Any of the above are fine for black bears. They're not that hard to kill. I've never been charged by a black bear, but I've killed a dozen or so over the years with archery equipment and various handguns and rifles.
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Bear, Trail & Hiking Loads
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Any of the above are fine for black bears. They're not that hard to kill. I've never been charged by a black bear, but I've killed a dozen or so over the years with archery equipment and various handguns and rifles.
jtcarm
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Welcome to Land Of The (still mostly) Free!
The Glock/lead bullet debate rages on with anecdotal evidence going both ways.
After market barrels are relatively cheap insurance against a blown pistol. Also I can't speak to the 10mm, but Glock factory barrels are known for having short throats, which tends to limit bullet weight.
Food for thought: going up against a big bear with a handgun, penetration is key. All things being equal (bullet weight, construction, velocity), smaller caliber bullets will usually penetrate deeper due to their higher sectional density. A 180-grain .357 bullet will actually out-penetrate a 180-grain 10mm.
The Glock/lead bullet debate rages on with anecdotal evidence going both ways.
After market barrels are relatively cheap insurance against a blown pistol. Also I can't speak to the 10mm, but Glock factory barrels are known for having short throats, which tends to limit bullet weight.
Food for thought: going up against a big bear with a handgun, penetration is key. All things being equal (bullet weight, construction, velocity), smaller caliber bullets will usually penetrate deeper due to their higher sectional density. A 180-grain .357 bullet will actually out-penetrate a 180-grain 10mm.
gwpercle
Member
My personal rule #1
Stay out of the bear's and big cat's territory . He lives there and views you as just another meal .
Walking around alone is foolish.
12 gauge would be the minimum bore size I would want if I disregarded my first rule .
Gary
Stay out of the bear's and big cat's territory . He lives there and views you as just another meal .
Walking around alone is foolish.
12 gauge would be the minimum bore size I would want if I disregarded my first rule .
Gary
shamrocker
Member
my 2 cents worth YMMV
I spent many years fishing back country in Alaska.
started with a 629-1 3" with factory combats.
then has Gary Reeder build me a custom 44mag 4" on a stainless b Blackhawk frame with a 5 shot over length cylinder to take the hammerhead forward weighted hard cast 310 gr.
Finally filed a form one with BATFE and built a SBS rem 870 12 ga. 3" express (full Stock) loaded with slugs. Barrel cut off even with the mag tube.
in all those years I had 2 encounters with grizzlies, the first one scared me out of the 629, the second scared me into the 12 ga.
no shots fired in either, and they ended fine......
however, having the top of then food chain pop her jaws at you from 40 feet will send you home to change your diaper.
the little blackies we have here in Wisconsin, I am plenty comfortable with my 65-5 3"LS loaded with 158 gr.
I spent many years fishing back country in Alaska.
started with a 629-1 3" with factory combats.
then has Gary Reeder build me a custom 44mag 4" on a stainless b Blackhawk frame with a 5 shot over length cylinder to take the hammerhead forward weighted hard cast 310 gr.
Finally filed a form one with BATFE and built a SBS rem 870 12 ga. 3" express (full Stock) loaded with slugs. Barrel cut off even with the mag tube.
in all those years I had 2 encounters with grizzlies, the first one scared me out of the 629, the second scared me into the 12 ga.
no shots fired in either, and they ended fine......
however, having the top of then food chain pop her jaws at you from 40 feet will send you home to change your diaper.
the little blackies we have here in Wisconsin, I am plenty comfortable with my 65-5 3"LS loaded with 158 gr.
fredj338
Member
There are trail guns & trail guns. In big bear country, a 44mag or hvy loaded 45 colt is comforting, if you can shoot it. A 10mm with 200gr wide flat point solids is a good rig for the lower 48. Wild dogs are your most likely threat. Big cats maybe, neither are diff to kill. Bears, make noise while you hike so they can get out of your way. All perfectly handled with a full power 10mm & 200gr solids. If bears are not on the mission, 200gr xtp are a good choice.
