big's link says the black bear weighs an average between 130-310 lbs. There's a chance you'll see freaks, though. But around here in eastern WA, all black bear I see are around 150-200 lbs, about the same as a man. I know the locals are satisfied using .357 mag to hunt them. A .40 might still be on the light end, but the guys at the local shop may know more about the size of the bears in that area, some of them are probably hunters who go after the animals there.
.40 for hiking?
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islandphish
Member
I shoot automatics better than revolvers AND I think that .40 is big enough for black bears. If you are worried about griz then carry a shotgun.
sorensen440
member
There's no kill like overkill
I would deffinatly go bigger if bears were my concern
+1 for bear spray as well
I would deffinatly go bigger if bears were my concern
+1 for bear spray as well
Cosmoline
Member
The penalty for bringing bear threads back from the dead is getting fed to the bears 
HMMurdock
Member
Some say a .40 barely buts down a 200lb human. No way it's gonna take down a bear unless you run up on it and empty a clip in its eye. The salesman was just trying to sell a gun. .308 rifle rounds struggle to take down some of the biggest bear.
10mm can take down small bear, and a .357 would not be unreasonable but anything under .44 isn't really suggested.
I hope your friend doesn't need his .40 because it'll be useless as anything other than a noisemaker in that scenario.
TRL
10mm can take down small bear, and a .357 would not be unreasonable but anything under .44 isn't really suggested.
I hope your friend doesn't need his .40 because it'll be useless as anything other than a noisemaker in that scenario.
TRL
357wheelgunner
Member
I remember an article recently about a fisherman in Alaska killing a grizzly with a 9mm and a lucky shot to it's eye.
I always bring a K-frame loaded with 158 gr. gold dots wherever I go, including hiking. I think it would be fine (as long as it wasn't my day to die) to kill a black bear before it got me. But, if I were planning on spending any length of time out there I'd take my 870 with slugs. A 14" barreled 870 would be nice and handy in the woods....
I always bring a K-frame loaded with 158 gr. gold dots wherever I go, including hiking. I think it would be fine (as long as it wasn't my day to die) to kill a black bear before it got me. But, if I were planning on spending any length of time out there I'd take my 870 with slugs. A 14" barreled 870 would be nice and handy in the woods....
MD_Willington
Member
Ministry of Environment Game Wardens in Canada are issued Glock in .40, they used to have S&W wheel guns in .357...
All sorts of back woods critters in BC, Black Bears, Brown Bears, Cougars, Pot Growers...
All sorts of back woods critters in BC, Black Bears, Brown Bears, Cougars, Pot Growers...
Mannlicher
Member
fear of bears in Nebraska? Oh my,.
I carry a .22 S&W revolver when I hike.
I carry a .22 S&W revolver when I hike.
tnieto2004
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Shot placement is more important .. If your deadly with a .40 and not comfortable with a .44 mag .. A .40 would be more effective
Cloudpeak
Member
Shot placement is probably the most important thing to consider. I have seen several 1,000 lb plus bovines put down with one 22 cal shot to the head. In the old days, lots of game was put down with firearms that would be considered way underpowered by today's standards.
I often wonder about folks who are buying 7mm & 300 Win mags to shoot antelope and deer. To cover up poor marksmanship? I was at our local sight-in days (a few days to help out of town hunters check their rifles) and watched a tyro with a 7 mm empty a box of shells at a target. He didn't even hit the giant target frame, let alone the target. He said, "Hell, that's close enough". I guess he thought the extra power would cover up poor marksmanship and still allow him to bag his game.
I hike the Bighorn mountains on a regular basis. I haven't carried but have considered it but I'm not really worried about animal attacks. I think we have more to worry about with humans. We have a few bears and way too many mountain lions, IMO. Hunter's have killed several mountain lions within a few miles of my house and I've had tracks in my back yard. But, with mountain lions, you'll probably never see them coming as they sneak up behind you and snap your neck. Wearing a backpack might save you but you still have lots of problems if you survive the initial attack. I guess I think, as long as the lion is putting the hurt on me, it might be nice if I could draw a weapon and put some hurt on him before I die.
