What is the best gun for Bear Defense?
- Thread starter jspick
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Echo40
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There really is no "best" firearm for anything and anyone who says otherwise is most likely very young and foolish.
To presume that there exists a universally perfect firearm for self-defense against any or every living thing on Earth is to subscribe to the demonstrably false belief in the concept of a one-size-fits-all firearm that anyone can handle reliably, regardless of the multitude of physical characteristics which differentiates one from another.
In the end, all anybody can do is research the subject thoroughly, then make the choice which suits them best.
That being said, I would also like to state my personal belief that the vast majority of folks on webforums who argue that .44 Magnum is the absolute bare minimum when it comes to viable bear defense cartridges and that folks ought to carry something even more powerful than .44 Magnum most likely have never seen a bear outside of a zoo before, much less ventured into the wilderness where Grizzly Bears roam.
In reality, Bears have been taken with just about every caliber firearm, including .380 pocket pistols and .22LR rifles. Now obviously that doesn't mean that one should go poking around in bear country armed only with a .380 pocket pistol, but it does go to show that bears are not the legendary killing machines which are all but impervious to everything but the most powerful of firearms.
In reality, a good .357 Magnum Revolver with heavy hardcast semiwadcutter bullets is adequate for self-defense against even the largest of bears, hence why 10mm Auto has become such a popular cartridge in Alaska for bear defense, and why some Fish & Game wardens carry as little as .40 S&W. (At best, 10mm Auto is only marginally more powerful than .357 Magnum, and most factory loaded ammo is only marginally more powerful than .40 S&W, which is roughly equal to .45 ACP.)
If .45 ACP weren't enough, then it would have never been able to penetrate that bear's skull, so your son was better armed than many folks would assert.
However, I've said it before and I'll say it again, if I were to venture into bear country, then I would carry my Mossberg 590 Shockwave 12 Gauge loaded with Brenneke Black Magic Magnum Slugs.
Why? Because I can handle it, so there's no valid reason for me to carry less. So carry the biggest gun with the biggest bullet you can handle and leave as little to chance as possible.
To presume that there exists a universally perfect firearm for self-defense against any or every living thing on Earth is to subscribe to the demonstrably false belief in the concept of a one-size-fits-all firearm that anyone can handle reliably, regardless of the multitude of physical characteristics which differentiates one from another.
In the end, all anybody can do is research the subject thoroughly, then make the choice which suits them best.
That being said, I would also like to state my personal belief that the vast majority of folks on webforums who argue that .44 Magnum is the absolute bare minimum when it comes to viable bear defense cartridges and that folks ought to carry something even more powerful than .44 Magnum most likely have never seen a bear outside of a zoo before, much less ventured into the wilderness where Grizzly Bears roam.
In reality, Bears have been taken with just about every caliber firearm, including .380 pocket pistols and .22LR rifles. Now obviously that doesn't mean that one should go poking around in bear country armed only with a .380 pocket pistol, but it does go to show that bears are not the legendary killing machines which are all but impervious to everything but the most powerful of firearms.
In reality, a good .357 Magnum Revolver with heavy hardcast semiwadcutter bullets is adequate for self-defense against even the largest of bears, hence why 10mm Auto has become such a popular cartridge in Alaska for bear defense, and why some Fish & Game wardens carry as little as .40 S&W. (At best, 10mm Auto is only marginally more powerful than .357 Magnum, and most factory loaded ammo is only marginally more powerful than .40 S&W, which is roughly equal to .45 ACP.)
If .45 ACP weren't enough, then it would have never been able to penetrate that bear's skull, so your son was better armed than many folks would assert.
However, I've said it before and I'll say it again, if I were to venture into bear country, then I would carry my Mossberg 590 Shockwave 12 Gauge loaded with Brenneke Black Magic Magnum Slugs.
Why? Because I can handle it, so there's no valid reason for me to carry less. So carry the biggest gun with the biggest bullet you can handle and leave as little to chance as possible.
Benchrest1
Member
Shotgun with slugs would be my first choice.
Absalom
SWCA Member, Absent Comrade
What do you mean, silly?
I'd just like to ask a follow-up question about the best handgun to carry when bow-hunting elephant ....
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JcMack
Member
What do you mean, silly?
I'd just like to ask a follow-up question about the best handgun to carry when bow-hunting elephant ....
Did she use 20 shots out of a beat up FN L1A1 like most poachers?
CAJUNLAWYER
Member
What did the injuns do when all they had was bows and arrows???????
Dirty Harry:
So, what Pat McManus said.
So, what Pat McManus said.
JcMack
Member
They killed pioneers and stoll their guns and liquor. Thus maintaining arms and fire water equality with the long knives.