BearBio
Member
A LOT of hearsay and rumor there! I have SEVERAL times stood between sows and their cubs! It is simple when you consider evolution: black bears evolved in forests (that's why they are black-lots of shadows) Natural selection favored mothers who sent their cubs up trees! Grizzlies evolved in open plains (and then moved into the forests as man encroached)==therefore lighter colored. No trees around, so Natural Selection favored aggressive sows who defended their young. Statistically, most bear fatalities are caused by young male black bears and are predatory in nature! The rule is: Grizzly attack, play dead. Black bear attack, fight back as long as you can!
Wolves: Non-issue. One documented fatality in North America (Discount the Quebec attack=I read the autopsy and that was a bear compounded with wolf scavenging). More people have been killed by coyotes than wolves and both less than feral/wild dogs.
Shots: Been charged==you WILL not have time for multiple shots (I am qualified for bear spray and firearms by my agency).
Note: The Sirius Dogsled Patrols of Denmark carry Glock G20's (10mm) for polar bears==those guys are on patrol for 4-6 MONTHS at a time in Greenland and see polar bears weekly, if not daily. They chose Glock 10mms because they work! BTW: Any meat on the ice is food to the polar bear and they are bigger than grizzlies.
Many people have killed cougars with axes, sticks, tools (such as shovels) and even rocks. I've stared down 2 while working (as a biologist-I was unarmed!).
Sorry to come down so hard but you misinformation could get someone killed!
I think what bearbio says makes a lot of sense. I very rarely go where there are grizzlies, but am frequently where there are black bears and mountain lions. That said, I almost never see them. My understanding is that black bears may become aggressive not just when cubs are around but if you get between them and a desirable food item and sometimes just due to territorial behavior, particular during mating season.
I can't vouch for the above...it is just what I have read and been told. Most of the times I have seen a bear, it is moving fast in the opposite direction or busy rummaging through a trash can. I think it is much more likely that I would have a problem with a human than a bear or lion, so I am not interested in a .44 or .454. or something like that. I carry a 9mm or .40 but tend to change my ammo to a bonded hollow point that offers somewhat better penetration and is still a good choice for general purposes. Not sure it would really matter, but that is what makes me comfortable. If I felt I needed something more in a handgun, I would load 180gr rounds in a .357 magnum. A 10mm would be fine, but isn't my thing.
If I really was more concerned about bears, I would choose a 12 gauge with Brenneke slugs and typically do have one in camp. Doubt I will ever need it except for some informal skeet shooting (not with the slugs though).
I can't vouch for the above...it is just what I have read and been told. Most of the times I have seen a bear, it is moving fast in the opposite direction or busy rummaging through a trash can. I think it is much more likely that I would have a problem with a human than a bear or lion, so I am not interested in a .44 or .454. or something like that. I carry a 9mm or .40 but tend to change my ammo to a bonded hollow point that offers somewhat better penetration and is still a good choice for general purposes. Not sure it would really matter, but that is what makes me comfortable. If I felt I needed something more in a handgun, I would load 180gr rounds in a .357 magnum. A 10mm would be fine, but isn't my thing.
If I really was more concerned about bears, I would choose a 12 gauge with Brenneke slugs and typically do have one in camp. Doubt I will ever need it except for some informal skeet shooting (not with the slugs though).
Well good to here. My local shop had a used but like new Glock 29SF I picked-up for $513 OTD.
I was just going to stick with my S&W 66 w/ 180 gr. HC or my G23 with Underwoods 180 Gr. HC, but I couldn't resist the deal on the 29. Already started modifying it to my liking. Prior owner replaced the trigger. Now I just need some HC ammo.
fredj338
Member
Well good to here. My local shop had a used but like new Glock 29SF I picked-up for $513 OTD.
I was just going to stick with my S&W 66 w/ 180 gr. HC or my G23 with Underwoods 180 Gr. HC, but I couldn't resist the deal on the 29. Already started modifying it to my liking. Prior owner replaced the trigger. Now I just need some HC ammo.
I like my g20sf, but I fail to see the point of buying a sf version then putting a blocky rubber sleeve o. It?? Ditch that, get grip tape or stipple it.