I don't think I've ever heard of anyone being attacked by wolves or coyotes. Wild dogs are a different matter and I have come face to face with two pit bull looking dogs while hiking with my wife. I had no gun or pepper spray and I was pretty darned nervous, especially for my wife. I felt pretty helpless and might just decided to carry for dog and human risk factor.
Cloudpeak
I often wonder about folks who are buying 7mm & 300 Win mags to shoot antelope and deer. To cover up poor marksmanship? I was at our local sight-in days (a few days to help out of town hunters check their rifles) and watched a tyro with a 7 mm empty a box of shells at a target. He didn't even hit the giant target frame, let alone the target. He said, "Hell, that's close enough". I guess he thought the extra power would cover up poor marksmanship and still allow him to bag his game.
I hike the Bighorn mountains on a regular basis. I haven't carried but have considered it but I'm not really worried about animal attacks. I think we have more to worry about with humans. We have a few bears and way too many mountain lions, IMO. Hunter's have killed several mountain lions within a few miles of my house and I've had tracks in my back yard. But, with mountain lions, you'll probably never see them coming as they sneak up behind you and snap your neck. Wearing a backpack might save you but you still have lots of problems if you survive the initial attack. I guess I think, as long as the lion is putting the hurt on me, it might be nice if I could draw a weapon and put some hurt on him before I die.
I don't think I've ever heard of anyone being attacked by wolves or coyotes. Wild dogs are a different matter and I have come face to face with two pit bull looking dogs while hiking with my wife. I had no gun or pepper spray and I was pretty darned nervous, especially for my wife. I felt pretty helpless and might just decided to carry for dog and human risk factor.
Cloudpeak
Longbow
Member
a 10mm would be more appropriate. In Glock 20 prefferably.
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countryrebel
Member
I take my glock 23c on hikes with me in black bear country and I feel completely safe with it.Glock 23c,Galco shoulder holster,one in the chamber and three mag's=40 rounds.
Shoney
Member
SHINOLA!!!!!!!!!!
You have to snigger and giggle at the majority of posts here, that sprinkle this thread with equine road apples, because they don't know Shinola about bears. Note how many quote articles they have read. If indeed they have even seen a bear, it was most likely seen from either the comfort of their arm chair on TV or from the seat of their auto in a park, or at the zoo. Their proclamations on what to use to kill bear are outrageous.
I grew up in Yellowstone Park, worked in Glacier Park, and can recite volumes of my personal experiences with black and grizzly bear, both in and out of the park setting.
The anatomy of a bear (except for the skull) is very close in appearance to a human. I have seen numerous people, who view the hanging skinned carcass of a bear, think it was a human.
The simple truth, whatever you feel comfortable with to take on a human varmint, will be adequate for black bear.
You have to snigger and giggle at the majority of posts here, that sprinkle this thread with equine road apples, because they don't know Shinola about bears. Note how many quote articles they have read. If indeed they have even seen a bear, it was most likely seen from either the comfort of their arm chair on TV or from the seat of their auto in a park, or at the zoo. Their proclamations on what to use to kill bear are outrageous.
I grew up in Yellowstone Park, worked in Glacier Park, and can recite volumes of my personal experiences with black and grizzly bear, both in and out of the park setting.
The anatomy of a bear (except for the skull) is very close in appearance to a human. I have seen numerous people, who view the hanging skinned carcass of a bear, think it was a human.
The simple truth, whatever you feel comfortable with to take on a human varmint, will be adequate for black bear.
I kill bears with my recurve bow so it is all shot placement unless you are talking about some freaky lucky shot while a bear is charging toward you, then it is STILL shot placement! Do an internet search-you have a MUCH better chance of surviving a charge using pepper spray than getting a kill shot with a handgun. The chances of getting attacked by a black bear are extremely slim but can happen.
