I spent a big part of yesterday reading what everyone think a good carry handgun in the woods. It's what I do to "rationalize" that I need another gun. Obviously the recommendations were all over the place from 22LR to 500S&W, most posters have obviously never been to the woods let alone encountering hostile animals. A few experienced posters gave great advices but obviously we are all biased by our own personal experience and sometime a lack of clarity. For example, 10 mm Glock and 357 magnum are most often recommended but many do not mention the bullet selection and why comparable bullets in another caliber can perform the same function with similar results?
So I am thinking if there is an "objective" & "quantifiable" criteria (in a gun forum?) that you will recommend as "minimum" carrying gun in the woods? Everyone like to use bears as ultimate challenge in the woods so let's assume that is the criteria. (2-legged varmints with pink soft flesh are much easier). I live in the SE so only black bears and they are not that big (< 200 lbm). What "minimum" bullet weight and muzzle velocity will you recommend as a carry gun?
Is it a 360 gr bullet at MV ~ 1,000 fps? 1,400 fps?
255 gr bullet at MV ~ 1,000 fps?
200 gr bullet at MV ~ 1,000 fps? 1,200 fps? 1,400 fps?
180 gr bullet at MV ~ 1,100 fps?
How about 147 gr bullet at MV ~ 1,100 fps?
What is "adequate" against black bears? Please specify what size black bear in your experience.
Some examples I pulled from Buffalo Bore and Double Tap:
9mm+P
9MM +P OUTDOORSMAN 147 gr. Hard Cast FN 1,100 fps (BB)
9mm+P 147gr FMJ Flat Point Ballistics : 147gr @ 1135fps / 421ft. lbs. from a G17. Glock 19 velocity - 1120fps. (DT)
40 S&W
40 S&W OUTDOORSMAN Std Pressure Low Flash 200 gr. HC-FN (1,000 fps) (BB)
40 S&W 200gr. Hardcast Solid™ Ballistics : 200gr. @ 1050fps / 490 ft/lbs- Glock 23 (4.0"bbl), Glock 22 4.5" bbl - 1106fps, Glock 27 3.5" bbl - 1009fps (DT)
45 ACP
45 ACP +P OUTDOORSMAN Ammo - 255 gr. Hard Cast FN (925 fps/M.E. 484 ft. lbs.) (BB)
45ACP+P 255gr. SWC Hardcast. Ballistics : 875fps - 434 ft./lbs. - 5" bbl. (DT)
357 Magnum
HEAVY 357 MAG OUTDOORSMAN 180 gr. Hard Cast LFN-GC Hard cast LFN = 1375 fps from 4 inch S&W L frame Mt. Gun (BB)
357 Magnum 180gr Hardcast Solid™ Bullet: 180gr. Wide Flat Nose Gas Check Hardcast, Velocity: 1300fps / 4" Ruger GP-100 muzzle, 1420fps / 6"bbl S&W 686, Muzzle Energy: 676 ft. lbs. 557ft lbs at 50yds from a 4" bbl (DT)
10mm
HEAVY 10MM OUTDOORSMAN - 220 gr. Hard Cast - FN (1,200 fps/ME 703 ft. lbs.) (BB)
10mm 230gr. WFNGC Hardcast, Ballistics : 1120fps/ 641 ft./lbs. - Glock 20, 1008fps / 519 ft lbs 100yds Glock 20, Glock 29 - 1075fps (DT)
44 Magnum
Lower Recoil .44 Magnum Ammo - 240 gr. JHP (1,350 fps/M.E. 971 ft. lbs.) (BB)
44 Magnum 240gr Bonded Hunter, Velocity: 1500fps / 7.5" bbl (DT)
Heavy 44 Magnum
Heavy .44 Magnum Ammo - 300 gr. JFN(1,300fps/M.E.1,126 ft.lbs.) 1334 fps -- Ruger Redhawk 5.5 inch barrel (BB)
44 Magnum 300gr.Nosler JHP, Ballistics : 1325fps - 1161 ft./lbs. - 7.5" bbl., 1255fps from a 6" Colt Anaconda, 1115fps from a 2.5" Ruger Alaskan (DT)
So I am thinking if there is an "objective" & "quantifiable" criteria (in a gun forum?) that you will recommend as "minimum" carrying gun in the woods? Everyone like to use bears as ultimate challenge in the woods so let's assume that is the criteria. (2-legged varmints with pink soft flesh are much easier). I live in the SE so only black bears and they are not that big (< 200 lbm). What "minimum" bullet weight and muzzle velocity will you recommend as a carry gun?
