotgun why carry the pistol? And if you’re carrying a shotgun why not carry a rifle?
I think you’re right that the 10mm will do the job at least most of the time and certainly for Black bears but I wouldn’t want to count on it for a big Brownie ….but that’s just me
I think you’re right that the 10mm will do the job at least most of the time and certainly for Black bears but I wouldn’t want to count on it for a big Brownie ….but that’s just me
Oldmountaiman
Custom
Have not posted in sometime. Long time back when I worked and wondered in the high country I encountered a bear more the than. I carried a revolver which was a 45 long colt with 4 in barrel and loaded with 250 cast bullets, they stop a bear. Have a good day.
Mr. Untactical
Master Class
I'm not experienced in bear country. That said, the thought of bear spray doesn't fill me with much confidence. If I found myself in a situation/location that would potentially result in an up-close and personal encounter with a bear (of any kind), I might have to carry a .300 blackout SBR with premium supersonic loads. I'd also have a .45 or 10mm, but if the bear gets past a 30-round mag of 110 grain, that pistol probably won't help much.
Let’s be honest guys, most of the more powerful rounds “can” take out a bear, but none of them will be as sure a bet as a .30 caliber or better rifle or an old fashioned 12 bore with slugs. Bears are large, serious predators. Against such things any pistol is a compromise between operability and effectiveness.
deadseed
Operator
i have an odd handgun that i wonder if it would be a good fit. ar 15 pistol with 10" barrel in 7.62x39. got it in that cal. because i already had 4 sks's and an ak47 and lots of ammo and didnt figure i needed to be buying another type ammo. my EDC is a SA XDM 10mm with hornady rounds. take note of the oddballs in my pic by the way.