handguns for grizzly defence

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sureshot

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My family and myself have resently begun hiking the hills but we are woried about bears
I have multiple rifles and shotguns but do not want to lug them around.
I would like to buy a handgun but theres a catch, i want my wife to be able to carry it. We are wondering if a 40 S&W would bring down a grizzly efficently and what would be better an auto or a revolver. There is also a large population of moutian lions and black bears in our area.
 
yah thats alright i have some but the wife and i have experience with the local bears i chased one off the beach with a chainsaw and bearspray. the spray just got its attention more than anything else but thanks for your consideration.
 
The answer to your question is "no". My advice would be to learn more about bear behavior and avoidance.

The only handgun I personally would consider as a primary sidearm for grizzly defense would be the S&W 500.
 
No - you really need something like a .454 Casull or .44 mag or Ruger Redhawk in .45 Colt with heavy Buffalo Bore or Garret Cartridge ammunition. Your wife could shoot it - may not like it but it beats the alterantive. Check out the Ruger .454 Alaskan
 
Was on the web two yrs ago about a griz taking six shots from a 44 mag and running off. They tracked it down and finished it off. We only have blacks and kitties around here so I only carry a 357 wheelie. If going into griz country I would carry a shotgun and your wife a large revolver. Do as the guides do and don't mess around with your life. Carry enough to kill the predators before they kill you. There is a joke about wearing bells and carrying spray. The newbie asked the ranger how he could tell if griz were in the area. He replied, just look for scat with small bells in it that smells like bear spray. Fast moving heavy balls of lead will stop them. Anything less just makes you an appetizer.
 
You should get as big a handgun as you and your wife can handle without being too afraid to shoot it. A 40 S&W is better than nothing but probably not much better when a grizzley is concerned.

As far as whether it should be a revolver or a semiauto, that depends on whether you are both willing and able to get sufficient practice to shoot, load and clear jams in a semiauto. A revolver is much less likely to jam and doesn't require as much strength to load and cock as a semiauto. Also, most semiautos aren't chambered for cartridges I'd consider good bear defense.

As far as cartridges are concerned, I would consider the 357 Magnum (marginal), 41 Magnum, the 44 Magnum, the 454 Casull, the 460 S&W Magnum, the 50 AE and the 500 S&W Magnum. Be aware that even the 357 Magnum has quite a bite in the snub nosed version and the lowly 44 Magnum without good grips will take the skin off your hands. I would suggest you try before you buy if possible.
 
The conventional wisdom is that .44 Magnum, loaded as hot as possible, is a marginal performer on large bears. The other heavyweight .45 and .50 cal revolver rounds are counted a bit better. (Shotguns running slugs are a much better choice, and potent rifle calibers in quick-cycling repeaters better still.)

Effectiveness of any handgun round to deter an attack depends entirely on the skill and training of the user to be able to make repeated solid hits to the vital central nervous system areas -- under a great deal of stress/fear. Does your wife have this skill set? Is she going to be willing to put in some practice time and shoot that hot-loaded .44 Mag, .454 Casull, .460 or .500 enough (and regularly refresh her skills) that she can hit the bobbing pie-plate sized "off switch" of a charging bear?

Hanging a big revolver on her belt and assuming that she'll be able to use it effectively is probably foolish.

(Long arms, specifically a shorter-barreled shotgun, would be a more effective route ... even if they aren't quite as convenient to carry. Most shooters can learn to make effective hits more reliably, quicker, with a long-arm than a handgun.)

Making a couple of guesses about your situation, I'd throw in my vote for "bear spray" as well as it seems to be a little more forgiving in its application and doesn't rely quite so much on skill of the user. (And learning all the other tips the park service has written on the subject, like making noise, keeping aware of "bear" indications in the area, etc.) You and she will have to make the decisions of what to carry in the end, of course.

Regarding the initial question... . 40 S&W, .45 ACP, .357, etc.? No. Just no. This isn't a mugger at a Quicky-Mart. This is a very large animal that is generally hunted with powerful rifles -- and then shot from a distance or position of safety, and you're attempting to stop it's charge when it is enraged and running at you across level ground. No room there for, "well a shotgun's so inconvenient..."

-Sam
 
Area awareness is always your best defense; not everyone roaming the woods is either going to be very loud or very quiet.

