[ALASKACAJUN]

I bought the Springfield Armory XD40 a while back and am planning on taking it along on my hunting trips. I know this isn't exactly what you would call a good choice for bear protection, but was wondering what I should be useing for stopping power. I'll be carrying my .300 Wby so I'm not to concerned about not having enough gun. but in the event that I do have to draw down on a PO'd griz, what would ya'll suggest I hit him with?

-Clint :D

[Zak Smith]

Make sure to remove the front sight, so when he.....


180gr FMJ is likely to penetrate more than anything else.

[surfinUSA]

They've been taken with a 9mm. I like the 40 S&W alot, but for bear (black or brown) I like the 44 mag alot better.

[Newton]

I recall reading about a hiker who took down a 200lb black bear with a .40 caliber SiG P239, I don't recall the round used.

Don't laugh too hard, the bear didn't ;)

[Jamie C.]

but in the event that I do have to draw down on a PO'd griz, what would ya'll suggest I hit him with?

Well, if the .300 fails, or you can't use it for some reason, probably the best thing to do is shoot your guide with the .40.... That way you have a chance of getting away from the griz while he's busy with the guide. ;) :D :rolleyes:


Seriously though, if I absolutely HAD to shoot a grizzly with a .40 S&W, I think I'd have to side with Zak and go with 180 gr. FMJ.


J.C.

[nemesis]

I know this isn't exactly what you would call a good choice for bear protection, but was wondering what I should be useing for stopping power.

Don't worry about it. It's bound to give the bear a few laughs.

I've been lucky. I've stumbled over bears more times than I remember and I've walked away from them all.

As usual, someone who has never woken up with bears in his camp has determined that they will fall quickly to his chosen human repellant.

Support your right to arm bears!

How many roads must a man walk down until he becomes a man. How many times must the cannonballs fly before they are forever banned. The answer my friend is blowin' in the wind, the answer is blowin' in the wind.

[skwang]

I use my .45 acp or .44 mag for bear protection at times (when I can't carry the 12 guage with 7+1 of the heaveyst and fastest slugs I can find), hard ball ammo should penitrate and it will be all about shot placement. Do I feel underarmed with the 45? yes and no. the 44 will hit a lot harder but I can get more acurate shots off with the 45 faster, either way it will be about shot placement (head) I feel far more confident that at the range that I would decided to shoot the 45 will put more lead on target.

I have drawn the .44 on a griz once, momma to one side of the trail cubs on the other me in the middle (very bad place to be but it was my fault) shot a round into the air and the cubs ran off and fortunatly momma bear joined them. I feel very strongly that if momma wanted to rip me a new one she would have been in the right. I still would have fired the gun empty but in a bear human contact it is 9 times out of 10 the humans fault.

[middy]

Like Zak said, use heavy FMJ; JHP may not penetrate enough.

[ALASKACAJUN]

Just to clarify myself, I'll say that I bought the XD for plinking and home defense... Not for bear defense! But I do want to carry it when I go out! I was looking at the FMJ's in 180 gr. so I guess I was just looking for ya'll's opinion on the matter...

If worse comes to worse and I have to shoot a bear for whatever reason with the .40, I want it to do at least some damage. I've got a .44 but it is HEAVY, and I will be climbing mountains, so weight is the issue.

Thanks for the opinions...

-Clint :D

[mrhuckins]

You might want to bring your Kel-tek .380 too.

[SLCDave]

Something Hard Cast and heavy would be my choice.

[Bobarino]

Cor-Bon makes a 140 grain "DPX" round that might be ok. its advertised at 1,250 fps and 486 ft/lbs of energy and uses the Barnes solid copper "X" hunting bullet that is designed to give deeper penetration than standard JHP's.

Bobby

[spacemanspiff]

:scrutiny:

ya know what....i've beaten this dead horse so much, i dont even wanna give my opinion on this kind of question anymore.

[Guns_and_Labs]

I wonder if you could rebuild it to 10mm...

How about handloaded 220 gr Precision hard cast FP's?

[Ultima-Ratio]

If ya handload?
We've had some good luck with both 200gn solid and Hornady XTPs at over 1050fps down Rabbit Creek way.

[Drakejake]

Several bears, including grizzlies, have been killed with .357 magnum, but it isn't recommended for this purpose.

Drakejake

[Otherguy Overby]

Finally, now I know why my 32acp Seecamp came without sights.

What would Larry say? :neener:

[ALASKACAJUN]

LOL... great answer's guy's keep 'em comin'...

I figured this would turn out bein' one of those, WHAT THE HECK IS HE SMOKIN', threads...

Spacmanspiff, this is more out of fun than anything else, sorry if you don't wanna play along... :D

-Clint

[KillitnGrillit]

The best bear gun is a .22,shoot your buddy in the leg then run like crazy. :D

[spacemanspiff]

oh i knew it was in jest, cajun, but it wasnt too long ago on another board that someone actually queried what 40s&w loads would be good for bear defense, and it wasnt in jest.

people kept on saying things like '9mm has killed bears before so it must be all thats necessary", and as far as rifles were concerned, "30'06 and .308 have killed countless bears during hunting so they are good enough for defense."

look at it this way, least i didnt flame ya for asking this question here! :neener:

[Highland Ranger]

Several bears, including grizzlies, have been killed with .357 magnum, but it isn't recommended for this purpose

Probably could kill them with a feather duster if you hit them juuuuuuust right.

:-)

[XD40Assassin]

Has anyone here actually shot a bear? I wouldnt doubt my .40 for a second. That thing packs a nice amount of punch and surely the bear would be in pain. Id make the first couple of shots count and then if the sucker starts running at you (in serious pain of course) unload on em.

[waktasz]

Remember, if you and a friend are being chased by a bear, you only have to outrun one of them.

[Longbow]

My choice for a .40 cal bear round is...... a 10mm Hornady JHP! :D

[spacemanspiff]

Has anyone here actually shot a bear? I wouldnt doubt my .40 for a second. That thing packs a nice amount of punch and surely the bear would be in pain. Id make the first couple of shots count and then if the sucker starts running at you (in serious pain of course) unload on em.

now see, this is what i love! a guy with a sense of humor!!!!


least, i hope its humor........

[sumpnz]

I bought a .44mag because I felt my .40S&W was too light following a similar thread. If you want a light weight gun in a more potent caliber, check out the S&W 329 revolver. It's a .44mag gun with a Scandium frame and Titanium cylinder. Empty weight is only 26oz. I'd hate to even try full house .44mag in it (my Redhawk hurt enough and it's a good 48ish oz). Spendy at $700+, but if you're into mountain climbing you've probably got enough money to afford that.

If you're commited to a .40, it's better than nothing, but far from "ideal." Check out Buffalo Bore's Heavy .40's (http://www.buffalobore.com/ammunition/default.htm#40sw) for what is likely your best bet against bear in your current gun.

[boldkharma]

Its already been hinted at....Take that bullet and put it in a 10mm case, put that round in a 10mm pistol, and your good to go.

[ALASKACAJUN]

Uummmm, I've shot a few bears, but never with a handgun...
:D

Don't plan on leavin the .300 at home either...

-Clint

[halvey]

Has anyone here actually shot a bear? I wouldnt doubt my .40 for a second. That thing packs a nice amount of punch and surely the bear would be in pain. Id make the first couple of shots count and then if the sucker starts running at you (in serious pain of course) unload on em. That's the funniest thing I've ever read. :rolleyes:

Get a .44 mag or bigger and get a good DA trigger on it. Then if the SHTF, you can unload on the bear.

A .40 is the wrong tool for the job. It's like cutting wood with a hammer.