Is it a 360 gr bullet at MV ~ 1,000 fps? 1,400 fps?
255 gr bullet at MV ~ 1,000 fps?
200 gr bullet at MV ~ 1,000 fps? 1,200 fps? 1,400 fps?
180 gr bullet at MV ~ 1,100 fps?
How about 147 gr bullet at MV ~ 1,100 fps?
What is "adequate" against black bears? Please specify what size black bear in your experience.
Some examples I pulled from Buffalo Bore and Double Tap:
9mm+P
9MM +P OUTDOORSMAN 147 gr. Hard Cast FN 1,100 fps (BB)
9mm+P 147gr FMJ Flat Point Ballistics : 147gr @ 1135fps / 421ft. lbs. from a G17. Glock 19 velocity - 1120fps. (DT)
40 S&W
40 S&W OUTDOORSMAN Std Pressure Low Flash 200 gr. HC-FN (1,000 fps) (BB)
40 S&W 200gr. Hardcast Solid™ Ballistics : 200gr. @ 1050fps / 490 ft/lbs- Glock 23 (4.0"bbl), Glock 22 4.5" bbl - 1106fps, Glock 27 3.5" bbl - 1009fps (DT)
45 ACP
45 ACP +P OUTDOORSMAN Ammo - 255 gr. Hard Cast FN (925 fps/M.E. 484 ft. lbs.) (BB)
45ACP+P 255gr. SWC Hardcast. Ballistics : 875fps - 434 ft./lbs. - 5" bbl. (DT)
357 Magnum
HEAVY 357 MAG OUTDOORSMAN 180 gr. Hard Cast LFN-GC Hard cast LFN = 1375 fps from 4 inch S&W L frame Mt. Gun (BB)
357 Magnum 180gr Hardcast Solid™ Bullet: 180gr. Wide Flat Nose Gas Check Hardcast, Velocity: 1300fps / 4" Ruger GP-100 muzzle, 1420fps / 6"bbl S&W 686, Muzzle Energy: 676 ft. lbs. 557ft lbs at 50yds from a 4" bbl (DT)
10mm
HEAVY 10MM OUTDOORSMAN - 220 gr. Hard Cast - FN (1,200 fps/ME 703 ft. lbs.) (BB)
10mm 230gr. WFNGC Hardcast, Ballistics : 1120fps/ 641 ft./lbs. - Glock 20, 1008fps / 519 ft lbs 100yds Glock 20, Glock 29 - 1075fps (DT)
44 Magnum
Lower Recoil .44 Magnum Ammo - 240 gr. JHP (1,350 fps/M.E. 971 ft. lbs.) (BB)
44 Magnum 240gr Bonded Hunter, Velocity: 1500fps / 7.5" bbl (DT)
Heavy 44 Magnum
Heavy .44 Magnum Ammo - 300 gr. JFN(1,300fps/M.E.1,126 ft.lbs.) 1334 fps -- Ruger Redhawk 5.5 inch barrel (BB)
44 Magnum 300gr.Nosler JHP, Ballistics : 1325fps - 1161 ft./lbs. - 7.5" bbl., 1255fps from a 6" Colt Anaconda, 1115fps from a 2.5" Ruger Alaskan (DT)
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