There is no guarantee to be able to kill a bear before it kills you, anyone who says there's a gun big enough is a fool (typical bad advice mixed with good here).

Just carry bear spray first and foremost, and then carry a revolver in as big a caliber as you can shoot accurately. A revolver has less that can go wrong in a time of great need like bear defense.
 
"...we are worried about bears..." If you think Yogi is out there waiting for you, stay home. No offence, but Yogi isn't interested in you. You smell of nothing but trouble to him. Getting between a sow and her cubs is a different thing. A bunch of jingle bells hung on you is effect. Lets Yogi and Cindy know you're there and they'll avoid you.
"...wondering if a 40 S&W would bring down a grizzly efficently..." No. Neither does any other handgun cartridge give you a 100% guarantee of stopping any bear.
"...Hanging a big revolver..." A big, heavy revolver with large grips.
"...my vote for "bear spray"..." If Yogi is close enough for it to work, it's too late.
 
I have a 44 mag Taurus Tracker with a 2.5'' barrel, ported. The thing hurts to shoot more then 15-20 rounds of 240 grain factory ammo, plus the ported barrell makes it unpleasant to shoot even with hearing protection. Been thinking about getting rid of it since we don't have Brownies in Oregon, I worry more about mountain lions and IMO 9mm,.40, .357 or 45 acp is enough.
I suggests some heavy bear spray, everyone is looking for the magic cartridge that can take down bears with no recoil, even me.
 
My retired bullet caster used Auto Mag that used cut down 308/30-06 cases for large animal protection when hunting. He said forget about using JHP/FMJ since softer lead core would not penetrate the thicker skin/hide of bears and would just pi** the bear off.

He recommended use of 44 Mag with hard cast SWC that penetrated the skin and often broke bones inside.

He also recommended the 45 Super using hard cast SWC bullets for large animal defense (200gr SWC at 1,200 ft/s). http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/.45_Super I considered getting a conversion slide kit for my 1911 at one time, but leaned towards 10mm.

I want my wife to be able to carry it. We are wondering if a 40 S&W would bring down a grizzly efficiently and what would be better an auto or a revolver.
Click to expand...
I doubt the 155/180gr hard cast lead TC 40S&W bullet would be effective against a grizzly even IF you could hit it (they move very quickly). I think the 10mm (200gr at 1,300 ft/s) pistol shooting hard cast lead bullet would be better than 40S&W (165/180gr at 1150/950 ft/s).

Glock 20/29 would be good candidates (especially for more round count over 45 Super option), but personally, I would choose to carry the G20 with SWC bullets if I had a destiny suicidal meeting with a grizzly.
 
As someone who lives in rural Alaska. (bear country)
I am amused, at some of these replies. :scrutiny:

Rule # 1
ANY hand gun, is better then pepper spray!
Bears love pepper on there food, before eating! ;)
So bring it along! :what:

# 2 The majority of the time, you have far more problems with black bears.

# 3 I have killed 5 Grizzlies with handguns. Ranging from .357, .41., .45, .44 mag.cal. (I don't recommend the .357, but it was my C/C)

# 4 The BIG .454, .500 are nice to own. But shoot 20 rounds out of it, and carry one for 6-8 hours before buying one. Most will think twice!

# 5 My wife is 4'11" and she has been carrying her .41 Blackhawk, for 25 years.

Refer to my earlier post "Killer Grizzly".
And see the pictures, of the bear killed by a .38.

Your BEST defense, is COMMON SENSE!

And a 12 ga., or 45-70!! :D

Good night folks!
 
My vote is for the .460 Smith & Wesson. You can shoot .460s or .454 Casulls for defense against a bear, and .45lc for practice.
 
As for carrying a shotgun or repeaters rifle I wouldn't do that in any situation because my grandfather was mauled by a grizzly outside of dies lake in BC Canada
a short barreled shotgun would be great but I live in Canada and our gun laws do not allow them without a special liscence
so this leaves me with the option of a pistol/ revolver my wife needs to be able to shoot it and I has to fit her hands the bersa 380 is a good size for her but a it comes in a small calibre we found a semiauto .40 s&w but I have been looking for other guns I'm Open to suggestions that aren't ridiculous like a .50
thank you
 
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