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I like the palm swell of the Hogue sleeve. I've got big hands. If I don't like it, I'll go with some tape on.
Okie21
Member
All my pistols are 9mm. I don't ever buy +P ammo. So I should stay out of the forest. Or make sure I can run faster that my companion.
Sent from my Moto G (5S) Plus using Tapatalk
Sent from my Moto G (5S) Plus using Tapatalk
LoboGunLeather
US Veteran
More bear stories, please!
gwpercle
Member
I don't have a bear story but I do have a Big Cat story.
Valero , the Jaguar at the New Orleans Zoo , got out of his cage about 7:20 am , by the time they had him tranquilized 8:15 am that bad boy had killed :
5 Alpaca's
3 Foxes
1 Emu
After seeing this and reading about a fellow riding a bicycle who was attacked by a cougar ....I think I would much rather run into a bear that a big cat... Big cats are vicious .
Valero didn't eat any of the animals he killed...he just killed them. Zoo director said the hole he escaped from has been repaired and he's back in his habitat. They also got new alpaca's , foxes and an emu.
We plan to go see them soon.
Gary
Valero , the Jaguar at the New Orleans Zoo , got out of his cage about 7:20 am , by the time they had him tranquilized 8:15 am that bad boy had killed :
5 Alpaca's
3 Foxes
1 Emu
After seeing this and reading about a fellow riding a bicycle who was attacked by a cougar ....I think I would much rather run into a bear that a big cat... Big cats are vicious .
Valero didn't eat any of the animals he killed...he just killed them. Zoo director said the hole he escaped from has been repaired and he's back in his habitat. They also got new alpaca's , foxes and an emu.
We plan to go see them soon.
Gary
Well good to here. My local shop had a used but like new Glock 29SF I picked-up for $513 OTD.
I was just going to stick with my S&W 66 w/ 180 gr. HC or my G23 with Underwoods 200 Gr. HC, but I couldn't resist the deal on the 29. Already started modifying it to my liking. Prior owner replaced the trigger. Now I just need some HC ammo.
I took this out shooting yesterday. After 26 rounds of 10mm, I was done (a few WW Silvertips and Blazer TMJ). I did feel the Hogue helped with perceived recoil. I didn't really care for the flat trigger the previous owner added, so I'll probably swap it out for a factory.
I'll probably load some light 10 for recreational use and pick-up so HC for trail use. Or just buy a .40 barrel for plinking.
I also tried the Underwood hardcast ammo I bought for my Glock 23 .40 (200 gr. at 1000 fps). Wasn't bad at all. And very accurate.
A local shop had a Taurus 5 shot snubby in .41 Magnum, but after shooting the 10mm, I didn't want another small fire breather. I'm sure the 10mm is all I need for where I'm at.
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fredj338
Member
Full 10mm bucks a bit, so for me, I want the full size G20sf. The lighter the gun the more the recoil.
Alright I changed my mind. For $371 OTD I couldn't resist. Besides, I already had .41 ammo and am set-up for reloading .41. And since these are now discontinued, I probably won't come across another. I've already ordered a new bigger Hogue grip to help with recoil.
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RGVshooter
Member
Good all around choice.
You can't go wrong with a revolver. If you reload you can dumb down the charge to almost nothing all the way up to firebreather. Revolvers don't have a slide and recoil spring to work with... Great woods guns!
On the south Texas trails/woods I carry a 642 with mostly 38 special shot shells since snakes are the most common critter I run across. Although we have a lot of feral hogs and a few cats roaming around, most of the ones I've seen don't want nothing to do with a human...
You can't go wrong with a revolver. If you reload you can dumb down the charge to almost nothing all the way up to firebreather. Revolvers don't have a slide and recoil spring to work with... Great woods guns!
On the south Texas trails/woods I carry a 642 with mostly 38 special shot shells since snakes are the most common critter I run across. Although we have a lot of feral hogs and a few cats roaming around, most of the ones I've seen don't want nothing to do with a human...
Hee hee!
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