A 40 is an OK round for cougar and two legged predators. If wild hogs are around, I'd rather have at least a 45 with +P's or a 10mm, better yet a .44 Mag.
For bears, pepper spray has proved its worth. I've spent most of my life in grizzly country, and now live in NC. Our black bears are quite often bigger than the grizzlies of the Yellowstone area. No pistol can stop a mad bear in its tracks at the close distances where they are a problem. Go with the pepper spray, its record is very good. If you don't trust the pepper spray, put your faith in a 30/06.
For bears, pepper spray has proved its worth. I've spent most of my life in grizzly country, and now live in NC. Our black bears are quite often bigger than the grizzlies of the Yellowstone area. No pistol can stop a mad bear in its tracks at the close distances where they are a problem. Go with the pepper spray, its record is very good. If you don't trust the pepper spray, put your faith in a 30/06.
Lone_Gunman
Member
How many people who have responded to this thread have seen a bear in the wild?
How many have ever been threatened by a bear in the wild?
How many have actually shot one that was threatening them?
How many have ever been threatened by a bear in the wild?
How many have actually shot one that was threatening them?
I've seen several black bears in the wild. Like I said in my post, most are smaller 150 - 250 lbs. Most in the Cascades of Washington, but a couple in the Olympics and Oregon coast Range. However I have seen two that were much larger, closer to 500 lbs. One in the North Cascades at about 3,500 ft and one on Mt Rainier at 6,500 ft.
The only one I have been close to threatened was in the North Cascades. It was not the one I personally saw, but it was known for terrorizing hikers through a certain pass. I came across a hiker that had his camp destroyed just hours earlier in the night while he stayed in a tree watching. That's enough to convince me that bear attacks are possible, although not typical.
The thing is that although most bears are on the shy side, when they are surly they can be very persistent and aggressive (usually spoiled by contact with humans and food waste). friends that hunt bears have mixed experiences. I know a few that hunt them successfully with a .30-30 and .44 revolvers, while at least one I know had trouble dropping one with several shots to the chest with a .308 and 165 gr.
I wonder what your experience is, Lone?
The only one I have been close to threatened was in the North Cascades. It was not the one I personally saw, but it was known for terrorizing hikers through a certain pass. I came across a hiker that had his camp destroyed just hours earlier in the night while he stayed in a tree watching. That's enough to convince me that bear attacks are possible, although not typical.
The thing is that although most bears are on the shy side, when they are surly they can be very persistent and aggressive (usually spoiled by contact with humans and food waste). friends that hunt bears have mixed experiences. I know a few that hunt them successfully with a .30-30 and .44 revolvers, while at least one I know had trouble dropping one with several shots to the chest with a .308 and 165 gr.
I wonder what your experience is, Lone?
MD_Willington
Member
Seen a bear in the wild?, School hike in the 6th grade.
I've been ~50 feet from a Black Bear on Mt Becher, Vancouver Island BC. The bear was more interested in my lunch than it was interested in me. Threw my lunch downhill, I went uphill and joined the rest of the class.
Other than that, the blister on my heal was the most painfull part of the ordeal.
Have also met up with wolves, cow and calf swamp donkeys etcetera.. they don't like people too much.
I've been ~50 feet from a Black Bear on Mt Becher, Vancouver Island BC. The bear was more interested in my lunch than it was interested in me. Threw my lunch downhill, I went uphill and joined the rest of the class.
Other than that, the blister on my heal was the most painfull part of the ordeal.
Have also met up with wolves, cow and calf swamp donkeys etcetera.. they don't like people too much.
sorensen440
member
If your "friend" goes with a 40 the sound will likely scare it away
goes with a 40 the sound will likely scare it awayRichard2003
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I hope his gun was bigger than the bear's.
<<A guy in Alaska recently killed a large black bear that had broken into his house with a GLOCK .40.
<<A guy in Alaska recently killed a large black bear that had broken into his house with a GLOCK .40.
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