General Rule of Thumb For Bear Loads

[Kid44]

I recently saw somewhere on one forum or another someone's general rule of thumb for bear handguns but can't find it now. Thought someone here may know. Went something like "caliber begins with a 4, bullet grain weight starts with a 3 and velocity starts at 1400". Can anyone help out??

 

[6518John]

Cartridge selection? Well, I really believe any handgun you bring to any fight should have a name that starts with at least a 4. That’s really important if you are fighting a bear! I think the rule of “4-3-1” should apply: a bullet diameter that starts with at least a 4, a bullet weight that starts with at least a 3 and a muzzle velocity of at least 1000 fps.

American Hunter | Packing Pistols In Bear Country

 

[shocker]

Defense Against Bears with Pistols: 97% Success rate, 37 Incidents

 

[CDR_Glock]

I recently saw somewhere on one forum or another someone's general rule of thumb for bear handguns but can't find it now. Thought someone here may know. Went something like "caliber begins with a 4, bullet grain weight starts with a 3 and velocity starts at 1400". Can anyone help out??

4-3-1 Rule For Bear: 4x caliber, 300 gr, 1000 FPS

Hard cast lead


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk Pro

 

[ISCS Yoda]

Fascinating, totally fascinating. May it never happen to any of us.......

 

[Univibe]

I've always thought that a .357 would be good, if loaded hot with 180 grain hard cast. It would penetrate the skull and do the job.

 

[ddixie884]

Big, heavy, loud and fast...............

 

[texmex]

How about a Glock 10mm loaded with FMJ. Lots of chances to penetrate to the CNS. At least you get lots of chances to stop the bear before you use that last round on yourself.

 

[Loyaljeeper]

How about a Glock 10mm loaded with FMJ. Lots of chances to penetrate to the CNS. At least you get lots of chances to stop the bear before you use that last round on yourself.

I hate I am contributing to another bear thread. However, a lot of people in Alaska are relying on Glocks in 10mm for that very reason. A friend in Alaska said 10mm ammo is very plentiful, or was, in Alaska. They are easy to carry, easy to shoot, and relatively reliable with low maintenance.

 

[Herky Bird]

The best bear load is anything that one can shoot effectively, has the momentum, and the bullet construction to do the job.
Side note, Dutch Sirius dogsled patrol uses the Glock 20. Not sure which manufacturer or projectile type they use, never been officially published.

 

[BB57]

Big, heavy, loud and fast...............

That applies to grizzly bears as well...

 

[6518John]

I hate I am contributing to another bear thread.

It’s akin to rubber-necking the wreck on the side of the freeway—sometimes you just can’t help yourself. I took the bait hook line and sinker, but will try to spit the hook next time.

 

[mikerjf]

Bella Twin.

(I guess I have to provide a link, now that the "Bella Twins" are world-famous... )

Bella Twin, the .22 Used to Take the 1953 World Record Grizzly, and More

 

[Rpg]

I love a bear thread!

 

[rosewood]

Defense Against Bears with Pistols: 97% Success rate, 37 Incidents

Sounds like bears are not as tough as the keyboard commandos would like us to believe.

Rosewood

 

[Kid44]

Absolutely correct you are.

Fascinating, totally fascinating. May it never happen to any of us.......

You are correct.

 

[Kid44]

My iIntent was not to be a bear thread, I was just trying to find

I love a bear thread!

some info I had seen in the past.

 

[Oldfrt]

Just for the sake of the bears, how about 454, with 300 grain XTP, in a 460V. The only bad thing is it's heavy as heck to lug around, the AR 15 in 50 Beauwulf weighs a lot less and is easier to carry with a proper sling.

 

[ancient-one]

Why stop with something beginning with a 4 when you can get a 5. Won't come much closer to breaking your wrist than some of the 4's.

 

[Buford57]

If you aren't confident with what you are carrying either it isn't big enough or you aren't good enough with it. Only one condition can be fixed with hardware.