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BearBio
Member
A few random comments:
What did the Indians do? Climb trees!
What guns work best? Whatever works for you in that instance! My grad professor stated that my thesis only showed/proved what occurred during my study on urban bears in that location at that time! All you could do was infer a result under different circumstances. The more studies, the more likely you were being correct!
Use of a 454: I can get the first two shots off accurately with my Reeder custom SBH (which is all you are likely to get) THEN I start to flinch or rush my shots. BTW: I recently started using the Glock 20 with heavy hard cast in bear country.
Health report: Still in the wheel chair but starting to walk a little. Go back to work (limited duty) after the Fourth. Then retire two weeks later. The wife told me the University is interested in talking to me about doing presentations for school kids after I retire!
What did the Indians do? Climb trees!
What guns work best? Whatever works for you in that instance! My grad professor stated that my thesis only showed/proved what occurred during my study on urban bears in that location at that time! All you could do was infer a result under different circumstances. The more studies, the more likely you were being correct!
Use of a 454: I can get the first two shots off accurately with my Reeder custom SBH (which is all you are likely to get) THEN I start to flinch or rush my shots. BTW: I recently started using the Glock 20 with heavy hard cast in bear country.
Health report: Still in the wheel chair but starting to walk a little. Go back to work (limited duty) after the Fourth. Then retire two weeks later. The wife told me the University is interested in talking to me about doing presentations for school kids after I retire!
What do you mean, silly?
I'd just like to ask a follow-up question about the best handgun to carry when bow-hunting elephant ....
I'm your huckleberry:
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My honorary nephew has a Finnish Lahti 20mm anti-tank gun. It even has skids on it to allow the reindeer to pull it in the woods.
Bullseye 2620
Member
Well, this guy, a Hunkpapa Lakhota named Rain in the Face, killed a few grizzlies by hand with a knife in close quarters combat. See those claws hanging around his neck? It would have been disgraceful to have worn those unless they were taken up close and personal.
He is also reputed to have been the warrior who dispatched Custer.
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Great reflexes under pressure! Were you the one who posted a few pix of a trashed garage door compliments of a grizzly a few years back?
That was very impressive too!
That was very impressive too!
BearBio
Member
I was "safety Officer" for my office for over 10 years (collateral duty)==I reached out to ask other CSOs what was used at their office for bears and Defense of Life and Property==all agreed upon the Brenneke slugs in 12 gauge (spray for defense; slugs for taking down proven problem bears)
Most Federal Agencies (all the ones I know of) do not authorize handguns except for LEOs
Most Federal Agencies (all the ones I know of) do not authorize handguns except for LEOs
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If I was bow hunting bear, I'd feel comfortable with someone standing on my right with this.
The_Truth
Member
30-06 pistol
Tom Kent
US Veteran
I love to bear hunt and I carry a .44 magnum where allowed. I hunt in Maine a lot and the outfitter I use states that the state wildlife officers consider a .44 magnum to be a hunting gun so it could not be carried loaded after shooting light has passed. I noticed that most of the guides carry .45acp or .357s.
When I hunt in Maine, that is what I carry. My first choice is still the .44 magnum.
When I hunt in Maine, that is what I carry. My first choice is still the .44 magnum.
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500SNW
Member
I guess it depends on the species and location. Around the East here, it's Black Bears and I am comfy just carrying my .357 wheelgun for the one-in-a-million chance I am charged by one. When I make my occasional trip to fish with my buddy who lives in Alaska, I won't carry anything less than an 1895 Marlin loaded with 405 grain hard cast blunts. Even with a big bore lever gun in hand, a lower 48 guy like myself is continually on edge when sharing space with such monstrous critters. It makes a trip to "use the outhouse" so much more fun, though 
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Well, no.
By almost all accounts the Indians didn't even know who they were fighting until it was all over. I would be surprised if most of them could have picked G.A. out of a line up.
Rain-In-The-Face is reputed to have cut Tom Custer's heart out and ate it because of a personal feud between them (Custer had imprisoned an humiliated him).
In later years Rain at various times said he did eat Custer's heart and that he didn't.
Most scholars think it's a toss up whether he did (eat the heart) or not but say it would have been completely in character.
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amazingflapjack
US Veteran
Penatration...
The penetration is solved by using the LSWC harder cast bullet-even in an auto loader that will process them. A 240 grain LSWC over 10-12 gr of Unique in a 44 mag should drill a fine hole in most objects. I agree with Bear Bio-spray is best.
The penetration is solved by using the LSWC harder cast bullet-even in an auto loader that will process them. A 240 grain LSWC over 10-12 gr of Unique in a 44 mag should drill a fine hole in most objects. I agree with Bear Bio-spray is best.
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