Well, you can certainly load a .45 Colt hot. And many bear have probably been stopped, But it is down to what his wife can handle, and whether she intends to survive. I would think the practice shooting would deter a women from a .500 S&W or a .44 Magnum. I think the .22 LR to shoot her husband in the knee is the best answer, run like hell.

Quote:
Originally Posted by treillw
TI have made up my mind and nobody is going to change that.

If you read the full post that your partial quote is from, you can see that the OP has 'made up his mind' about carrying a handgun in addition to bear spray.

That said, many Alaskan outdoor guides seem to prefer a 12ga pump with slugs or a .45-70 levergun for a bear firearm. Some carry a shorter rifle chambered for something like .338 or .350 Magnum.

I have a 5 1/2" barrel Ruger Redhawk DA revolver in .44 Magnum. I can shoot it quite well with near-max 240 gr JSP handloads. I would feel comfortable with it as a sidearm out in the woods/mountains with brown bears around. If I had to carry a bear-capable semi-auto pistol, it would be a 10mm.

In the areas I frequent, black bears are the only bears out there. I often carry my 4" bbl Ruger GP100 .357 Magnum with 158 gr JSP handloads, as it packs easier than the larger Redhawk.

How come everyone is all concerned about bears attacking but not tigers or lions?

Lions and tigers are rather exotic problem to have, Scott. Most of us are just worried about the bear necessities.

Groo here
If you can find or make it, a single stack auto in 357 sig...
Go to Underwood and get the extreme penatraters or something
solid and similar.
Wifey's usually has smaller hands and the thin grips will be a help.
Most 40[short and weak] will convert to 357 sig.
Exception is a Sig 239 as the barrels all have the same measurements
and if you find a 357sig or 40 S&W a 9mm barrel and mag will change.

Rule #1 about 10mm...
NEVER give a new 10mm shooter a 1911-style 10mm to shoot.
They'll shoot it, MAYBE get thru a box of ammo, then put it down and never do it again.
Even wrapped my Colt Delta Elite in a Pachmyer grip...didn't help much.


Use either a Glock 20/40 OR a S&W 3rd Gen 1000-series OR a Star Megastar 10.
They all soak recoil very well.
1911's do NOT soak 10mm recoil very well in comparison.

To be proficient with 10mm, you have to shoot it a fair amount.
Kinda hard to get to the level needed if it's beating your right palm to a pulp...
and that's with a FIRM grip & Pachy grips...

Even a DEagle is easier on the hands. Just something to consider.
That freakin Colt ruined 1911's for me for over 25 years...just recently got a Ballester-Molina,
and that's just a funky copy of the 1911 without the grip safety!!

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Marlin & Calico Specialist

Yeah, but she pretty much stuck it in his ear and let fly...

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Marlin & Calico Specialist

...shot placement is everything...

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A Country Boy Can Survive

I love how the "Wise_A" forum name really fits the comment!!! hahahahahaha!!! thanx for the laugh friend!!!